After 3 months of protests of Ukrainian citizens and the forming of a transitional government the political situation is very instable and fragile.
IUSY remembers the victims of the past months’ protests and condemns any further use of violence that could lead to a reescalation of the situation, especially the use of military force.
IUSY calls upon all actors as for example Russia and the European Union to respect Ukraine’s national sovereignty and to support the citizens of Ukraine to address the internal political challenges through peaceful, democratic and anti-fascist means and internal political processes.
The New IUSY Presidium
IUSY is happy to announce the new IUSY Presidium members elected on the IUSY World Congress in Copenhagen:
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PRESIDENT:
Felipe Jeldres, JS Chile
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SECRETARY GENERAL:
Evin Incir, SSU Sweden
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VICE PRESIDENTS:
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Africa
Mikael Baguin, JPDP/PS Burkina Faso
Samuel Muyizzi, UYD Uganda
Senia Bachir Abderahman, UJSARIO Western Sahara
America
Johanna Ortega, JPS Paraguay
Lucia Zapata, JSU Uruguay
Sebastian Melchor, JS Argentina
Zac Mukuy Aracely Ramirez, JPRD Mexico
Asia-Pacific
Pimisiri Petchnamro, YPD Thailand
Rafaela Mae David, AKBAYAN Youth Philippines
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Europe
Alexander Grandt Petersen, DSU Denmark
Ana Pirtskhalva, YS Georgia
Anna Bruckner, SJÖ Austria
Jan Lichtwitz, JUSOS Germany
Roberta Capone, GD Italy
Srdjan Subotic, CSDY Croatia
Victor Moratinos, JS Spain
Mediterranean
Nimrod Barnea, Young Meretz Israel
Raed Deby, FY Palestine
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Clarification on Suspension of IUSY Member Organizations
At the latest IUSY World Congress some member organizations were suspended. As states in paragraph one in the IUSY statutes, IUSY – is the union, allied with the Socialist International in the international labour movement, which brings together democratic socialist youth and student organizations in their fight for democracy and human rights, based on the democratic socialist ideas of freedom, equality and solidarity.
Both democracy and Socialism are requirements to become and to continue being a member organization of IUSY. Some organizations apply, but are being denied membership because they are not fulfilling the requirements and other becomes, buts suspends because of different reasons that are stated in our statutes.
The reasons vary in the cases when organizations are denied or are suspended as a member organization. The reasons can for example be that the specific organization ceases to exist or that the IUSY congress finds enough fact that the organization has lost the democratic or/and the socialism part of the struggle. In case of this it is of course possible for the organization to apply for becoming a member of other internationals. There are internationals that belong to both more left and on the right side of IUSY. With this said it is fundamental that all member organizations respect the values and ideology which IUSY stands on and promote in our daily work. When an organization is suspended it is due to the organization itself and not because of sympathizes with other organizations in a certain country. In the decision making it is irrelevant how other organizations are acting. Objective criteria’s as those who are stated in the IUSY statutes are the only once which an organization can be suspended on.
The final decision on suspension must and can only be done by the IUSY World Congress. The Congress is the supreme body of IUSY. It determines policies and ensures their implementation within the framework of the Declaration of Principles and these Statutes, which it can change. No individual as president, secretary general, presidium member or member organization can stand above the congress. This is important to ensure democracy within the organization. Democracy can not only be something we struggle for outside our organization, we must also ensure it within our organization to be trustworthy.
Since the congress compose of representatives of member organizations from different parts of the world there is not only one reason of a decision, rather many different. Representative democracy has until now shown to be the most efficient way of guaranteeing inclusiveness, transparency and respect for the members.
As newly elected leadership of IUSY we can’t put a value in a decision taken by the highest body of our organization, the congress, regardless of if we disagree or agrees with it. Democracy is never something we will compromise and therefore we will blindly obey the voice of our member organizations, the congress, on decision of suspension of different organizations.
