We are looking forward to hearing your views! Submit them here! Remember to submit before September 25!

Already part of APYN? If not, join here now!

Ask your friends to meet with you and answer 5 questions to share your ideas on how the MDGs are working in your country!

5 Questions: Tell us where your country is on the MDGs!

1. What does $US1.25 a day buy you in your hometown?
2. Which MDGs are important to you?
3. Which  human rights in the UDHR are NOT covered by the MDGs?
4. If you were the leader of your country, how would you include human rights in the MDGs?
5. What is one thing you can do to make the MDGs real?

Submit your answers and add your thoughts to amplify young people’s ideas on the MDGs!

When to hold your ‘Meet on MDGs’: Between July 20 and September 25, 2010.

To register your ‘Meet on MDGs’ simply fill out this registration form by September 17, 2010.

Register NOW!

When you have had your ‘Meet on MDGs’ it would be really great if you could fill out the Outcomes Sheet! This will allow your views to be collated with other people’s on the MDGs!

Want to know how your country is going? Check out these links! MDGs monitor and UNDP

Questions and Answers

Q: Do I need to know alot about the MDGs in order to take part?

A: No! This is about you and your friends reflecting on what you think! There are lots of resources and information about the MDGs so you may wish to do some pre-reading, but this is about what you think!

Q: Do I need to register for this?

A: Yes, you need to register and host your Meet on MDGs between July 20, 2010 and 25 September, 2010!

Q:  Is this a public activity?

A: No, this is you asking your friends, people you know, to discuss these issues and then sharing these views. However, if you’d like to run a public activity or event, please contact apyncampaigns@gmail.com

Q: Does this cost anything?

A: No, as you are asking your friends, consider where you’d like to meet, it might be at home, school, work or your favourite hangouts. It doesn’t have to be a ‘big event’ more like a small meeting of your friends. Think about where you normally see your friends, and consider turning the next time you meet them, into a ‘Meet on MDGs’.

Q: Do my responses need to be in English?

A: It’s great if you can provide your answers in your own language and English, however, if this is difficult, please provide in your own language. Perhaps one of your friends might be able to help with translations. If you have problem using the outcomes form, you can always email apyncampaigns@gmail.com with the details of your Meet on MDGs and then the answers to the questions!

Q: Do I need permission to hold a ‘meet on MDGs’?

A: It might be best to ask wherever you decide to meet (eg if you are meeting at home, ask the people you live with, at school or work, whoever you need to ask to use the space etc). Remember though, this isn’t ‘public’ events – you are inviting your friends to participate in these discussions.

Q: How does this activity affect change?

A: Community discussions are the first step to increasing awareness on issues. Every person you speak with about issues that concern you is one more person that may consider the issue you care about.

APYN also wants to collate you and your friends views, with others from around the region, to provide a small insight into young people’s reflection on the MDGs. This is why we ask for your feedback. We can then, depending on the volume of responses, look at different ways to amplify the messages that are coming through from young people around the region about the MDGs. While official country reports have already been prepared and submitted for review of the MDGs, we think that your reflections are important!

Q: Great, I’ve organized and hosted my ‘Meet on MDGs’ and provided the Outcomes Sheet, what can I do now?

A: You can join the MDGs youth campaign team and continue to work on this – and other campaigns related to human rights and poverty.

What are the MDGs?

In 2000, leaders from around the world agreed on 8 development goals to be achieved by 2015. These goals are seen as a framework by which development can be measured. If these goals were to be achieved, world poverty would be halved.

The goals are outlined below:

Goal 1: Eradicate extreme poverty and hunger

Goal 2: Achieve universal primary education

Goal 3: Promote gender equality and empower women

Goal 4: Reduce Child Mortality Rate

Goal 5: Improve maternal health

Goal 6: Combat HIV/AIDS, malaria, and other diseases

Goal 7: Ensure environmental sustainability

Goal 8: Develop a global partnership for development

More information on Youth and MDGs

How do the MDGs relate to human rights?

