I agree to uphold the vision, mission and values of the Asia Pacific Youth Network in my participation.

I agree to ensure that activities carried out in the name of the Asia Pacific Youth Network are communicated with Asia Pacific Youth Project team and to ensure that my contribution respects local and international laws.

I pledge to support the behaviors of the network and work to protect and promote human rights in the Asia Pacific region.

I agree to the following behaviours:

• To participate is to be active
• To self regulate, self service and share to act in the best interest of the APYN
• To ensure work fits within a human rights framework
• To encourage each other and work collaboratively
• To be mindful of differences and embrace commonalities
• To prioritize safety and ensure the legality of our activities
• To fulfill our promises to each other within a timely manner
• To focus on accountability over authority
• To not represent APYN without receiving confirmation from APYN team (apyncampaigns@gmail.com) * note this refers to public representational roles – you are of course able to introduce yourself as an individual activist of APYN.

Filipino translation here

For information on Code of Conduct, Terms and Conditions and Privacy and Information statements see here

The APYN promotes the idea that individuals working collectively can create change. Its’ model is based on individual participants.

APYN embraces the principles of community organizing, youth participation (including active participation), respecting diversity and engagement through activism.

Vision:

An Asia Pacific region where human rights are universally respected and young people are actively engaged in the promotion and protection of these rights.

Mission:

• To develop a network of young human rights activists working together to achieve human rights change through coordinated campaigns
• To actively engage with other young people in the Asia Pacific region to achieve human rights impact
• To introduce a wide spectrum of individuals and groups for effective human rights activism
• To work in spaces of creativity, innovation, equality and reflect in our work, those values enshrined by the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) and other international human rights standards
• The Asia Pacific Youth Network is committed to the inclusion of active participation principles throughout its work.

Values:

• APYN facilitates a community of young human rights activists based on the principles of international solidarity, effective action for the individual victim, regional coverage and the universality and indivisibility of human rights, impartiality and independence, and democracy and mutual respect.
  Individuals can determine their participation through both online and community engagements.
• APYN calls on community organizing principles, encapsulating active participation to develop the individual network model (Global Individual-based Network for Growth and Human Rights Impact) through integrated activities that focus on campaigning, mobilizing and outreach/promotion to achieve growth objectives.

Funding and associations

• The Asia Pacific Youth Network receives funds from Amnesty International and is supported by Amnesty International in the Asia Pacific region. Many other people and organizations give their time, energy and expertise to contribute to the APYN.
• APYN has also worked with the Asia Pacific Indigenous Youth Network, Tactical Technology Collective,  Anti-Death Penalty Asia Network (ADPAN) and many more.

=====

CODE OF CONDUCT FOR INDIVIDUALS PARTICIPATING IN APYN

As a member of APYN you will often post to websites, blogs, forums and other virtual and community spaces.  This is a very valuable and visible volunteer position in conjunction with mobilization and servicing of APYN.

As an individual, we support your freedom of speech and freedom to hold your opinions.  However, as a volunteer as part of APYN, we have provided the following guidelines for appropriate behaviour.

Any contributions to Asia Pacific Youth Network online spaces by an Asia Pacific Youth Network member must:

• be accurate (where they state facts);
• be genuinely held (where they state opinions);
• be in solidarity with the principles and human rights agenda of Asia Pacific Youth Network
• comply with applicable law in any country from which they are posted.

In addition,

• Do not provide publically personal details, either your own or those of someone else.
• Do not endanger yourself or others.
• Do not approach the press, political parties or any other entity as the official representative of Asia Pacific Youth Network.
• Do not ask people to take action in the name of the Asia Pacific Youth Network, unless the action forms part of an offical APYN campaign
• Do assume that what you publish on the Web is permanent. Anyone on the internet can easily print out a submission or save it to a computer.
• Do treat each other with respect, recognising other participants right to freedom of opinion and expression.

