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IUSY statement on the elections in Hungary

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Hungary - elections 2018: We are with the people who wants a progressive change

On the elections of Sunday, the 8th of April, Viktor Orbán, current Hungary’s Prime Minister and leader of the political party Fidesz, has won a two-thirds majority in the Hungarian Parliament. Although the elections were far from being democratic, the current government has secured the majority of the votes, which cannot be ignored.

We, socialist youth all over the world, are deeply saddened by the results of the elections in Hungary, as it shows again that the century-old political-toolkit of the populist far-right is still working. Moreover, it seems to be unstoppable in spreading hatred and tearing apart people, societies, regions and international communities.

In moments like this, it might seem impossible to stop the spread of far-right populism. However, this unfortunate turnout of the Hungarian elections must encourage us even more not to give up, but to unite our forces in Hungary, Europe and all over the world.

We know that the fast changes that are happening around us frighten many people. This is the fear that was used against people of Hungary and this is the fear that other far-right parties try to exploit as well. We must listen to the fears of people and together turn it into hope and essentially into a system that is based on trust and inclusion instead of fear and hate.

The International Union of Socialist Youth stands next to the people of Hungary and especially the youth who desperately want a progressive change in their country. We will work closely with them and help to realize the change our community needs.

IUSY Presidium declaration on democracy and human rights situation in Latin America

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For democracy and Human rights - in Latin america and worldwide

IUSY expresses its deep concern for a series of situations that have occurred in Latin America in these recent days, which have affected the essence of democracy, the human right to migrate and the normal development of election processes, all principles and elements that we consider relevant for the construction of societies with greater social justice at the global level.

BRAZIL

The first event occurred in Latin America we observe with indignation is the democratic breakdown that Brazil suffers.

After days of uncertainty, former President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva has been denied by the Supreme Court (STF) the right to defend himself in freedom until the last instance.

We have witnessed pressures and threats from various actors, especially by the commander-in-chief of the Army, Eduardo Villas-Boas, interfering in the political debate, by making the military force available for the “repudiation of impunity and respect for the Constitution “, reminding us of the worst moments of the Latin American military coups and dictatorships.

Not forgetting the illegitimate accusation that was promoted against Dilma Rousseff, the military intervention of Rio de Janeiro ordered by Michel Temer, the assassination of Councilwoman Marielle Franco and the situation increasingly worse for the Brazilian people in terms of social rights, civil liberties and respect for human rights.

The spirit of democracy must prevail. We demand that Brazilian institutions act in favour of due process and the separation of powers.

AT THE BORDERS OF UNITED STATES

Second, the President of the United States of America Donald Trump has ordered the sending of the National Guard to watch the border with Mexico, in a new offensive accompanied by the speech against the immigration of the towns south of the Rio Bravo.

This, together with pressures on Congress to move forward with the construction of the wall, is an insult not only to Mexico but to Latin America.

The lack of civility and respect with which Donald Trump addresses the people who seek to achieve the well-being that in their countries of origin they cannot achieve, becomes unacceptable and politically intolerable.

We must defend the right to migrate as a historic achievement against the threats based on Trump’s xenophobia and racism. Therefore, we emphatically condemn the actions of the government of the United States.

VENEZUELA

Finally, the walk of the presidential candidate Henri Falcón was attacked in the area of Catia, Caracas, where a member of his campaign team – the deputy of the National Assembly Teodoro Campos – was seriously wounded and multiple robberies and aggressions were recorded, in a new fact of violence that tarnishes the electoral campaign.

The reports indicate that these incidents were carried out by pro-government groups that carried firearms, attacking even against the Bolivarian National Police.

We demand the Venezuelan government led by Nicolás Maduro to clarify these facts and the electoral body to give guarantees to all political forces for equal participation in the face of the upcoming elections.

NO MORE VIOLENCE!
WE WANT A WORLD WITHOUT BORDERS!
FREEDOM FOR LULA!

IUSY condemns the deaths occurred in the Gaza Strip

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GAZA STRIP - FRANJA DE GAZA - BANDE DE GAZA

At least 20 civilians have been killed during a peaceful demonstration in the Gaza Strip at the hands of the Israeli army.

