Asia-Pacific

Afghanistan – We stand in solidarity

admin

Dear Member Organisations,

Dear friends, 

International Union of Socialist Youth (IUSY) invites you to take part in the online event titled “Afghanistan – We stand in solidarity”.  The event will take place online on the 23 of November 2021 at 18:30PM CET (via Zoom platform). 

During the event, we would like to discuss the current situation in Afghanistan with the focus on women and children and other minority groups (for example, queer community) with invited speakers. We envision to conclude the discussion on how we as global community can support and what are the actual needs and expectations from the international community by engaging in group work and discussion. 

Flow of the event

The event will consist of two parts: panel discussion with speakers and groups work, sharing and exchange with the participants.

We will send the information on the speakers and facilitators as soon as we have all the confirmations. 

Registration

You can register for the event here: https://forms.gle/vzgoMrq63NfDbxkZA by 21 November.

You will receive the link to the event and technical information in advance.

Contact 

Please do not hesitate to contact us if you have any questions at iusy@iusy.org

IUSY Statement on the protests in Thailand

admin

The youth-led protests in Thailand is an inspiration to youth movements all over the world, as they seek to take back power from government leaders who were part of the military dictatorship and the monarchy.

The recent protests on Tuesday called for King Maha Vajiralongkorn to give up control of royal wealth, which the protesters argue comes from taxpayers’ money. The protest movement has demanded for the resignation of Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha who led the military junta before the new government was formed, the creation of a new charter, and reforms in the monarchy.

The protesters have been met with brutality from state forces and masked assailants. More than 50 people, including children who’ve joined the protests, have been injured and hospitalized from gunshot wounds and tear gas inhalation on the November 17 protests. Renowned activists have also been summoned on November 25 for violating an archaic lese-majeste law, which could throw opposition leaders to prison for 15 years for offending the members of the monarchy. 

As socialists, we support people’s movements in the struggle to fight for freedom, democracy and equality across the world. We believe that people should have democratic control over politics and the economy rather than a wealthy few. In the case of Thailand, the dissolution of the opposition party Future Forward Party, the dominant control of Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha over the government, and the undue protections for the monarchy from criticisms run counter to democratic principles.

The members of the International Union of Socialist Youth call on the Thailand government to cease the use of excessive force against the protesters and stop criminalizing dissent. The criminalization of criticisms against the Thai government and the monarch have no place in a modern democracy, where people should be free to express their opinions without fear of repression.

We stand with the people of Thailand in their calls for accountability from the government and for their struggle to bring back power to the public.

IUSY APC 2019 Medan Manifesto on global action to avert the climate crisis

admin

We, the socialist youth of the Asia Pacific, declare a global climate emergency and urge governments all over for swift, bold, and effective actions to avert a climate crisis.

People in the Asia Pacific who emit the least carbon emissions in their activities are the most vulnerable in times of storms, flash floods, droughts and rising sea levels.

While we are all affected when sea levels begin to rise and the climate crisis peaks in the coming years, the poor and marginalized are bearing the brunt of the storm today.

Farmers who are defending their land are being killed everywhere. Indigenous peoples are driven away from their homes. Youth and children are made vulnerable in a time of natural disasters.

We emphasize that our world leaders don’t have a decade to act on the climate crisis when the majority of the world’s poor are experiencing it now.

IUSY Asia Pacific demands the following:

  • Reject extractive industries and exploitative practices. Governments should decisively reject extractive industries like coal power plants and mining that further destroy the planet’s resources. Private companies should be regulated to end exploitative practices in agribusiness, like animal farms, slash-and-burn on farms, and deforestation. Workers in these industries should be protected, centering on just transition.

  • Defend the defenders. Governments should protect indigenous peoples who are subject to violence linked to development aggression. The Lumad in the Philippines are affected by mining, the Papua in Indonesia and the Temiar in Malaysia are affected by deforestation, and the different ethnic regions in Burma are affected by dams. Indigenous cultures that preserve the natural resources should be respected by governments. Public welfare should come first before private profit.

