Europe

IUSY Study Session – Call for participants

IUSY Secretariat

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IUSY STUDY SESSION

LABOUR POLICIES FOR YOUTH:
LESSONS AND CHALLENGES

5-12 October 2014, European Youth Centre Strasbourg

All over Europe and the world young people are increasingly understanding that their future is in jeopardy – mainly due to the economical and political situation that is contributing in the first place to the decrease of their educational and career possibilities. Especially during times of crisis as experienced all over Europe these days, abuses and disrespect of labour rights have been affecting young people in particular. With youth unemployment and labour issues being one of the most prevalent problems for youth in Europe today, this Study Session specifically aims to work on this political challenge and bring the momentum of taking action back to the youth.

As a part of our short- and long-term action plan, IUSY is currently developing new approaches to assure broader inclusion of young people in the activities of our global youth movement and to become more open for linking up with other civil society movements as allies and sources of joint inspiration in our common struggles

We encourage you to disseminate this call for participants among the members of your organizations who would fit in the profile of the targeted participants for this study session. Please keep in mind that applications’ deadline is 4th August 2014.

Please do not hesitate to contact IUSY Secretariat if you have any further questions.

Respect the Kurdish Will for Independence

IUSY Secretariat

A few years ago, 2010/2011, a democratic and peaceful Middle East and North Africa seemed to be in sight. The people in the region had had enough with authoritarian regimes and went to the streets to show that peoples urge for peace, freedom and dignity would always prevail over dictators and oppressive regimes’ stranglehold over the people. The revolutions in Tunisia and Egypt were seen as a sign of hope and peace from all over the world. The gained self-confidence spread rapidly to people in the whole region.    

Now three years later, we sadly see a region in chaos where extremists have gained power and the democratic and peaceful forces are caught in-between extremist organizations on one side and authoritarian regimes on the other. One of the groups in the region that have  long suffered from a polarized region is the Kurds.

The Kurdish region in Iran is said to be one of the world’s most closed areas, second only to North Korea. The Kurdish people’s situation in Iran has during the whole 19th century been marked by armed conflicts between Kurdish groups fighting for self-determination and the Iranian regime. To this day, violence and the violation of human rights are part of everyday life for those who in any way are committed to the Kurdish cause in Iran. On a regular basis, people are reported dead as a result of the armed conflict in the region. The Iranian regime has also drawn up death lists of politically active Kurds who are prosecuted as either a threat to national security or “enemies of god”. These lists often contain names of young people who are not given a fair trial. We young Socialists and Social Democrats condemn all executions of young political activists that occur in Iran and demand abolishment of all death lists.

Around  2 million Kurds live in Syria today. Approximately 200 000 of them lived stateless for decades. It is a consequence of when 100 000 Kurds were deprived of their citizenship in the 1960s. To further add to the plight of the Kurdish people in Syria, with or without citizenship, the Syrian regime issued decree 49 in 2008. The decree restricted the sale and ownership of property to Kurds, forcing them to flee in search of a decent life. During the last years the situation has come to change since the revolution against Bashar al-Assad’s oppressing and authoritarian regime started. The Kurds are being attacked both by the regime and by some parts of the rest of the opposition. IUSY supports the Kurds struggle for peace, equality and diversity, and in line with this supports the proclamation of a Kurdish autonomy that would make it possible for them to enjoy democracy and their fundamental human rights.

Furthermore, in Turkey, the Kurdish people – along with a number of other minorities – are affected by the Turkish state policy of assimilation that has been taking place since the founding of the Turkish state. The policies have struck hard against all minorities. Until 2000 it was, for instance, forbidden to publish newspapers and produce radio programs in minority languages, depriving minorities of some of their most basic human rights. The Turkish state has also conducted military operations against Kurdish cities such as Lice, where acts of extreme violence have forced out Kurds from their homes and often resulted in massacres. The Turkish constitution must be democratized to stop the discrimination of citizens in the country who are of different ethnic, religious and cultural backgrounds and to grant them equal rights. Also the Kurds will for self-determination must be respected.