Any contributions by an Asia Pacific Youth Network participant must NOT:

• be defamatory (a defamatory comment is one that may damage the reputation of a person or organisation);
• be in contempt of Court (i.e. your contribution must not contain anything that risks prejudicing current or forthcoming Court proceedings);
• be threatening, abusive, harassing or invasive of a person’s privacy;
• be sexist, racist, profane, blasphemous, homophobic or otherwise discriminatory and/or offensive;
• promote violence or advocate, condone or assist any unlawful act;
• describe violent intentions towards other people or organisations;
• be pornographic , sexually explicit, obscene or lewd;
• be used to impersonate any person or to misrepresent your identity;
• infringe any copyright, database right, trade mark or any other intellectual property, confidentiality or privacy rights of any person or organisation; or
• otherwise violate any law.

Breach of this code will result in immediate removal

=====

TERMS & CONDITIONS FOR CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE ASIA PACIFIC YOUTH NETWORK

By sending in user-generated content to the Asia Pacific Youth Network, I am confirming the following;

1. I grant APYN and partners, the right to use the materials I have submitted alone or with modifications in any material including the internet for an unlimited time.
2. I have the permission of all people who appear in the materials or the (co)author(s) of the materials I have submitted, for APYN and partners to use this content in any material including the internet for an unlimited time.
3. I understand I have no copyright or ownership of the photographs or any other material I have submitted.
4. I release APYN and partners from all claims and liability relating to the photographs.
5. I agree that APYN and partners can store my personal details in relation to the photographs, but they will not provide this information to anyone else or use this information for any other purposes.
6. My contribution is;

• accurate (where it states facts)
• genuinely held (where it states opinions)
• in solidarity with APYN’s policies and human rights agenda
• in compliance with applicable law in my country of residence

1. My contribution is not;

• a danger to myself or others
• defamatory
• in contempt of Court
• threatening, abusive, harassing or invasive of a person’s privacy
• discriminatory and/or offensive
• promoting violence or advocating, condoning or assisting unlawful acts
• pornographic, sexually explicit, obscene or lewd
• an impersonation of someone else or a misrepresentation of my identity
• an infringement of copyright/database right/other intellectual property
• an infringement of confidentiality/privacy rights of people/organisations
• a violation of any law

=====

PRIVACY AND INFORMATION PRINCIPLES

• Asia Pacific Youth Network (APYN) is not a legal entity. As such we provide the following principles on the use of your information.
• Your online security, safety and privacy  is very important to the Asia Pacific Youth Network
• At anytime, to stop communications from APYN, please email apyncampaigns@gmail.com. Please note however, that this will not unsubscribe you from Social Network Site connections such as Facebook.
• The Asia Pacific Youth Network reserves the right to limit the interactions through online branded space and otherwises of individuals which it determines to be acting outside the best interests of the APYN.

1. HOW WE USE YOUR PERSONAL INFORMATION

• We may use the Information you submit to the Site to notify you by email about important functionality changes and alterations to the Site, and we also use your Information to provide you with information about our other services which are similar to those we provide on the Sites, if you have indicated that you wish to receive such communications from us.
• The Information you give us will be stored securely on a database and may be used by us for the purposes such as notifying you of changes, opportunities, activities
• We may also use your Information to help us to know what incentives, appeals and actions are working well and which are not so strong and to inform future activity across the organisation, helping APYN to be more effective in our work.
• We may offer you the opportunity to sign up to a mailing list and/or newsletter, to participate in a survey or a competition, or to receive information by email about third parties’ products and services, or any other products and services which we provide.  If you sign up for any of these and subsequently change your mind, you may opt out by notifying us at our Customer Services email address above.

2. DISCLOSURE OF YOUR INFORMATION TO THIRD PARTIES

• Except as set out below, we will not sell, distribute or disclose your Information without your consent, unless we believe in good faith that the law requires it.
• If you have subscribed to any of our e-communications, e-zines or e-newsletters, we will not sell or rent this information to anyone.
• As stated above, we may share your Information with selected third parties (including Amnesty International), in order to provide you with information about products, services or issues which may be of interest to you, unless you have indicated that you do not wish to receive such communications.
• From time to time we may work in partnership with other organisations on a campaign and so you may receive joint communications from APYN and the partnership organisation(s) in question, unless you have indicated that you do not wish to receive such communications.