  • Power to the people, not just participation! We demand a shift in engagement with vulnerable sectors,  namely women, LGBT+ communities, indigenous peoples, workers and the youth, where participation is not tokenistic but communities are given authority to decide on issues that affect them. We demand not just a seat in the table but power over what gets talked about in the table as well.

  • Build the global framework for climate justice and solidarity. We demand a system of climate justice where countries are faithful and transparent to their determined contributions to reduce the global carbon emissions before 2030. Countries that emit the most carbon into the planet should pay compensation to countries who are heavily affected by the changing climate. We will build global solidarity to support communities that are affected by the climate crisis, provide them knowledge and resources, to usher in a new system where energy sources are sustainable, workers are ensured of just transition, and the health and wellbeing of communities are priorities.

APC 2019 Resolution: Stand with Hong Kong!

admin
The recent protests in Hong Kong has shown to be no ordinary movement we’ve seen in Asia the past 5 years. As each day passes, more casualties are reported from the front line of the protests, and its citizens already weakened rights are threatened by the state’s growing authoritarianism.
Without the help of democratic nations around them, the protesters and activists of Hong Kong are isolated. The unacceptable oppression from the authorities would lead Hong Kong into authoritarianism, destroying its people’s civil rights.
Even though the Hong Kong government has positioned themselves against open democracy for a long time, no Asian democracies have pursued any meaningful alternative solutions on an international and diplomatic level.
The following organizations highly condemns the recent oppression of civil rights of the Hong Kong government against its own citizens.
The following organizations believes that the democratic governments in Asia need to speak up against the violence in Hong Kong, to develop meaningful solutions on an international level.
The following organizations stand in solidarity with the people of Hong Kong and their demands for a democracy. We also ask for immediate action by regional states to pursue political solutions to de-escalate the situation and build the space for dialogue in Hong Kong ###
Signatories:
Akbayan Youth (Philippines)
Democratic Action Party Socialist Youth (Malaysia)
Nepal Tarun Dahl
Nepal Students Union
New Zealand Young Labour
Pergerakan Indonesia
Tibetan Youth Congress
Youth Voters Party (India)
Youth for a New Society (Myanmar)
Observer signatories:
Future Forward Party (Thailand)
Justice Party Youth-Momentum (South Korea)

Call for Applications APC 2019 – A world to defend, a world to win!

admin

 Overview

What:             Regional committee meeting for members of the Asia Pacific region

When:             28 November to 01 December 2019 (including travel dates)

Where:           Medan Lake Toba North Sumatra, Indonesia

Age/gender: 18-35 years old and gender balanced delegations only

Size:               2 participants per member organisation

Deadline:       15 October 2019

Outline

The Asia Pacific Committee (APC) Leadership Conference 2019 will bring together the young leaders of IUSY member organisations from the Asia Pacific region. The APC will be organised in partnership with our member organisation Pergerakan Indonesia. The aim of the meeting is to strengthen the partnership among IUSY member organisations and enhance the cooperation in the region. The meeting will offer a platform to discuss current political situations in the region, give space to engage in a dialogue on common struggles and obstacles, and work together to come up with strategies to enact political and social change. Participants can look forward to getting involved in political debates and discussions, sharing experiences and ideas and building up their regional network. There will also be an added focus on skill building. Committee Meetings are the most important platforms for the regions in between the IUSY Congresses and Councils.

The theme of the Committee Meeting in 2019 “A world to defend, a world to win”

 The climate crisis has put a ticking time bomb over our heads. Scientists have warned that we have 11 years left to stop the irreversible damage of our planet but less than 17 months to pressure our governments to take urgent action before Earth is fatally wounded.

While we are all affected when sea levels begin to rise and the climate crisis peaks in the coming years, the poor and marginalized are bearing the brunt of the storm today.