Nominations for the IUSY World Congress 2014
We, the International Union of Socialist Youth are happy to announce the following candidates for the XXX. IUSY World Congress 2014 in Denmark:
General Seceretary
Evin Incir (SSU Sweden)
President
Nimrod Barnea (YMY Israel)
Felipe Jeldres (JS Chile)
Raed Bou Hamdan (PYO Lebanon)
Chair of Control Commission
Stephan Köker (SJD-DF Germany)
Members of Control Commission
Maria Lila Castillo (JR Argentina)
Gloria Reyes (J PRD Domenican Republic)
Martin Clavijo (JNE Uruguay)
German Andreas Henao Ortega (JLC Colombia)
Vice Presidents – Europe
Anna Bruckner (SJ Austria)
Jan Lichtwitz (Jusos Germany)
Srdjan Subotic (CSDY Croatia)
Ana Pirtskhalava (YS Georgia)
Alexander Grandt Peterson (DSU Denmark)
Roberta Capone (GD Italia)
Jack Storry (Labour Students UK)
Victor Martinez (JS Èspagna)
Vice Presidents – Asia-Pacific
Pimisiri Petchnamrob (YPD Thailand)
Rafaela Mae David (AKBAYAN Youth Philippines)
Vice Presidents – Africa
Mikael Baguin (JPDP/PS Burkina Faso)
Abdourhamane Assoumane (OJT Niger)
Senia Bachir Abderahman (UJSARIO West-Sahara)
Samuel Muyizzi (UYD Uganda)
Omayma Achour (J Ittihadia Morocco)
Vice Presidents – Mediterranean
Raed Debiy (FY Palestine)
Vice Presidents – America
Sebastian Melchor (JS Argentina)
Lucas Sebastian Duran (JR Argentina)
Valeria Villegas (JRS Chile)
Juan Diego Gomez (JL Costa Rica)
Jean-Luis Rodriguez (J PRD Domenican Republic)
Zac Mukuy Aracely Ramirez (J PRD Mexico)
Johanna Ortega (JPS Paraguay)
Lucia Zapata (JSU Uruguay)
Guillermo Miguelena (JAD Venezuela)
Current Situation in Venezuela
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The International Union of Socialist Youth (IUSY) expresses it concern about the recent developments in the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela.
We call upon immediate cessation of violence and dialogue between government and opposition urgently. We reaffirm our commitment to peace for the Venezuelan people.
Furthermore, we call upon international organizations to act immediately to corroborate allegations of a supposed attempt of coup and to protect democratic institutions, ensuring that there are no human rights violations by any of the parts of the conflict.
IUSY reaffirms that there is no reason for government security forces or armed civilians to act violently against young students. We condemn all forms of violence cause we believe that the only valid tool is political dialogue between the parties.
We are concerned about the violent events and the dominant polarization in the country. Political violence, along with inequality, is the most important threat that exists against democratic institutions. Besides, it conforms an obstacle to the development of people in their struggle for progress and human rights.
As socialists we believe that social and democratic development are indivisible. There will be no progress without more democracy; nor will there be more democracy without social gains that exceed the contradictions of capitalism.
These are the reasons why IUSY defends the continuity of social transformations and reaffirms the importance of democratic governance that ensures transparency of the electoral process, the right to freedom of thought and expression.
We strongly condemn violence regardless of who exercises it. We understand that conflict is circumstantial in politics and we vindicate democracy as the only legitimate way to settle differences.
We stand against everything that opposes to individual and collective dreams of freedom, self-determination and construction of a democratic citizenship.
We call for a debate that integrates all Venezuelan people demanding to live in peace.
We urge political, social and opinion leaders – in view of a delicate situation of extreme polarization – to act responsibly and sensibly and for the welfare of the Venezuelan people.
Once again, we reiterate the commitment of IUSY with a more just, free and democratic Venezuela.
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La Unión Internacional de Juventudes Socialistas (IUSY) manifiesta su preocupación respecto a los últimos acontecimientos ocurridos en la República Bolivariana de Venezuela.
Realizamos un llamado al inmediato cese de la violencia, y al diálogo entre el gobierno y la oposición de manera urgente, reafirmando nuestro compromiso con la paz para el pueblo venezolano.
Asimismo, hacemos un llamamiento a los organismos internacionales a actuar de manera inmediata para corroborar las denuncias de un supuesto intento de golpe de estado y resguardar las instituciones democráticas, verificando que no existan violaciones a los derechos humanos por ninguna de las partes.
Desde IUSY afirmamos que no existe motivo alguno para que fuerzas de seguridad del gobierno o grupos de civiles armados actúen de manera violenta contra jóvenes estudiantes. Condenamos la violencia en cualquiera de sus formas, en el convencimiento de que la única herramienta válida es el diálogo político entre las partes.
Vemos con preocupación los sucesos violentos y el clima de polarización dominante en el país. La violencia política es, junto con la desigualdad, la amenaza mas importante que existe actualmente contra la institucionalidad democrática, además de constituir un obstáculo en el desarrollo de los pueblos en su lucha por el progreso y la defensa de los derechos humanos.
Como socialistas, consideramos que el desarrollo social y el desarrollo democrático son indivisibles y que, por tanto, no habrá progreso sin más democracia, ni más democracia sin avances sociales que superen las contradicciones del capitalismo.
Son éstas las razones por las que IUSY hace un llamado por la continuidad de las transformaciones sociales, reafirmando la relevancia de la gobernabilidad democrática que asegure la transparencia de los procesos electorales, el derecho a la libertad de pensamiento y de expresión.