3. TRANSFER TO THIRD PARTIES

• The Information that we collect from you may be transferred to, and stored at, a destination for our own administration purposes or for the purpose of any international campaign run by APYN or Amnesty International.
• By submitting your Information, you agree to this transfer, storing or processing.  We cannot guarantee safeguards for the protection of personal data, but we will take all steps reasonably necessary to ensure that your Information is treated securely.
• If APYN is acquired by a third party, personal data held by it about its members may be one of the transferred assets.

4. SELF REGULATION, SELF SERVICING AND SHARING

• People should be able to intereact with the Asia Pacific Youth Network to connect with others, and share information with them, to take action on human rights issues and to learn about human rights.
• We are building the Asia Pacific Youth Network, which we believe will create human rights impact through investment in opportunities for young people in the Asia Pacific region to connect and learn.
• We believe in international human rights standards and instruments and each of our ability to uphold, protect and respect the rights enshirned in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.
• Achieving APYN’s mission and vision should be constrained only by limitations of law, technology, and evolving social norms.
• By virtue of the spaces that APYN is connecting through (eg Facebook) we aknowledge the principles of these spaces.
• Self regulation recongnises  each APYN individual participant as able to understand the mission, vision and values and respect these in their interactions with APYN
• Self servicing recongnises each APYN indiviaul as able to access information from APYN online spaces or otherwise as they are available.
• Sharing recognises each APYN individuals ability to control content and information which they share.

The Asia Pacific Youth Network wants to hear your views.

Comments, compliments, ideas and complaints can be submitted here. We will try and get back to you as soon as possible.

Thanks for your feedback!

The survey should take around 11 minutes to complete and an overview of the results will be made available on www.apyouth.net shortly.

Thank you for taking part in this survey today! Click here

Japan continues to execute prisoners who are mentally ill, despite international standards which require those with a serious mental illness to be protected against the death penalty.

Executions in Japan are carried out in secret. Lawyers face major obstacles in obtaining information, including on the health of prisoners, and no prior notice of execution is given. Prisoners live in constant fear that each day may be their last.

Death row prisoners in Japan are kept in harsh conditions, in routine isolation with little human contact. The situation is worst for those with a mental illness, who are likely to suffer additional punishments because of behavior that may infringe the strict rules imposed on them.

The Asia Pacific Youth Network is extremely concerned by the situation of mentally ill prisoners under sentence of death in Japan and is urging the government to comply with international standards.

TAKE ACTION NOW!

Please sign and send e-versions of these two postcards to the Minister of Justice in Japan.

To:
CHIBA KEIKO
Minister of Justice
Ministry of Justice
1 – 1- 1 Kasumigaseki
Chiyoda-ku
Tokyo 100-8977
Japan

If all are Yes to the above, then you are the person who we are looking for!

Here’s how you can get involved!

You can choose either
• To become an online ambassador – create a three month project, implement and evaluate it – all online! (these can be any time between now and January 2010)
• or To become an local ambassador – create a eight month project, implement and evaluate it! (you need to be available to begin in late June)
  We are challenging you to challenge yourself to change the world!

These programs include peer support, interactions with other activists from APYN, ways to learn new skills and help to lead and form the Asia Pacific Youth Network!

What will participants get?
Participants will:

• Develop skills in leadership, action planning, activism and mobilisation (building coalitions and constituencies)
• Meet and share with other young people from around the region who care about human rights
• Build a strong understanding of issues surrounding human rights and poverty

Participants will also receive:

• facilitated online sessions
• tools to support the development of action plans
• And yes, a certificate on completion!