Governments risk failing some of the world’s most impoverished and vulnerable groups unless human rights are put at the centre of efforts to eradicate poverty. The MDGs relate to human rights issues but there is a large divide between the current MDGs framework and international human rights standards.

The world’s most prominent global initiative against poverty, the UN Millennium Development Goals, is largely silent on human rights. The human rights basis for the goals is evident:  universal primary education, promotion of gender equality, improvements in maternal health, to name just a few. But unlike the legal requirements bound in international human rights instruments, progress toward these goals is largely thought to be a matter of goodwill rather than a legal obligation.

For more information, please visit here

Act now: hold a ‘Meet on MDGs’ – what do you and your friends think about MDGs?

A great opportunity to campaign for Human Rights to be included in the Millennium Development Goals OR for Freedom of Expression, Association and Assembly in Myanmar (Burma)!

APYN is looking for young people throughout the Asia Pacific who want to work with other young people to develop, implement and evaluate campaigns! We’re looking for people for two different youth campaign teams!

• MDGs: the link between poverty and human rights
• Myanmar/Burma: freedom of expression, assembly and association in Myanmar.

Interested? Join a Youth Campaign Team today!

What is a Youth Campaign Team?

It’s a group of people from the Asia Pacific Youth Network (APYN) who develop, implement and evaluate campaign activity plans and lead on these within the APYN, encouraging others to participate for human rights impact.

What are the preferred selection criteria for a Youth Campaign Team member?

• Passionate about the campaign issue
• Aged (ideally) between 18-25 years of age (but it’s OK if you are older!)
• Able to access the internet at least weekly.
• Able to commit 2-3 hours per week to campaign work
• Able to engage at least 5 other young people (your friends) in the campaign (through networks) – or at least try too!
• Able to share skills with other young people (online skills, activist skills, design skills, creative campaigning ideas, translations, administration and many more!)
• Able to communicate in English, and (preferable) translate into local language

How do I apply?

Simply register your interest via email to apyncampaigns@gmail.com with the subject line ‘Youth Campaign Team’. Include some brief information about yourself including short responses to the selection criteria! We’ll then be in contact as soon as possible! You’ll be sent a short survey and invited to join an email group and initial Skype orientation session.

Thank you for your interest!

Current opportunities:

For these two teams, you’ll need to apply by 26 July, 2010.

What Youth Campaign Teams are now seeking members?

1. MDGs Youth Campaign Team:

Do you care about the link between human rights and poverty? Want to work online with other young people throughout the region to develop, implement and evaluate Asia Pacific Youth Network’s MDG campaign? Want to encourage other young people in your community to have their voice amplified on the need for human rights to be included in the MDGs? The MDGs Youth Campaign Team may be for you! The key activity points run from NOW until September 2010; then again from November until April 2011.

2. Myanmar/Burma Youth Campaign Team:

In the lead up to expected October elections in Myanmar (Burma), APYN will be campaigning on the ‘three freedoms’ of expression, association and assembly in Myanmar. The Myanmar (Burma) Youth Campaign Team will also develop a creative campaign to focus on three Karenni young people imprisoned in Myanmar. The key activity points are from NOW until November 2010, with the potential for extension campaigning work following this!

Bayangkan seketika bagaimana kehidupan anda seharian sekiranya anda salah seorang daripada 2.6 juta pekerja domestik di Indonesia, sebahagian besar daripada mereka merupakan gadis dan wanita- semuda 12 tahun atau 13 tahun.

