Over 1,000 young people added to this Voice Bank in text, drawings, photos, and videos! Check out some of the highlights below (we will keep adding to this Voice Bank)!

YOU(th) can still take part in this – scroll down to add to the Voice Bank!

YOU(th) Voices from friends in Taiwan

YOU(th) Voices from friends in Singapore

Created with Admarket’s flickrSLiDR.

Here’s MORE from friends in Bangladesh, India, Indonesia, Nepal, Pakistan, and the rest of the world!

From Bangladesh

“Living in dignity means living independently. without being totally dependent on others.”

“Living in dignity is living with respect.”

“When a person is confident about what he is doing and honest, he can live in dignity.”

“When one is proud of what he or she is and what he/she have he can live in dignity.”

“Living in dignity is independence.”

From India

“Ability to voice concern and fight injustice and Availability of chance for economic mobility.”

From Indonesia

“Sesuai dengan fitrah umat manusia, manusia hidup penuh dengan kecintaan satu dengan yang lain. Saling menghargai dan menghormati merupakan kewajiban bagi setiap manusia. Kita tentu tak ingin diperlakukan tidak nyaman dan tidak fair oleh orang lain, maka lakukanlah hal serupa kepada orang sesuai apa yang kita harapkan. Dan sangat tidak asyik jika pada zaman ini masih ada diskriminasi dan pelanggaran hak asasi terhadap suatu individu atau kelompok.”

“Menurut saya konsep hidup yang bermartabat adalah hidup dengan semangat terjaga-terkendali dan pola pikir dewasa –yaitu menghormati diri sendiri dan selanjutnya orang lain. Melakukan perbuatan (to do) yang menjadikan (to be) sosok diri yang bernilai, memiliki arti, bermanfaat, bukan sekadar bagi dirinya, namun kepada orang lain, tanpa secuil pun dalam proses dan tujuannya merampas hak pihak lain.

Hidup bermartabat yang sejati, bukan sekedar memiliki akses untuk mendapatkan dan memiliki kemudahan dalam keseharian, melainkan lebih pada pola hidup yang menerapkan keberpihakkan terhadap nilai-nilai kebenaran dan kebersamaan. Mengapa? Karena kebenaran sesungguhnya ada. Kebersamaan, adalah mutlak adanya.

Akibatnya, indikator manusia sukses yaitu kepemilikan objek benda dan keberhasilan mengangkat derajat hidup dirinya (self glory) dalam suatu pranata sosial, hanya dapat diklaim wajar jika diraih tanpa merenggut hak pihak lain. Inilah kebenaran individu yang diharapkan terakumulasi menjadi kemanfaatan bersama.

Kendati tak dapat dipungkiri bahwa kondisi ketimpangan adalah suatu keniscayaan, namun melakukan usaha-usaha agar ketimpangan itu tergerus menjadi adil dan tepat dengan kemanusian merupakan tanggungjawab setiap insane. Melakukan usaha-usaha tersebut yang disebut hidup bermartabat. Usaha untuk menghindari diri terjebak pada kesimpangsiuran posisi antara manusia dengan manusia lainnya maupun manusia dengan objek benda yang dimilikinya, yang saat ini, tanpa disadari, mendorong manusia bertukar posisi menjadi objek dari apa yang telah dimilikinya dan menjadi budak ketakutan atas kehilangan objek tersebut.”

“I think it’s having the freedom to make your own decisions without the judgment of others burdening you because you know your self-worth will always conquer the opinions of people
around you.”

“I guess dignity means being happy in yourself.”

“To me, dignity means respecting yourself.”

“I think dignity means to live fully without sacrificing your integrity or identity.”

“Living with dignity means not having to compromise all the time, to live in peace, to be who I am.”

“Not doing wrong to others, living without ego but not living without none.”

“Dignity means more than pride or worthiness to me. It also includes self-respect and being able to be respected as who you are and your values. Treating others with dignity is treating others the way we would like to be treated, ex. caring about others; everyone has the right to be treated with respect. Dignity is also being able to be granted our fundamental rights as human beings and being granted freedom.”

“Dignity simply put, is the ability to live simply but also to simply inspire other’s awe to create a sense of self-worth.”

“To me living with dignity is when you live by practicing all good moral values, so that when you die people will talk about the amazing things that you have done in your lifetime.”

“Dignity means to be able to feel proud of whatever you have. Not going around boasting to others, but appreciating whatever you have and feeling satisfied with your life.”