The International Union of Socialist Youth (IUSY) emphatically condemns the deaths in the Gaza Strip. We call on the International Community to repudiate the attitude of the army of Israel and to demand an independent investigation.

Shooting unarmed protesters is illegal, therefore Israel has to answer about its responsibilities in the face of such violent and inhuman actions.

We urge the authorities in the area to call for calm in order to avoid further escalation of violence and unjust executions.

The situation in the Gaza Strip is unsustainable, and this tragedy is another reason for the international community to react effectively.

We demand the cessation of violence and the resumption of peace talks in order to reach the solution of coexistence of two States, according to the resolutions of the United Nations and the 1967 borders, this is the only way to ensure a just, safe future and in peace for both Israel and Palestine.

Report from the II Latin-American annual conference (Bogotá – Colombia)

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Latin American annual conference of the Global Progressive forum - Empowering youth

Between Thursday the 22nd and Saturday the 24th of March the II Latin-American Annual Conference of the Global Progressive Forum was held in the city of Bogotá, hosted by the Liberal Party of Colombia, with the support of Party of European Socialists and Foundation for European Progressive Studies. The event was coordinated by Maria Cristina Cifuentes, IUSY former Vice-President, and Rodrigo Muñoz Baeza, IUSY Vice-President, took an active part in it.

During the conference, various debates and conversations were held on different topics: the peace agreements in Colombia, the European Union – Latin America and the Caribbean trade agreements, the situation of human right s in Latin America, the struggle for land in the continent, the gender perspective in the globalization, the LGTBI agenda in globalization and the empowerment of youth in access to politics.

IUSY participated within the framework of the panel on the struggle for land in Latin America (moderated by Rodrigo) and in the panel on the empowerment of youth in access to politics (moderated by Maria Cristina and with the participation of Rodrigo as one of the panellists).

We highlighted the work that has been done in IUSY regarding the political training of young people from various Countries around the world. We stressed the importance for Political Parties of working in cooperation with youth to make influential decisions for the development of our Countries. Young people can provide valuable knowledge and new action strategies to generate social transformations and common welfare.

International training activities such as those offered by IUSY (Seminars, Study visits, Political festivals, Regional committees meetings, Thematic workshops, among others) are efficient instruments to develop youth involvement at the local and national levels. If we participate we can understand the good practices that are developed in other Countries and we can put them in practice in ours.

The leaders of the political parties must value the knowledge acquired by the young people in the participation in international activities, and they must provide spaces for the presentation of innovative ideas which promote the creation of new policies and effective action strategies.

In this event three experiences were presented:

  • personal experience in the PS Chile,
  • political participation in general in Latin America (especially the alarming low participation in elections, the decrease confidence in democracy as a political system versus dictatorships, and the class bias in political participation)
  • and the empowerment of Youth in Mother parties (sure that through organization, contestation and attitude political spaces will open, taking as an example Jusos, the youth organisation of the Social-democratic party of Germany, and its strong position against the formation of a new government of great-coalition in their Country).

We also had a private meeting to discuss the political situation in Venezuela, in which the representatives of the parties Acción Democrática and Voluntad Popular, as well as the former Attorney general Luisa Ortega, were invited to report the institutional, humanitarian and economic crisis that the Country is experiencing.

In this occasion, and representing IUSY, pointing out the political positions of the Organisation through the statements of the IUSY American Committee (“We reiterate our concern about the political, economic and social crisis that deepens in Venezuela”) and of the IUSY Presidium, citing that “IUSY 1) calls for plural dialogue, and 2) we urge the main political actors of both the government and the opposition to the cessation of political violence. We also hope that 3) the institutions are respected and 4) that they bet on the recognition of all the Venezuelan people” and that “IUSY 1) requests the right to peaceful protest to be guaranteed and that 2) who has been deprived of liberty during the demonstrations can be judged by natural judges, and that they are guaranteed due processes and, finally, 3) the posts are released“, signing the study visit that was made in 2015 to Caracas.

Finally, we announced the intention to be present in Venezuela during the upcoming Presidential elections as observers.