However, there are “success stories” of Kurdistan. In the southern part of Kurdistan (northern part of Iraq), a young and fledgling democracy, with free elections, is taking root. The Kurdish region is relatively peaceful in an Iraq and a Middle East otherwise affected by violence and conflicts. But we have to actively monitor the development in the region, show our interest by giving praise when it is due as well as demands. We should nevertheless not forget that the Kurds in Iraq have also been hit hard by oppression. The circumstances surrounding Saddam Hussein’s plan to eliminate Kurds during the war between Iran and Iraq in the 1980s is a particularly frightening example.

Due to the recent events in the Middle East, not at least in Iraq, a serious discussion among the Kurdish population on an independent and free Kurdish state in Northern Iraq has come to take place. The future of a people must be in the hands of those people, no one else. The self-determination principle is essential and must always be respected when it concerns a people living under oppression and all other options have failed. We therefore see positive on formation of an independent Kurdistan that embraces diversity, democracy and equality for all people in the geographical area.    
   

By Felipe Jelres (IUSY President) & Evin Incir (IUSY Secretary General)
Published on BAS NEWS

World Council of the Socialist International

IUSY Secretariat

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We, the International Union of Socialist Youth participated in the Meeting of the World Council of the Socialist International, held in Mexico City, On June 30 and July 1. The delegation was composed of the President of the Organization, Felipe Jeldres, the General Secretary, Evin Incir, and the Vice Presidents Anna Bruckener and Zac Aracely Vargas.

At the Presidium Meeting that took place before the Council, the President made a presentation of the new presidium, reported the realization of the XXX IUSY World Congress, the main conclusions and the organization of the next world festival of the organization, which will be held in Malta from 20 to 26 August.

In the meeting of the Council our President stated openly that IUSY will continue to have a critical view on the current state of the International, and reaffirmed expectations of a change so the that the International will earn and deserves the respect of young socialists around the world again. “We aspire to have an International that be a permanent engine of change, and an important and influential actor in international society. Today we are not the relevant actors are the transnational companies, the financial speculation, the institutions of fiscal regulations. we aspire to an international that be a guide of their  member organizations, which is a contribution to the construction of transformer majorities in each one of their countries, and to shake the conscience of his matches when they have strayed from our values ​​and principle “said .

IUSY will continue working to influence the change necessary to have a Socialist International at the height of what socialists around the world expect, a great voice of the left in the global society.

 

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La Unión Internacional de Juventudes Socialistas participó de la Reunión del Consejo Mundial de la Internacional Socialista, realizada en ciudad de México, los días 30 de junio y 1 de julio. La  delegación estuvo compuesta por el Presidente de la Organización, Felipe Jeldres, la Secretaria General, Evin Incir, y las Vicepresidentas Anna Bruckener y Zac Aracely Vargas.

En la reunión del presídium que se realizó antes del Consejo, el Presidente hizo una presentación del nuevo presídium, informó de la realización del XXX Congreso Mundial de IUSY, sus principales conclusiones y sobre la realización del próximo festival mundial de la organización, que se realizará en Malta del 20 al 26 de agosto.

Posteriormente, el Presidente de IUSY intervino en la reunión del Consejo, donde junto con reiterar lo anterior, señaló abiertamente que IUSY continúa teniendo una postura crítica respecto al estado actual de la Internacional, y reafirmó las expectativas de cambio que los jóvenes socialistas de todo el mundo tienen respecto a la Internacional. “Aspiramos a una internacional que sea un permanente motor de cambio, y un actor relevante e influyente de la sociedad internacional. Hoy no lo somos, lo son las transnacionales, lo es la especulación financiera, son las instituciones de regulación fiscal. Aspiramos a una Internacional que sea guía de sus organizaciones miembro, que sea una contribución a la construcción de mayorías transformadoras en cada uno de sus países, y que sacuda la conciencia de sus partidos cuando estos se han alejado de nuestros valores y principios” , señaló.