Farmers who are defending their land are being killed everywhere. Indigenous peoples are driven away from their homes. Youth and children are made vulnerable in a time of storms and flash floods.

We don’t have a decade to act on the climate crisis when the majority of the world’s poor are experiencing it now!

The time is ripe for bold plans and action that will shed off the crumbling fronts of capitalism and usher in a new just and caring world. If the problem is global, our solutions should be too.

The International Union of Socialist Youth (IUSY): Asia Pacific Committee 2019 Conference will gather youth activists from all over the region to galvanize action for climate justice. This conference seeks to spark a global campaign to end exploitation, repression, and misogyny to stop the climate crisis.

We have a world to defend to have a world to win!

For any questions or remarks please don’t hesitate to contact the IUSY Secretariat at iusy@iusy.org

We are very much looking forward to seeing you!

 

With best regards,

 

Johanna Ortega                                                                    Ana Pirtskhalava

           IUSY President                                                                IUSY Secretary General

 

Participant profile

Each member organisation in the region may register up to two participants for the meeting. Please note that delegations MUST be gender-balanced and a delegation cannot consist of two men. All participants must be aged 18-35 years old, with no exceptions. IUSY statutes as well as the Global Project require gender balance in order to be able to participate in the meeting. Participants must hold a leadership position in their organisation and member organisations will need to approve all applications.

Participants must be able to attend the entire programme. The working language of the meeting is English.

How to apply

Participants must apply by completing the online registration form latest by 15 October, 2019. All applicants will receive the outcome of their application within 1 week of the application deadline. Click here to fill in your registration or copy paste the link to your browser: https://forms.gle/Pg25zVQQP16ambgy9

Participation fee

The participation fee for the activity is 30€ per person and must be paid by 01 November 2019. 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 by participants.

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. If you are unable to make a bank transfer in advance you must inform us before 01 November 2019.

Outstanding membership fees and/or debts

Please note that only organisations without outstanding membership fees or debts are entitled to receive travel reimbursement. Therefore, we would ask for organisations to transfer their outstanding fees or debts by bank transfer as soon as possible.

If you are unable to pay your membership fee and/or debt, please contact the IUSY Secretary General Ana Pirtskhalava (ana.pirtskhalava@iusy.org) and IUSY President of Control Commission (roland.gur@iusy.org) to discuss possible options.

Travel reimbursement

Travel reimbursement is available up to a fixed reference price. Only economy tickets will be reimbursed. Kindly note that only gender balanced delegations are entitled to the maximum amount of reimbursement. To receive the amount of travel reimbursement you are entitled to, please contact your international secretary or the secretariat directly.

All travel reimbursements will be made in euro via bank transfer after the meeting. No travel reimbursement will be available in cash on the event without prior agreement at least one week in advance of the event. This applies to very exceptional cases and should be discussed with the Secretariat.

Please note that IUSY can only reimburse cost of travels proven by original documents. Therefore, do not forget to keep and hand in to the IUSY Secretariat ALL of the following documents at the meeting:

Flights:

  1. Booking confirmation, itinerary and ticket (emailed in advance to iusy@iusy.org)
  2. Local travel tickets, where relevant (given to the Secretariat on arrival)
  3. Travel Reimbursement form
  4. Your bank account details (please make sure you bring them with you)

Train/coach:

  1. Booking confirmation, itinerary and ticket (emailed in advance to iusy@iusy.org)
  2. Original, stamped tickets for all journey segments (given to the Secretariat on arrival)
  3. Local travel tickets, where relevant (given to the Secretariat on arrival)
  4. Your bank account details (please make sure you bring them with you)

Car:

  1. Origin address and route map (emailed in advance to iusy@iusy.org)
  2. At least one gas/fuel receipt (given to the Secretariat on arrival)
  3. Your bank account details (please make sure you bring them with you)

Visas

The IUSY Secretariat will support visa applications for the event. If you require a visa, please send a copy of your passport to iusy@iusy.org as soon as possible, so the secretariat can draft a visa invitation letter for you. Please note that you have to arrange the appointment with the consulate/embassy yourself.