Condenamos enfáticamente la violencia independientemente de quien la ejerza. Entendemos que el conflicto es circunstancial a la política y reivindicamos la democracia como la única vía legítima para dirimir las diferencias.
Nos pronunciamos contra todo lo que se oponga a los sueños individuales y colectivos de libertad, autodeterminación y construcción de una ciudadanía democrática. Convocamos a un debate que integre a todo un pueblo venezolano que exige poder vivir en paz. Instamos a los líderes políticos, sociales y de opinión a que, frente a una coyuntura delicada y de extrema polarización, actúen de manera responsable y sensata por el bienestar del pueblo venezolano.
Una vez más, reiteramos el compromiso de IUSY con una una Venezuela más justa, libre y democrática.
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The JSD celebrates the adoption of a new constitution in Tunisia
Tunisia has celebrated yesterday the 26th of January 2014 the vote on its new constitution, a constitution which founds the basis of the Second Republic after two years of hard continous work under the dome of the National Constituent Assembly.
The constitution has been ratified after a first reading with 200 voices “for”, 12 votes “against” and 4 abstentions. The ratification of the constitution with such an important majority of MP’s votes shows that consensus and moderation were the watchword of the Tunisian transition to democracy process.
Our constitution is the result of the struggles of free Tunisian young people which started with the national movement for independence, continued with the building of the First Republic and eventually with its different uprisings against the dictatorship, whether in the students movement or popular protests.
Tunisian youth fought in all historical steps which built modern Tunisia and succeeded in changing our public life by committing in political parties and engaging in civil society associations. We will continue to struggle for the values of democracy, freedom, social justice and gender equality.
Socialist Democratic Youth (JSD) celebrates young people’s role in establishing Tunisia after revolution and:
- Pay tribute to all members of the National Constituent Assembly who succeeded to write democracy, progressive and equality values in the Constitution
- Express pride to all its activists who work hard to saw the seeds of social democracy in the Tunisian society, and participated in all steps of the Tunisian revolution.
- Call Tunisia’s daughters and sons to get more involved in the public life to defend their causes, the causes of the next generations and to continue the causes initiated by the previous generations.
- Congratulate the youth of world on the success of a revolution lead by the youth who believes in democracy and fought for its principles
- Send a hope message to all youth of the world and calls socialist democrats youth organizations to unite in order to fight for just causes and spread values of freedom, equality and solidarity.
Long life to Tunisian youth struggles!
Long life to Tunisia, independent, free and democratic!
XXX. IUSY World Congress
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Dear Comrades,
We have the pleasure of inviting you to the forthcoming:
15 Actions to eradicate Poverty in 15 Years
XXX. IUSY World Congress
Copenhagen, Denmark – 28th February to 2nd March 2014
“Overcoming poverty is not a task of charity, it is an act of justice. Like Slavery and Apartheid, poverty is not natural. It is man-made and it can be overcome and eradicated by the actions of human beings.” — Nelson Mandela
Although the extreme poverty rates have been cut in half since 1990, 1 in 8 people still remain hungry today. As Nelson Mandela said, poverty is man-made and it can be overcome and eradicated by the actions of human beings. So it is now up to us to keep on fighting against poverty and develop concrete actions to achieve a social wellbeing for all. Furthermore we can no longer neglect the link among the economic, social and environmental dimensions of development, achieving social wellbeing for all requires policy making, where social equity, economic growth and environmental protection are approached together.
Together with you we want to develop an IUSY World Campaign promoting 15 Actions to eradicate poverty in the next 15 years. Together we can and will make a difference! We are looking forward to meet all of you again to enjoy both the fun and the politics. Our hosting organization, DSU in Denmark, is happy to welcome all of you to Copenhagen.
With Socialist Regards,
Viviana Piñero
IUSY President
Beatriz Talegón
IUSY Secretary General
Camilla Brejner Schwalbe
DSU President
IUSY World Congress 2014 – Call for Nominations
IUSY is happy to receive nominations of candidates for the XXX IUSY World Congress! All full member organizations of IUSY – that have fulfilled the obligations to IUSY (paid their membership fee) – have the right to make nominations.
THE FOLLOWING POSITIONS ARE UP FOR ELECTIONS:
» President
» Secretary General
» Vice Presidents (18)
» Chair of Control Commission
» Members of Control Commission (4)
In accordance with the Presidium suggestion on Statutes, Working Groups Coordinators will be appointed within the Presidium and not elected. Please note that Gender balance (at least 50% women representation) must be reached within each region.
Nominations must include:
» Letter of motivation from the candidate, which should include a political project for the period.
» Letter of support from the leadership of the candidate’s organization
» Presentation with short CV and picture of the candidate
» Passport copy of the candidate
Deadline for nominations is the 12th of February 2014. After the deadline all nominations will be made public.