IUSY continuará trabajando por influir en los cambios que sean necesarios para tener una Internacional Socialista a la altura de lo que las y los socialistas de todo el mundo esperan, y para que sea la gran voz de la izquierda en la sociedad global.

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UYD on Youth Opportunities – Call for Participants

IUSY Secretariat

The North-South Centre of the Council of Europe is organising the 15th edition of the University on Youth and Development (UYD) on the topic of “Youth Opportunities”, in partnership with the Spanish Government (INJUVE), the European Youth Forum (YFJ), the Spanish Youth Council (CJE) and other international youth/youth serving organisation. The University will take place on 21-28 September 2014.

In this framework, the Centre will organise the 5th African Diaspora Training Course in partnership with the African Diaspora Youth Network (ADYNE). The main aim of this training course is to empower young people, particularly youth leaders and youth workers from the African Diaspora and promote their capacity to organise, take action and foster their political participation in their communities, in the Africa-Europe Youth Co-operation and Global Youth Work, through the development of competences related with project and organisational management.

The course is aimed to young people (18-30 years old), from African origin or working/interested to work directly with the African diaspora youth community, with some qualification or experience in terms of international youth work and project management. The working language of the training course will be English.

» Call for Participants
» Application form (to be completed in English).

The deadline for applications is July 15th.

XXX. IUSY World Congress 2014 – Adopted Statutes & Resolutions

IUSY Secretariat

①  IUSY STATUTES 2014

②  WE CAN MAKE POVERTY HISTORY! | Our 15 Actions to Eradicate Poverty in 15 Years.

③  EQUALITY

④  PEACE & SECURITY

⑤  ECONOMY

⑥  HUMAN RIGHTS

⑦  DEMOCRACY

⑧  SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT

Young Political Movements Unite across Ideologies

IUSY Secretariat

Following recent events, where IYDU has been questioned regarding its independent existence by its own parent parties assembled under the IDU – IUSY, GYG and IFLRY, the young socialists, greens and liberals of the world, unite in the struggle for independent and free voice of youth within all our political families.

Independent and free youth organisations are essential in the struggle for a strong and autonomous voice of young people which in turn encompasses the great essential principle of participation in democracy. The youth have for many decades faced obstacles when trying to raise their voices. Major strides have been achieved over the last decades and progress made both on international as well as local levels to make sure that these voices are not restricted in any manner.

We, IUSY, GYG and IFLRY recognise the sacrifices made by young people across the globe to participate in forums of political decision-making. We recognise the decades of clamour to be accorded equal opportunities and to freely and responsibly participate in the betterment of our societies. In the wake of developments aimed at stifling these strides, we unite, now more than ever, to condemn any marginalisation or condescension of our counterparts in the different political families. Indeed, democracy demands better.

The youth have suffered marginalisation in various facets of life; social, economic, cultural and political. The Independence of Youth Political Organisations as shall be demonstrated below will be under threat if the world endorses the untoward acts of marginalisation and condescension now threatened by IDU upon the IYDU.

The international umbrella organisations for political ideologies should normally not interfere in each other’s work. However, this time we stand together in stating that youth across political spectrums should unite for their independent existence reinforced by a mutually respectful and empowering relationship with their parent parties. Consequently, the Youth must be able to run youth-led and independent organisations to its parent parties. This is the only way youth can meaningfully engage and provide input. Political parties are no exception. In fact, their responsibility is greater as they provide a model for society to reflect upon.

IDU has called an IYDU statutory meeting in London from 18-20 June 2014 without the approval of the IYDU Executive. This is despite the IYDU being an independent national registered non-governmental organisation, with its own statutes and rules of procedure. Statutes are in place to legally guide and lead NGOs worldwide. An organisation, whichever this may be, can never overtake another organisation’s name and scope against this organisation’s statutes. The IDU measures to hold an IYDU meeting without the latter’s approval is illegal and against international, regional and national law.

IUSY, GYG and IFLRY therefore call upon the IDU to desist from taking these illegal measures against its affiliated youth parties assembled in the IYDU.

