MEDITERRANEAN COMMITTEE – LEADERSHIP CONFERENCE

IUSY Secretariat

On the 25th of August 2014 the Mediterranean Committee gathered young leaders from the IUSY member organizations from the Mediterranean with the aim to strengthen the organizations and the cooperation on the continent at the Ghajn Tuffieha Camping Site in Malta. Together we discussed the current political situation in the Mediterranean and elaborated strategies to face the challenges that lie ahead. This year’s Mediterranean committee took place in connection to the IUSY World Festival. The main theme for the committee was 15 Actions to Eradicate Poverty in 15 Years.

AFRICAN COMMITTEE – LEADERSHIP CONFERENCE

IUSY Secretariat

On the 21st of August 2014 the African Committee gathered young leaders of the IUSY member organizations from Africa with the aim to strengthen the organizations and the cooperation on the continent at the Ghan Tuffieha Camping Site in Malta. Together we discussed the current political situation in Africa and elaborate strategies to face the challenges that lie ahead. The main theme for the committee was 15 Actions to Eradicate Poverty in 15 Years. During the meeting we also had the opportunity to focus on the African context and aspects of poverty and covered topics like migration, minority rights and HIV/AIDS.

Our Participation in International Platforms

IUSY Secretariat

Montevideo, Uruguay hosted two important activities that brought together different socialist and social democratic parties and organizations to discuss an issue of great concern to the international community: Inequality.

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To these city moved a delegation of IUSY, headed by the president of the Organization, Felipe Jeldres, and the Vicepresidents Lucia Zapata, of the Socialist Youth of Uruguay and Sebastian Melchior, of the Socialist Youth Argentina to participate in activities representing both moved of the organization.

The agenda began on August 21, with a meeting of the Latin American Socialist Coordination, organization comprising various socialist parties in the region, and after 4 years again met at the venue of the Socialist Party of Uruguay. The activity began with a seminar organized by the Socialist Youth of Uruguay, youth employment and social participation. In the activity, the President of IUSY, spoke in the first panel on good labor practices in different regions, and the vision of fair employment from IUSY. The panel was moderated by Vice President of IUSY, Lucia Zapata.

Subsequently, on 22 and 23 July, the meeting of the Progressive Alliance, which had as its central theme the struggle against inequality was held in the Frente Amplio headquarters, named “La Huella de Seregni” in honour to the founder of Frente Amplio of Uruguay, Liber Seregni. Progressive Alliance is a forum for progressive political parties that seeks to promote the debate on the various issues that currently concern to the international society, with inequality in its different dimensions one.

Within this space, the President of IUSY participated as exhibitor forum “Fighting inequality” – experiences and best practices from different regions of the world, where besides explaining the vision that IUSY on inequality, and ways to combat it, appealed to different global organizations, including United Nations to take the fight against inequality as a priority in the post-2015 agenda to develop specific policies on Health, Education, Environment, Economy, Nutrition, Economics and Policies labor.

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Montevideo, Uruguay fue la sede de dos importantes actividades que convocaron a diferentes partidos y organizaciones socialistas y socialdemócratas para debatir sobre un tema de gran preocupación para la sociedad internacional: La desigualdad.

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Hasta esa ciudad se trasladó una delegación de IUSY, encabezada por el presidente de la Organización, Felipe Jeldres, y los Vicepresidentes Lucía Zapata, de la Juventud Socialista de Uruguay y Sebastián Melchor, de la Juventud Socialista de Argentina para participar en ambas actividades en representación de la organización.

La agenda comenzó el 21 de agosto, con una reunión de la Coordinación Socialista Latinoamericana, organización que agrupa a diferentes partidos socialistas de esa región, y que luego de 4 años volvió a encontrarse en la sede del Partido Socialista de Uruguay. La actividad comenzó con un seminario organizado por la Juventud Socialista de Uruguay, sobre empleo juvenil y participación social. En la actividad, el Presidente de IUSY, expuso en el primer panel sobre buenas prácticas laborales en diferentes regiones, y la visión de empleo justo que IUSY sostiene. El panel fue moderado por la Vicepresidenta de IUSY, Lucia Zapata.

Posteriormente, los días 22 y 23 de Julio, se realizó la sede del Frente Amplio, llamada “La Huella de Seregni”, en honor al fundador de la gran coalición de Uruguay, Liber Seregni la reunión de la Alianza Progresista, que tuvo como tema central el combate a la desigualdad. La Alianza progresista es un foro de Partidos políticos progresistas que busca promover el debate sobre los diferentes temas que hoy preocupan a la sociedad internacional, siendo la desigualdad en sus diferentes dimensiones uno de ellos.

Dentro de este espacio, el Presidente de IUSY participó como expositor del foro “Combatiendo la desigualdad”- experiencias y mejores prácticas de diferentes regiones del mundo”, donde junto con explicar la visión que tiene IUSY sobre la desigualdad, y las vías para combatirla, hizo un llamado a los diferentes organismos mundiales, entre ellos Naciones Unidas, para tomar el combate a la desigualdad como una prioridad en la agenda post 2015, desarrollando políticas concretas en materia de Salud, Educación, Medio Ambiente, Economía, Nutrición, Economía y Políticas laborales.

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We will never forget!

IUSY Secretariat
22nd of July 2011 was a day we will never forget. Our comrades of AUF in Norway were brutally attacked during their summer camp in Utøya where 69 activists died. They were ruthlessly attacked and murdered by racism and the hatred it brought with it. One person might have conducted the terrorist attack, but a whole ideology is responsible for it.