Conclusions

  • The European Union has been working with effort in order to contribute to the important peace process in Colombia, providing significant support and accompaniment in the implementation of the agreements.
  • Relations between Europe and Latin America have been maximized to support solutions to different situations, as the case of Venezuela. There is a call for international cooperation to support the opposition in Venezuela.
  • We must continue to create effective action strategies that provide guarantees of rights for LGTBQI* people, women’s rights, gender equality, and the rights of indigenous communities.
  • We understand that in Latin America there are problems that require urgent solutions, and international cooperation provides solutions and advances, building justice, peace, freedom and equality.
  • IUSY should continue working with the Global Progressive Forum in the development of training projects to contribute with effective action strategies to solve the problems of the region.

Rodrigo Muñoz Baeza
IUSY Vice-President

Maria Cristina Cifuentes
Former IUSY Vice-President

Statement of the Progressive Alliance delegation visiting Malaysia

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The seven members of the Progressive Alliance delegation (which IUSY was part of) that visited Malaysia
Download the Statement in PDF
Download the background paper on Malaysia

This is the statement of a seven-member delegation of the Progressive Alliance that visited Malaysia to assess and demonstrate solidarity in support of democratic processes in the run-up to the 2018 General Election.

The delegation attempted but failed to meet the Speaker of the Parliament of Malaysia, but was successful in meeting political leaders from several parties, leaders of civic organizations and visited communities in Kuala Lumpur (capital city of Malaysia).

The delegation included:

We are concerned to learn from reports and discussions with Civil Society Organizations (CSOs), Nongovernmental Organizations (NGOs) active in Malaysia as well as various institutions, political and community leaders about the following issues:

  • Reports of disenfranchisement of opposition supporters through re-delineation and gerrymandering in favour of the ruling party of Malaysia, taking into account anticipated political allegiances and ethnicities. This includes the reported proposal to create 13 “Super constituencies” with over 100,000 voters each, mostly in opposition-held, non-Malay areas;
  • Concerns over mismanagement of voter records;
  • Reported tampering with voter registration;
  • Reported inaccessibility of electronic data of the draft supplementary electoral roll;
  • Concerns that expansion of postal voter categories may facilitate fraud;
  • Reports of infringements on freedom of assembly and association of Malaysian citizens and arrests, charges against and convictions of activists, artists, politicians, and non- affiliated citizens under draconian laws, as well as denial of legal status to opposition political parties;
  • Potential negative impact of high inequality and corruption on equal participation in elections;

In light of the above observations, we call on the Federal Government of Malaysia to ensure that the Election Commission adheres to due impartiality, there is no gerrymandering or malapportionment of electoral districts and that voter registration takes place in line with international standards. Respecting and upholding the social, human, civic, economic rights and advocacies of Civil Society Organisations, Nongovernmental Organisations, and organized groups goes to the core of free and fair elections; citizens of Malaysia need to be able to inform themselves about the general election and respect freedom of assembly, association and expression. It furthermore is vital that inclusive policies upholding the rights of all members of Malaysian society – regardless of gender, ethnicity, socioeconomic background, age and political affiliation – are institutionalized.

We encourage authorities of Malaysia to invite international electoral observation missions to ensure that democratic processes are improved upon and adhered to.

Any democratic elections must be nothing less than an enabling mechanism for its electorate to bring change. In view of the social, political and economic inequalities that are rife in Malaysia, far-reaching and wide-ranging institutional reforms must be front and centre of the next government’s agenda to ensure the economic inequalities, systemic flaws of governance, and a deficit of democratic rights are addressed for all Malaysians.

We, in the Progressive Alliance, are committed to closely monitoring the situation.

For democracy and social justice, the international community unites!

Promoting active citizenship and participation: a toolkit

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Download the toolkit in PDF

This toolkit is a collection of the methods, activities and project ideas of the international activity “Young people in action: promoting active citizenship and democracy” organized by the International Union of Socialist Youth (IUSY) with the support of Young European Socialists (YES).

The activity took place in June 2017 in Berlin and was hosted by SJD – Die Falken with the financial support of the European Youth Foundation (EYF). The activity gathered together 24 participants from 16 countries who worked together on the themes of democracy, active citizenship and youth participation.

After the activity, the team gathered the implemented methods as well as the ideas produced during the activity in this toolkit in order to share them with young people and youth organizations who work actively in the eld.