Interested? Great! Please answer these questions and return by June 19th, 2009 [application submitted after June 19th will be considered in our next round of recruitment]:
spots are limited so be quick! We’ll be in touch within a few days! email apyncampaigns@gmail.com
1. Your name and contact details (phone number and email address)
2. Your country:
3. State whether you want to be an online ambassador (3 months) or a local ambassador (8 months)?
4. Are you a member of Asia Pacific Youth Network?
5. Are you a member of another youth organisation/club/NGO? ( If yes, which?)
6. Why do you want to be part of this program?
7. What would you like to learn as part of this program?
8. What skills and experience will you share with the program?
9. Please also attach a short bio or CV (1 page max) outlining your previous work, study, volunteer, activist experiences)

CONGRATULATIONS! You did it!! 30 May 2009

Together… Ten countries, 46 activities, youth voices amplified!
View Pictures on Facebook >>>

IN AUSTRALIA: Youth activists in three cities collected signatures, facilitated voices activism and discussed the key campaign themes.

IN BANGLADESH: Two events were held, one in front of T.S.C, Dhaka University, where youth activists participated in placard demonstrations, human chains, signature petitioning and a quiz competition. The second event held in Rajshahi, where youth activists demonstrated their call to Demand Dignity.

IN HONG KONG:
Youth activists collected 85 signatures on petition to end forced evictions in Cambodia!

IN INDIA: An event hosted by YUVA, more than 30 activists developed placards and formed a chain, singing songs, sloganeering and demanding dignity for all!

IN JAPAN: Youth activists in Tokyo gathered in Shinjunku facilitating voices activism on business cards at the Earth Day Fair in Meiji Park.
IN MALAYSIA: Youth activists gathered to develop aerial art to (((Demand Dignity)))

IN MONGOLIA: Youth activists participated in training and collected Voices activism pieces after planned public activities were cancelled due circumstances beyond their control. Activists also took action online.

IN NEPAL: Hundreds of youth activists gathered in Kathmandu, joined by over 30 groups of peers throughout Nepal to (((Demand Dignity))). Photographs are available and a video will be made available.

IN THE PHILIPPINES:  Four events organised by youth activists including video booths, snake rally, motorcade and rally were held Manila, Cebu, Cagayan de Oro and Zamboanga City – all including activities to end forced evictions!  Activists had a strong response from the public and widespread media coverage.

IN THAILAND: Youth activists participated in a day program in a house party.

ONLINE:
Youth activists not near a local activity were encouraged to take action online through contributing a response to “What does living with Dignity mean to me?” and invited to take part in a map petition action. You can still do this NOW!

Thank You for your support and participation!

Let’s join activists around the region to Demand Dignity!
>>> check out the (((Demand Dignity))) Launch events

You can take action online to be part of the activities!
If you have:

• 30 seconds today:

Log your location on our map petition & tell your friends about it!

• 30 minutes today:
• Follow us on Twitter and respond to our questions;
• Post your voice on http://www.demanddignity.org and invite some friends too!
• Encourage your friends to join the Asia Pacific Youth Network.
• Log your location on our map petition & tell your friends about it!
• Invite 30 of your friends to join the Asia Pacific Youth Network on Facebook
• 30 hours in the next 3 months:

Organise a local activity with your friends over the next 3 months exploring the themes of the Demand Dignity campaign – “What does Dignity mean to you?”. You’ll need to email your idea and plan to us.

• 30 days over the next 6 months:

Today – log on to your favourite social networking site, create an APYN Demand Dignity group, and invite 30 of your friends to join. Email us the pathway to your group to find out the next 29 actions to sustain your network of young human rights activists!

• 3 months:

Become youth ambassador!
Look out for details next week on this site or email your interest to us!

Set yourself a target, devise an action plan and implement it! It’s a longer term project that connects you with other people who want to Demand Dignity! Email us for more information.

Got a better idea? email it to us or post comment below!

Look forward to hearing from you or seeing you in one of our activities!

In a world where 1 billion people live in slums our call is simple: More Human Rights = Less Poverty.

With over thirty activities, activists under the age of thirty years act together to amplify their demands for dignity for all.

Join us and add your voice on our map petition.