Overview
What: IUSY Global Seminar
When: 3-6 October 2019
Where: Stockholm, Sweden
Overview of the event
The Olof Palme International Centre’s Global Project finances the IUSY Global Seminar. The IUSY Global Seminar 2019 will gather together IUSY member organisations and representatives from the districts of the Swedish Social Democratic Youth League (SSU). New to this year is that the second day will be spent having a joint programme together with IFLRY, The International Federation of Liberal Youth. The aim of the seminar will be to provide to the Member Organisations and to the SSU representatives a platform to discuss and come up with ideas on how we can battle shrinking civil society space and support civil society organisations and activists across the globe. A secondary aim is also to strengthen collaboration with IFLRY on topics that we agree on. The seminar will be an opportunity for us to learn and reflect upon new ideas and partnerships in our work for a fairer and more equal world.
Theme
A cornerstone of a democratic society is an empowered and independent civil society. Civil society organiations (CSOs) are the voice of the people and ensure that decision-makers make policies that respond to the needs of its citizens. In the last couple of years civil society has been under attack. CIVICUS has documented that civil society space is attacked in 111 countries and that only four per cent of the world’s population live in countries where our fundamental civil society freedoms such as freedom of association, peaceful assembly and expression are respected. The shrinking space has presented itself as restrictive legislation, restricted access to funding for CSOs, and attacks such as threats, violence and murders have been committed to human rights defenders and civil society representatives and organisations. The Global Seminar will tackle the topic of shrinking civil society space and the role of political youth organisations. Together we will learn more about the attacks on civil society but also discuss what our roles are as political youth organisations in a more democratic world by ensuring that we have a free and independent civil society.
For more information about the state of civil society during 2018 read CIVICUS 2019 report.
For any questions or remarks please don’t hesitate to contact the IUSY Secretariat at iusy@iusy.org, put Global Seminar 2019 in the subject line.
With best regards,
Johanna Ortega Ana Pirtskhalava
IUSY President IUSY Secretary General
Participation Profile & Selection Process
Each member organisation may register up to one participant for the meeting.
The selection criteria will be based on
1. The questions listed in the application form
- Gender Balance (both IUSY statutes and the global project require gender balance)
- Regional Balance
Participants must be able to attend the entire programme of the seminar.
It’s preferable that participants have an interest in working with civil society and has knowledge about the threats against civil society today as well as previous experience working with liberal youth.
All participants must be aged 18-35 years old, with no exceptions.
How to apply
Participants must apply by filling in the registration form that you can find here. Or copy paste it to your browser: https://forms.gle/tLWevqnbTkXqbsA26
Please note that a thought out answer to the questions are required as it is part of the selection process.
The deadline for application is 05 of August.
Participation fee
The participation fee for the event is 50€ per person and must be paid with bank transfer by Wednesday 15th September 2019.
Please note that you will have to be selected before you pay the participation fee.
The participation fee will cover accommodation, meals, refreshments and programme for the duration of the event. Any additional nights’ accommodation must be arranged and paid for by participants.
Payment should be via bank transfer to IUSYs account.
Once you have made the bank transfer, please send a payment receipt to iusy@iusy.org. Please be aware that IUSY cannot take responsibility for any bank fees.
Visas
The IUSY Secretariat will support visa applications for the event. Please note that the Secretariat will support you with a visa invitation letter. Participants themselves must apply for the visa and book appointments with the embassies/consulates.
Travel Reimbursement
Travel reimbursement is available up to a fixed reference price. Only economy tickets will be reimbursed. Please note that as this event is open to all IUSY’s regions the amount of Travel Reimbursement available to the different organisations will become available after the selection process has finished.
Cancellations
Each organisation whose participant withdraws after the 25th of September without a valid reason will be charged the participation fee.
Contacts
Amanda Lilliefeldt
Amanda.lilliefeldt@iusy.org or
iusy@iusy.org / +4369913532970