“It means getting the respect that everyone deserves equally.”

“Dignity is the quality in a person that dictates how he carries himself.”

“I guess it’s pride.”

“Doing what is required.”

“Honor? Pride?”

“Well, dignity is something that everyone has, but depending on someone’s personality, their values are different. An arrogant person may have lots of dignity, and might not do anything stupid because it risks damaging their dignity, whereas a person like me, someone who doesn’t care much about dignity, will do something stupid because they don’t care.”

From Nepal

“For me it means the the equal access to every rights, services or privileges provided by the government to its citizens.”

“In short it is guarantee of social justice,respect of human rights  and forum to develop one’s potentiality.”

“I  think I will feel dignified if I get my basic human rights, can exercises the same privileges as my fellow colleagues and get opportunity according to my knowledge and skills.But I am cautious that when I seek dignity in my life I have to think about the dignity of others as well.”

“Dignity is all about equity, respect of basic human rights and fight against discrimination.”

“Its a respect of my inherent right to decide about myself.The way I behave and the way I live are my choices provided that I don’t interfere with the rights of others”

“For me, in simple terms, living a life of dignity means I get basic human rights to exercise,food to eat ,access to education and health and provision of job according to my skills.The society where my kids can laugh and play,the country where I don’t suffer  discrimination and the world where I can work independently can provide the dignity that I pursue in life.”

“Everybody deserves a human respect and I am not the exception. No body can be a exception just because he is financially weak, physically challenged or educationally underprivileged. Living with dignity means the guarantee of this human respect”

“If we have full control of our life and enable others to do so, a life of dignity will exist.”

“Its simple, work according to one’s skill and ability and payment according to one’s need.Its human dignity.”

From Pakistan

“Self Respect”

“To be respected for my beliefs, aspirations and hopes”

“To live a life where you have an adequate level of resources and rights. By resources, I mean that a person should be provided the basic necessicities of life like food, clothes, shelter and water. Also, one should have the fundamental rights he needs to survive in a society, like security, privacy, freedom of speech, freedom of movement etc.”

“Access to justice, basic necessities of life like health, education and housing facilities, and equal opportunities to grow.”

“It means having the freedom to live as you want to.”

“Being in Pakistan, living in dignity means getting 2 meals a day and a shelter to rest after all day struggle.”

“Meeting one’s basic social and economic needs and enjoying basic human rights.”

“Not bowing to the overpowering wrong.”

“To earn respect from others and being appreciated for it”

“Serving Pakistan and Islam without slacking in my required (and relevant) duties and also, without giving up the morals of unity, faith, discipline and truthfulness.”

“To have the freedom and means available to make the choice that i want to make.”

“Protection of your life and provision of your basic needs (electricity, health, education etc)  by the government.”

“Freedom to choose, freedom to decide. Respect for the choices”

“To me it is the ability to express my self and that people respect my opinion.”

“Living in dignity means not having to surrender your faith, life or assets to any human or non-human entity”

“Not having to constantly worry about somebody screwing me over just because I lack the financial resources to manipulate legal/bureaucratic processes to my own advantage.”

“Living with all the legitimate rights and freedoms.”

“To compete and  survive among the social elite.”

“Having the rights to education and decision making, unlike what happens in the patriarchal societies, is living in dignity.”

“Not having to put up with unwarranted crap from someone solely because they enjoy a better social/financial status. A basic right, sadly not afforded to many in our country.”

“Being content with your current lifestyle and fortune without being subject to derision from society being able to live with your head up; its about not being ashamed of who or what you are.”

“Being respected!”

“One may live in dignity by enjoying a lack of hindrace from the state or the society in the acquisition of basic necessities and privileges such as food, housing, knowledge and freedom of religious observance.”

“Dignity is the line between how others will treat you when things go bad.”

“Living in dignity is when you are judged by what you say and what you do instead of being judged by things that are beyond your control or influence.”

“Living in dignity is wen u can walk tall with respect knowin that ur fundamental necessities are bein fullfilled and tht u can practice ur basic rights (such as speech, religion, property and idelogy) with out the fear ov any external element\force takin it away you or interfering with them.”

“Having respect for yourself and respect for others.”

“Living in dignity is not having to depend on someone for your needs.”

“Living in dignity is all about respect regardless of the standard of living, sufferings and/or dominant circumstances.”