”We don’t have a unanimous meeting of ideologies, however, we stand up for each other’s right to exist independently and thus providing a true youth perspective in the frame of our different ideological families. The youth unite us and for them we must stand together against oppression.”

We the undersigned endorse this common call on the 12th Day of June 2014
The IUSY Presidium, the GYG Steering Committee and the IFLRY Bureau

 

For more information:

IYDU – International Young Democrat Union

IUSY – International Union of Socialist Youth:

GYG – Global Young Greens

IFLRY – International Federation of Liberal Youth

 

FREE JOSEF!

IUSY Secretariat
Our Answer to Repression of Demonstrations Against Fascism and Racism Is Solidarity

IUSY wants to express its solidarity with our 23-year old comrade Josef from Germany who has been kept in prison since January because he demonstrated against the annual ball of the neo-Nazis, racists and fascists in Vienna.

On January 24, 8000 anti-fascists demonstrated against the “Wiener Akademikerball” (the Vienna Academics Ball). Every year, the extreme-right from all over Europe gathers to have a waltz in Vienna, from Austrian FPÖ, French Front National, German „Pro Deutschland“ or even representatives from openly fascist and neo-Nazi political groups. The peak on the iceberg of this terrible event: it happens not by coincidence around the Holocaust Memorial Day.

As this ball happens every year, it also gathers anti-fascists protesters from all over Europe who don’t put up with an open gathering of extreme-right that is threatening the core fundament of our societies – democracy and equality. This protest involves a broad political coalition, from holocaust survivors to political parties, initiatives and NGOs.

The evidence against Josef is poor, as was shown during the trial. Josef’s case shows that it is often not relevant at this kind of demonstrations if you are actually involved in peaceful or violent actions. Everyone who is attending this kind of happening is put in the same box. Josef is being used to set an example: since January, he has been kept in custody by the police during the investigation against him. The trial has started and he is still imprisoned.

As the far right is on the rise in all parts of Europe, we stand together firmly as socialists and anti-fascists and protest against EU states’ increasing repression against our struggle for democracy and freedom, and a society without racism, fascism and anti-Semitism. This trial aims to isolate the uprise for our values and sets the political target not on the actual problem – the openly spread racism, fascism and anti-Semitism of the extreme-right – but on those who show the courage to stand up against it.

IUSY demands: FREE JOSEF!

 

Elaboration of the Post 2015 Agenda

IUSY Secretariat

 The International Union of Socialist Youth participated in the meeting of civil society youth organizations that was organized by the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC), “ECOSOC Forum on Youth 2014: #Youth2015: Realizing the future They want”. The meeting was held the 2nd and 3rd of June in the headquarters of the United Nations, in New York.

The meeting was led by the UN Secretary General’s Envoy of Youth, Ahmad Alhendawi, and the President of ECOSOC, ambassador Martin Sajdik. Representatives from social and political youth organizations from all over the world were present to discuss the achievement of the Millennium Development Goals and the post-2015 Agenda, with the main focus being on labor right and education.

During the meeting, the document “The Global Youth Call: Prioritizing Youth in the post 2015 Development Agenda” was signed, that calls for all Member States to give priority to the youth in the elaboration of the Post-2015 Agenda. The meeting manifested its concern and called for the UN Member States to consider the voices of the youth in the area of education, health, peace, personal security, governance and youth participation; themes that were also the main topics of this document.[1]

Since IUSY’s 30th World Congress, where the resolution “15 Actions to eradicate Poverty in 15 Years” was adopted, IUSY seeks to increase its impact on the post-2015 Agenda, since ours it the generation that mostly will suffer from the consequences of the decisions that are taken today for the coming years. Therefor, IUSY strongly demands a political analysis that breaks with the system that has been created the last centuries and allows us to move towards a new economic, social and political model that is based on the principles of solidarity, equality and social justice. The United Nations must open new doors for reflection and dialogue between different actors. The moment is now and we the youth must play a leading role in this.

[1]More information about the document and the Global Youth Call