Travel

Arrivals and Departures

Day of arrival for the IUSY Asia Pacific Leadership Conference is 28 of November and the day of departure is the 1 December. Please make sure to arrange your travel accordingly and do not forget that IUSY will NOT be able to cover accommodation or any other additional expenses for delegates who need to stay additional nights in Indonesia.

How to get to the hotel

Details on the how to get to the hotel and venue will be provided at least two weeks before the event. Please note that to be able to get an airport transfer you need to send us your travel details by the 20 of November.

Accommodation and meeting venue

Detailed information about the hotel and meeting venue will be sent to all participants nearer the time, at the latest two weeks in advance of the event.

 Cancellations

There will be a 30€ cancellation fee charged to each organisation whose participant withdraws after 15 of November, 2019 without a valid reason.

Contact

Amanda Lilliefeldt

IUSY Project Manager

Email: iusy@iusy.org or amanda.lilliefeldt@iusy.org

Phone: +43 699 135 32 970                   

We are looking forward to receiving your registrations!

Statement of IUSY Feminist Working Group’19: Gender Mainstreaming in Youth Organisations

admin

Young activists of IUSY member organisations have met 27-30 June 2019, at Salvador Allende Haus in Germany to reflect on the theme Gender mainstreaming in youth organisations.

The IUSY Feminist Working Group has further discussed on women empowerment, intersectionality, representation and prevention of sexualized violence with a unique left perspective. We believe the fight against patriarchy must be the fight against all privileges and exploitations. Therefore, we have highlighted the difference from right and liberal feminism and have stressed for the need to:

  1. change the structure of society in order to achieve real equality. It’s not enough to cancel limitations;
  2. consider other struggles requiring attention and association with the needs in pursuing for gender equality;
  3. emphasise that the only feminism is intersectional feminism;
  4. analyse the reality through the lens of socialist intersectional feminism and to bring the left perspective to the centre of the table;
  5. have internal tools and common understanding of topics related to feminism in order to implement gender equality in the MO’s & in IUSY;

The Feminist Working Group has resolved to develop and publish a toolkit in December in order to inform, form and transform the knowledge.

No feminism without socialism, no socialism without feminism

Salvador Allende Haus, Germany, 29thJune 2019

 

 

Call for Registrations: Global Seminar 2019 3-6 October 2019

admin

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

  1. Gender Balance (both IUSY statutes and the global project require gender balance)
  2. 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

IUSY Asia Pacific bares plans for 2019, passes resolutions on democracy and human rights

admin

Asia Pacific member organizations of the International Union of Socialist Youth (IUSY) approved their annual activity plan and resolutions on democracy and human rights during their committee meeting in December last year.

IUSY members in the region passed the following resolutions unanimously:

  • A resolution on the minorities, marginalized and displaced peoples in Asia

  • A resolution resolve the Bhutanese refugee situation in Nepal

  • A resolution calling for the liberation of Tibet

  • A resolution supporting people’s call for democratic elections in Thailand

  • A resolution calling for justice for Nirmala Pant, a young woman murdered and raped in Nepal

The member organizations also identified key skills and knowledge for future training designs including management and leadership, public speaking, campaigning, organizing, networking, international law and other topics.

IUSY-APC will also have human rights campaigns with special focus on regional concerns such as climate change, ending gender inequality and violence against women, and curbing corruption.

The plans include expansion of members to youth organizations in SAARC, student groups in the Philippines, political parties in the SEA region, and women’s organizations in Nepal.

Participating organizations include Akbayan Youth in the Philippines, Nepal Students Union and Nepal Tarun Dal, Youth for a New Society in Burma, Young Progressives for Social Democracy in Thailand, Tibetan Youth Congress, Youth Organization of Bhutan, and Pergerakan Indonesia.