Setiap hari untuk majikan dan keluarga mereka:

• Anda secara umumnya perlu memasak, membasuh baju, mengemas rumah, menjaga anak-anak dan membeli-belah
• Anda selalunya akan brkerja untuk masa yang lama, dibenarkan untuk rehat sebentar atau langsung tidak; laporan menunujukkan ada dalam kalangan pekerja domestik yang terpaksa bekerja selama 21-22 jam sehari, tujuh hari seminggu.
• Anda bermungkinan tidak dibenarkan untuk mengambil cuti walaupun cuti umum.
• Anda selalu tidak dibayar gaji selama beberapa bulan dan sekiranya dibayar, gaji tersebut adalah lebih rendah daripada apa yang telah dijanjikan dan sering kali kurangd aripada gaji minimum yang ditetapkan di Indonesia.
• Anda juga tidak boleh meninggalkan rumah majikan atau tidak dibenarkan menyertai mesyuarat atau aktiviti sosial di luar rumah. Anda mungkin dikurung di dalam rumah pada waktu malam.
• Anda terdedah dalam risiko mengalami gangguan fizikal dan sexual  dan mempunyai peluang terhad untuk mendapat keadilan, ini bukan hanya kerana had undang-undang tetapi anda juga takut untuk bersuara kerana bimbang kehilangan kerja anda.

Bayangkan ini, setiap hari..

Pekerja wanita domestik di Indonesia menghadapi pencabulan hak asasi manusia termasuk explotasi ekonomi, kondisi tempat kerja yang kurang baik serta diskriminasi jantina. Dianggarkan lebih kurang 2.6 juta pekerja domestik terdedah kepada keganasan psikologi, fizikal dan sexual. Di Indonesia, pekerja domestik wanita tidak dilindungi oleh akta yang berkaitan dengan perlindungan hak-hak pekerja domestik iaitu No.13/2003, Undang-Undang  tentang  Ketenagakerjaan.

Untuk beberapa tahun, persatuan masyarakat civil yang aktif memperjuangkan hak-hak pekerja domestik dengan berkempen untuk undang-undang khusus bagi pekerja domestik agar mereka diiktiraf secara sah sebagai pekerja dan hak mereka terjamin.

Bayangkan sebentar, apa ynag anda boleh lakukan untuk mengubah kehidupan harian pekerja domestic.

Parlimen Indonesia telah menyertakan bil pekerja domestik di dalam agenda legislatif untuk tahun 2010. Kumpulan pekerja domestik dengan koordinasi gabungan pekerja domestik Jala-PRT telah merancang beberapa siri aktiviti untuk beberapa bulan akan datang bagi memastikan bil tersebut didebatkan dan diintegasikan hak asasi manusia antarabangsa. Bagi menyokong usaha initiatif Jala-PRT dan rakan-rakan global dan menyoroti keprihatinan di bawah, kami ingin menggesa anda untuk mengambil tindakan segera dengan meletakkan nama anda pada surat di bawah.

Nama dan maklumat anda akan disertakan pada salinan surat kepada Pengerusi Komissioner Ke-11 Parlimen Indonesia. Komissioner ini akan mendebat dan menggubal draf bil.

Ambil tindakan segera dan bantu melakarkan hari yang lebih baik.

Borang Tindakan

Pengerusi, Komission ke-11 Parlimen

Dewan Rakyat

Dr. Ribka Tjiptaning

Kompleks Gedung Dewan Perwakilan Rakyat

Jl. Gatot Subroto

Senayan

Jakarta, 10270, Indonesia

Fax: +62-21-5756045

Kepada Dr. Ribka Tjiptaning,

Tujuan saya menulis surat ini  adalah bagi meningkatkan kesedaran bahawa pekerja domestik tidak diiktiraf secara sah dari segi undang-undang dan tidak dapat menikmati hak-hak yang telah dimaktubkan oleh undang-undang dan standard antarabangsa.

Saya memahami bahawa Komissionar ke-11 Parliament bertanggungjawab terhadap debat dalaman dan penggubalan draf bil Pekerja Domestik.