The toolkit presents selected methods implemented during the activity as well as ideas that have been created and developed by the participants. It also includes a short overview of non-formal education, active citizenship and youth participation. In this way, the toolkit introduces the main concepts of the activity and offers methods that can support exploring them while working with a group of young people. In the toolkit, you will also find the daily flow of the activity and several useful resources that will support you exploring the theme more in-depth.

Team and participants hope the reader enjoys the tool-kit and finds content applicable to her*him context.

Active Citizenship

is a term used to describe the involvement of individuals in public life which can take place at local, regional, national and international levels. Youth organisations should support young people, for them to explore and understand the concept of active citizenship and develop skills and competences in order to address and analyse issues concerning the theme as well as be empowered to come up with solutions.

Youth participation

is a process of achieving positive changes in young people’s lives and of building a better community and society. Means to achieve it are different: initiatives, activities, projects that promote youth involvement at very different levels–local, regional, national and international. There are diverse theories dealing with youth participation and it can be approached from different perspectives depending on the context, background etc. It is important to keep in mind the motivation of different actors such as civil society, political organizations, youth organizations might vary as well.

The team

Gohar Ghandilyan
(Armenia/Austria)

Anuschka Ruge
(Germany/Belgium)

James Sleep
(New Zealand/France)

Ana Pirtskhalava
(Georgia)

Matteo Cervi
(Italy/Austria)

Free and Quality Education as a Human Right (Students Working group meeting 2018)

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Students working group 2018

What: Students Working group meeting 2018
When: from the 17th to the 20th May
Where: Kurt Löwenstein Youth Centre Werneuchen / Werftpfuhl, Germany. (Close to Berlin)
Participants profile: 18-35 years, grassroots activists, 2 seats for each region (no more than one per Member Organisation)
Deadline: 2 April

In this working group meeting, we will explore the today status of the access to education from a rights-based approach and will come up with campaigns to strengthen IUSY work on students issues.

Student politics remain critical in youth struggles for an equal world. IUSY as a youth organisation cannot afford to be complacent about student politics and struggles. It is therefore of supreme importance that the newly elected IUSY leadership takes the students issues seriously.

IUSY believes that student’s rights are fundamental for the youth of the world to become active and critical citizens in our society.

For the youth to realize its full potential and contribute positively towards development access to public education at all levels must be a reality.

Therefore we aim to build a network that will support the interest of students within IUSY structures and at a global level.

You can find here the complete Invitation and thecnical details

Participants profile:

We will select up to 2 participants from each Region. Each member organisation may register up to one participant for the meeting. Please note that the event must be gender-balanced and therefore the selection criteria will follow this premise in order to ensure such balance.

Participants must be able to attend the entire programme of the seminar and be active throughout the year after the meeting. This is due to that the work of the Working Group will be carried out throughout the year in line with the working plan.

It’s preferable that participants have experience in Students issues and are interested in human rights.

All participants must be aged 18-35 years old, with no exceptions.

Registrations:

Participants must apply by filling the online registration form at https://goo.gl/forms/kj3olrluKIquqnrr2 by Monday 2 April 2018.
All applicants will receive the outcome of their application by the 6th of April.

Contact:

Amanda Lilliefeldt
IUSY Project Manager
iusy@iusy.org
+4369913532970

Marielle Franco: Statment by the IUSY Presidium

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Brazil Marielle Franco

We want to express our deepest regret and concern for the assassination of the Councilwoman of Rio de Janeiro Marielle Franco on Wednesday night.

As a woman, lesbian, activist, Afro-descendant and from the favelas, Marielle was a tireless fighter for visibility, equality and the fight against racial, gender and class injustices.

Brazilian society needs a response from the government of Michel Temer since there are repeated reports of abuses of power by the police towards people like Marielle, who was rapporteur of the Municipal monitoring committee of the Army intervention ordered by the Executive in Rio.

We sorrow that the situation in Brazil has changed so much worse for the people since the coup against Dilma Rousseff, with major setbacks in terms of human rights with the militarization of cities, and in fundamental freedoms through the persecution of political and social leaders, as reported by our Member Organisation of the Socialist Youth of the Partido Democratico Trabahjista and by Amnesty International.

Our solidarity is with the family and the comrades of the Partido do Socialismo e da Liberdade (PSOL).

#MariellePresente!