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What's Being Done On . . . Political and Civic Participation of Youth?
This section focuses on youth groups that work to promote political, social, and environmental rights of all citizens within their societies and globally. These groups also educate youth on how they can defend and exercise their rights. Convergences - Democratic Republic of Congo Contact: convergences7@yahoo.fr or convergences@yahoo.fr Convergences, a human rights organization based in Goma, DRC, works to promote peace and improve the human rights situation in the region. The group focuses on human rights, conflict resolution, and non-violence education targeting young people in the North Kivu region. The trainings take place in the most multi-ethnic towns, which are often homes to thousands of refugees and internally displaced people. The goal of the trainings is to create a network of trained youth activists who work to reduce violence and improve the human rights situation in the country. Participants are trained in the principles of human rights, techniques for monitoring, research and advocacy, and non-violent social change. To improve the overall human rights situation and to reduce violence, Convergences intersperses human rights and non-violence training with vocational skills training, such as brick making and gardening. Social Union of Sumgait Youth --Azerbaijan Contact: susy_syib@yahoo.com The Social Union of Sumgain Youth was founded in May, 2000 in Sumgait, Azerbaijan, by a group of university students. Its aims are to assist in the realization of the social, economic, and political rights and freedoms of youth living in the Sumgait region; to carry out education on human rights and democracy for a wide range of population in Sumgait; to encourage the participation of young people in civil society building; and to establish new platforms for youth to express themselves. Since its inception the organization has conducted a number of seminars on human rights and published materials on civil society development. Since March 2002, the organization has initiated a new Multimedia NGO Support program. The program is aimed at: providing NGOs in regions outside of the capital with the technical means to work effectively; strengthening NGOs by providing the opportunity to communicate and network with similar organizations within Azerbaijani and internationally; identifying and enhancing the capabilities of the next generation of leaders in the non-governmental sector; strengthening the capacity of already-existing and newly-formed regional NGOs; promoting the formation of new NGOs; and assisting NGO's in interacting with the public. Youth Human Rights Group - Kyrgyzstan www.yhrg.elcat.kg Youth Human Rights Group is run by a group of young activists whose main goal is the protection and promotion of human rights in Kyrgyzstan. The group is active in several areas, such as human rights monitoring, education and awareness raising, legal counseling, and legislative reforms. The human rights monitoring programs of YHRG asses human rights conditions in boarding institutions, such as orphanages and psychiatric hospitals. In addition, YHRG conducts an extensive research on the Kyrgyz juvenile justice system, based on which it is now preparing recommendations for appropriate legislative reforms. The YHRG's education and awareness activities include numerous training sessions for middle and high school students, as well as for college students, school teachers, and NGO community members. Numerous publications, guides, and video films produced through the Group's effort are used to facilitate education and awareness raising efforts. The YHRG maintains the Legal Aid Center for Children and Young People, which provides young people access to legal information. Recently, YHRG completed its second Alternative Report to the United Nations Committee on the Rights of Child. The first such report was prepared in cooperation with several other Kyrgyz NGOs in 2000. A large number of the Committee's recommendations on improving the implementation of the Convention on the Rights of the Child were based on the Alternative Report prepared by YHRG. Youth Human Rights Movement-Russia www.yhrm.hrworld.ru/7_what/7_1_what.shtml Headquartered in Voronezh, Russia, Youth Human Rights Movement (YHRM ) is a network of young activists and youth organizations in Russia and other New Independent States working to shape a new generation of human rights leaders, to promote human rights and universal human values, and to develop effective methods for protection of rights and freedoms. Over the past five years YHRM, along with its partners around the country, has engaged in numerous projects campaigning against nuclear waste imports, fascism, xenophobia and intolerance, for the rights of prisoners of conscience, and for the rights of young people for an alternative civilian service. Some of the recent Youth Human Rights Movement projects cover the relationship between young people and various branches of power, and the challenges facing human rights activists. Through these projects, YHRM educates youth on ways to defend and exercise their civil, political, social, student and labor rights. As part of these campaigns YHRM and its partners prepare and distribute printed materials, develop guidebooks, create web resources, participate in demonstrations, picketing, and other forms of action. About "What's Being Done On . . . " For three months at a time, we highlight the activities of various organizations in different global regions, and links to important resources, that are focused on a particular theme or area of democracy work. Each new theme is announced via DemocracyNews, and the information from the previous installment is placed in the archives below. We hope to receive and post information about the work you or others may be doing that is focused on these issues. Send information via e-mail to the or by fax to (202) 378-9889. |
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