“Living in dignity is when you are respected by others and yourself.”

“Living in dignity means living without fear…fear of losing your life…fear of practising your religion…fear of wondering how you will pay for your next meal…fear of losing yourself…”

“Living with dignity means not having to depend on anyone other than God.”

“Taking control of one’s life and enabling others to do so by providing them with support.”

“Living with dignity means to live with a freedom which encompasses one’s heart, mind and soul.”

From the rest of the world

“Living in dignity means enabling people to live their lives and providing them with access to basic services so that they can provide for themselves”

ADD TO THE VOICE BANK NOW!

Young activists from the region shared their views on MDGs and discussed with fellow youth why Human Rights need to be included in the MDGs and how to make sure Human Rights sit on the very core of one of the most important global plans to end poverty.

The APYN is pleased to report the following accomplishments:

•    About 140 volunteer-facilitators from countries – Bangladesh, Brunei, Fiji, India, Indonesia, Japan, Malaysia, Mongolia, Myanmar, Nepal, New Zealand, Nigeria, Pakistan, Philippines, Singapore, Sri Lanka, Thailand, and Vietnam,  hosted ‘Meet on MDGs’ to answer, with about five (or more!) friends, five simple yet important questions on Human Rights and MDGs. See the five questions here.

•    Around 50 registered their thoughts on MDGs through the individual online response form.

•    Another 30 showed their support by lacing their Facebook profile picture with the APYN for Human Rights and MDGs. You can still add it to your profile just click through here

•    There were 87 individuals who donated their Facebook status to call government leaders to not ignore Human Rights in efforts ending poverty. You can still donate your status here for adhoc updates from APYN on Human Rights and the MDGs, just click through here

Next steps:

Our next steps are to collate the responses to inform the next stages of the campaign – we are looking to provide a tool that everyone can use to continuining this campaign in local communities! So stay in touch and look out for the next opportunity to be involved!

Nathan, Krystyna, Wen Yu, Nia, Divya, Suman, Javed, Gaem, Peter, Nafiz, Stella & Scarlett
APYN MDGS Youth Campaign Team
(The Youth Campaign Team is a team of young volunteers from nine different countries who have developed and implemented this campaigning activity through connecting online!)

“August is the month dedicated for the promotion and protection of the Indigenous Peoples’ rights. In August 9, we celebrate the International Day of the World’s Indigenous Peoples. This is a good opportunity for young people across the globe to advance the goal of fortifying an international solidarity for the solution of the problems faced by the indigenous peoples. This is an opportunity for youth to stand up and demand that government ensures that indigenous peoples are free to exercise their rights to health, education and social and economic development.

From August 2009 to January this year, Asia Pacific Youth Network in the Philippines facilitated the (((Youth Poses for Dignity))) where more than 2000 youth voices (in the form of photos), including some 90 from indigenous young people themselves, were collected. These 2000 plus (((Youth Poses for Dignity))) which focus on the call for the respect of Indigenous Peoples’ rights are collated into collages. Above are some of the final product.

We invite you to be part of our advocacy and make this world a place where a genuine respect for human rights is present.”

And here’s a great film of developed by friends at AI Philippines:‘Like You, We have Rights Too. Young Indigenous Peoples – Voices of the Young Indigenous Peoples’

part one: part two: 

& a shout out to our friends at the Asia Pacific Indigenous Youth Network

GIN Conference update

In March 2010,  four APYN youth ambassadors partook in a workshop on the link between poverty and human rights -  which addressed one of thematic areas of the Global Issues Network Conference on Poverty Reduction and Youth related best practices.

The sessions were attended by more than 400 participants, who were exposed to  realities surrounding the status of youth and poverty and how these  situations were human rights issues that we should all be concerned about. Participants came from schools around the Asia Pacific region.

As part of the information sharing sessions, the participants broke into various groups where they further explored their personal interests in how they would like to help in the amplifying of their voices and how they could duplicate this in their own communities. The interests areas were derived from the the areas where the four ambassadors present had used in their own communities  (Quiza – Hip Hop and Music, Selena – Creative Arts and Collage, James – New Media, & Peter – Human Rights Education)

The workshops ended with registrations, where participants were asked to submit the responses they had created  to the question ‘What does Living with dignity mean to you?’ (which filled a whole room) to add their voice to the call to (((Demand Dignity))).

Peter, Quiza, Selena and James