As Socialist, Social Democrats and Labour Youth Organizations our struggle for a world of freedom, democracy, equality and social justice will continue until the day we reach it. The hatred and fear Racism, Fascism and Xenophobia are trying to spread, will never succeed. The human urge for equality and freedom is our antidote and it will ensure a peaceful world.

We will never be afraid. We will continue to organize ourselves and to make sure that we are many together walking hand in hand in the struggle. Silence is the best friend of evil. During this time when right wing extremism is growing, it is especially important that we firmly stand up against it. Only when we are many and we unite our voices; freedom, equality and human dignity will prevail.

We will remember our comrades forever. Their struggle is our struggle. And the struggle continues.

 

IUSY Study Session – Call for participants

IUSY Secretariat

» Application Form                                      » Open Call

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.

IUSY condemns indiscriminate attacks against civilians from any side in strongest terms

IUSY Secretariat

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IUSY strongly condemns the Israeli government air raids on the Gaza Strip, which have included attacks against Palestinan civilian-populates areas, including the bombing of homes and killing entire families. These air raids most probably amount to war crimes and crimes against humanity.

While IUSY opposes Hamas Policies, and underlines that attacks against Israeli civilians are unacceptable and wrong, nothing can justify such blatant violations of international law trough attacks which have killed over 180 Palestinians including at least 35 children in the last week. And probably the number will continue growing.

We call for urgent international intervention and urge all governments to work for ending the current situation of violence, to preserve lives and to work in parallel to end the occupation to achieve peace in the region. This is the only lasting solution to the conflict. Where there is no freedom or dignity, violence and war are a constant threat.

In this context, IUSY reaffirms the main points of its resolution “Our vision for peace and justices in Israel and Palestine” adopted in the IUSY XXX. World Congress, held in Copenhagen in March 2014. We consider this resolution as a victory for the ideas of socialism and peace, as it was adopted by consensus among our member organizations in Israel and Palestine. From this resolution, IUSY declares:

  • Only the solution of two independent and sovereign states, based on the borders that both countries had in 1967, and living together in peace and security can bring stability and prosperity to the region.

  • The path of violence will never lead to peace and stability; on the contrary, the roads that lead to lasting peace and justice are those who are in favor of dialogue and not confrontation.

  • The occupation and the settlements that the Israeli government constantly build on Palestinian territory must end. This is an unavoidable condition for any peace agreement.

Also, IUSY expresses its full support to Palestine´s ratification of several international conventions last April and reaffirms its support for the State of Palestine´s right to accede to other Conventions to uphold rights and humanitarian law including the Rome Statute.

Finally, we call on the international community and all the governments, but particularly socialist, social democratic and labour governments around the world to take concrete actions in favour of ending the occupation and violence, so as to achieve lasting peace, based on international law.

 

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IUSY condena fuertemente los ataques indiscriminados contra la población civil, vengan de donde provengan.

IUSY condena enérgicamente los ataques aéreos del gobierno israelí sobre la Franja de Gaza, que han incluido ataques contra áreas densamente pobladas de civiles, incluyendo el bombardeo de casas matando a familias enteras. Estos ataques aéreos equivalen a crímenes de guerra y crímenes contra la humanidad.

Aunque IUSY se opone al uso de la violencia por parte de Hamas, y subraya los ataques contra civiles israelíes son inaceptables, nada puede justificar tales violaciones flagrantes al derecho internacional que ha significado la muerte de más de 180 palestinos, entre ellos al menos 35 niños en la última semana. Cifra que probablemente seguirá creciendo.

Hacemos un llamado a la intervención internacional urgente e instamos a todos los gobiernos, a trabajar por el fin de la situación actual de la violencia, para preservar la vida, y para trabajar en paralelo para poner fin a la ocupación y lograr la paz en la región. Esta es la única solución duradera al conflicto. Donde no hay libertad ni dignidad, la violencia y la guerra son una amenaza constante.

En este contexto, IUSY reafirma los puntos principales de su resolución “Nuestra visión para la paz y la justicia en Israel y Palestina”, adoptada en el XXX Congreso Mundial de la IUSY, celebrada en Copenhague en marzo de 2014. Consideramos esta resolución como una victoria para las ideas del socialismo y la paz, ya que fue adoptada por consenso entre nuestras organizaciones miembros en Israel y Palestina. A partir de esta resolución, la IUSY declara:

  • Sólo la solución de dos estados independientes y soberanos, con base en las fronteras que ambos países tenían en 1967, y la convivencia pacífica pueden aportar estabilidad y prosperidad a la región.
  • El camino de la violencia nunca va a conducir a la paz y la estabilidad; por el contrario, los caminos que conducen a la paz y la justicia duradera son los que están a favor del diálogo y la no confrontación.
  • La ocupación y los asentamientos que el gobierno israelí construye constantemente en territorio palestino debe terminar. Esta es una condición ineludible para cualquier acuerdo de paz.

 

También, IUSY expresa su pleno apoyo a la ratificación de Palestina de varios convenios internacionales en abril pasado y reafirma su apoyo al derecho del Estado de Palestina a adherirse a otros convenios para defender sus derechos y el derecho humanitario, incluido el Estatuto de Roma.

Por último, hacemos un llamado a la comunidad internacional y a todos los gobiernos, pero particularmente a los gobiernos socialistas, socialdemócratas y laboristas de todo el mundo a tomar acciones concretas a favor de poner fin a la ocupación y la violencia, a fin de lograr una paz duradera, basada en el derecho internacional.

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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