Saya merayu kepada pihak tuan untuk menimbangkan penyertaan provisi-provisi yang menghormati hak asasi manusia iaitu termasuk:

• provisi-provisi yang berkaitan dengan jangka waktu bekerja yang berpatutan berdasarkan penakrifan yang jelas berpandukan 24 jam sehari dan seminggu.
• Takrifan yang jelas berkenaan cuti seperti cuti mingguan dan tempoh cuti termasuk cuti tahunan, cuti sakit, cuti umum dan cuti bersalin.
• Standard yang jelas bagi menjamin remunisasi yang mencukupi untuk menjamin kehidupan bermartabat; aturan yang jelas mengenai kerja malam dan kerja lebih waktu termasuk remunisasi yang mencukupi.
• Standard yang jelas bagi pemberhentian kerja, mekanisme resolusi permasalahan termasuk akses untuk ke muka pengadilan.
• Hak untuk perbincangan kolektif dan kebebasan berasosiasi juga harus dijamin untuk pekerja domestik.
• Provisi-provisi bagi menubuhkan satu mekanisme bagi memantau situasi pekerja domestik.
• Provisi-provisi bagi memastikan hak-hak sexual dan reproduktif bagi pekerja domestik termasuk akses kepada maklumat dan servis perancangan keluarga serta kontrasepsi.

Saya memohon pihak tuan untuk memastikan adanya perlindungan yang adil dan sama rata bagi pekerja domestik dan tindakan tersebut diambil bagi mengelakkan diskriminasi gender, keganasan psikologi, fizikal dan sexual serta pencabulan hak asasi manusia yang lain.

Terima kasih atas penimbangan pihak tuan.

Yang Benar.

[Borang]

Ask Secretary General of ASEAN, Dr Surin Pitsuwan, to:

•    Uphold ASEAN’s commitment to human rights among its member states, including Burma.
•    Work with all ASEAN states to pressure the Burmese authorities to ensure that the three freedoms – expression, association and assembly – are enjoyed by the people of Burma in the lead up to the expected 2010 elections.

You’ll add your name to a petition that people around the Asia Pacific region are signing. It will be delivered to coincide with a ministerial meeting on July 19 in Vietnam, so we need as many online petition signatures as possible by Monday 5 July , 2010.

In Burma, the first elections for 20 years are likely to be held towards the end of 2010. The repression of political opposition is on-going. Fundamental rights of association, assembly, and expression are not a reality in Burma. People who show any opposition face harassment, arbitrary arrest, torture, imprisonment and extrajudicial executions. When such oppression is occurring often ethnic minorities face human rights violations that go unnoticed. This is the situation for Burma’s 135 minority groups.

Together we can work for the day when not only the 2,200 political prisoners – but the whole of Burma is truly free.

What are the 3 freedoms?
1.    Freedom of Association
2.    Freedom of Assembly
3.    Freedom of Expression

Restrictions on political activists prevent them from participating in elections. This means that their freedom to associate, assemble and express themselves is not freely granted to them. Likewise, the restrictions on media prevent freedom of expression and large numbers of political prisoners remain imprisoned taking away all 3 freedoms; their freedom of association, assembly and expression.

How do these 3 freedoms relate to human rights?
These freedoms are found in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) in articles 19 & 20:
Article 19.
•    Everyone has the right to freedom of opinion and expression; this right includes freedom to hold opinions without interference and to seek, receive and impart information and ideas through any media and regardless of frontiers.
Article 20.
•    (1) Everyone has the right to freedom of peaceful assembly and association.
•    (2) No one may be compelled to belong to an association.

For more information on the UDHR, please visit here.

See YouTube clips of the UDHR articles on produced by APYN youth activists!

• In English
• In Malay
  
• In Thai
• In Tagalog
• In Chinese (traditional from Hong Kong)

How do these 3 freedoms relate to what is happening in Burma?
Burma is about to hold its first national election in over 20 years – and we want to use this critical moment to help bring about real and lasting change.

In the last election (1990) the National League for Democracy (NLD) won 80% of the parliamentary seats, but their party leaders were swiftly arrested and imprisoned. Since then the junta has continued to inflict the most horrific human rights abuses on it’s own people.

Repression, intimidation and a raft of new election laws effectively prevent anyone who opposes them from standing in this year’s election. People who oppose these restrictions face human rights abuse. The people of Burma do not have freedom of expression, assembly and association.

What can I do to change these human rights restrictions, you ask?
We believe we have a unique chance to stand up for the rights of the people of Burma and free Burma’s political prisoners.

Act now – sign the online petition! AND tell a friend about it by emailing them with this link !

You’ll add your name to a petition that people around the Asia Pacific region are signing. It will be delivered to coincide with a ministerial meeting on July 19 in Vietnam, so we need as many online petition signatures as possible by 30th June, 2010.

Yong Vui Kong was a teenager when he was found guilty of carrying 47g of heroin from Malaysia into Singapore.  In Singapore there is a mandatory death sentence for all drug trafficking cases involving more than 30g of heroin leaving judges no discretion to consider factors such as age, background of the offender or other special circumstances

Youg Vui Kong is now 22 years old, he has exhausted his appeals and he is due to be hanged shortly.  The only hope for his life being spared is if he is granted clemency and his death sentence is commuted to a prison sentence.

Please take a few minutes to support this urgent APYN action by sending a message to the President of Singapore and to the Editor-in-Chief of the Straits Times.    Please create your own polite message; this is very important as inappropriate messages will be counter-productive.  Or you can use the model text below.

Express action option – send your messages by email

President of Singapore   e-mail address : s_r_nathan@istana.gov.sg

Editor-in-Chief of the Straits Times    stonline@sph.com.sg

Semi-express action option – please send tourist postcards showing a famous landmark in your country to the President and to the Editor-in-Chief of the Straits times so they are aware that people in lots of countries are concerned about this case. 

President
His Excellency SR Nathan
Office of the President
Orchard Road, Istana
Singapore 0922

Editor-in-Chief
The Straits Times
1000 Toa Payoh North
News Centre
Singapore 318994

What else can I do?

Take a photo of yourself holding a sign saying “Don’t Execute Yong Vui Kong” and upload it as your Facebook profile picture.   If you decide to do this please also keep a link to this action posted near the top of your Wall and/or use the Facebook Notes option to tell your Friends about the Youg Vui Kong case and include a link to this action at the end

• Please tell your friends about this case and invite them to take this action
• You can post a link to this action and a link to the Vui Kong’s Story video clip on your Facebook Wall (links below)
• Consider writing about Youg Vui Kong’s case on blogs
• You can confirm on www.apyouth.net which actions you’ve taken

Find out more about the Yong Vui Kong case

A Call for a Moratorium, Mandatory Death Penalty

Vui Kong’s Story

Singapore Anti-Death Penalty Campaign Facebook Group

AIHK Urgent Action for Yong Vui Kong

Bahasa Malay version here

Chair, Parliamentary Commission IX
House of People’s Representatives
Dr. Ribka Tjiptaning
Kompleks Gedung Dewan Perwakilan Rakyat
Jl. Gatot Subroto
Senayan
Jakarta, 10270, Indonesia
Fax: +62-21-5756045

Dear Dr. Ribka Tjiptaning,

I am writing to raise my concern that domestic workers in Indonesia are not recognized legally as workers and do not enjoy all the rights that are provided for in international law and standards.

I understand that the Parliamentary Commission IX is responsible for the initial debate and amendment to the draft Domestic Workers bill.

I appeal to you that consider the inclusion of provisions that respect human rights including:

• Provisions relating to reasonable limitation of working hours through clearly defined maximum hours of work in 24 hours and per week;
• Clearly defined weekly rest and leave periods (annual leave, public holidays, sick leave, maternity leave);
• Clear standards to ensure remuneration adequate to secure a life with dignity; clear standards for night work and overtime, including adequate remuneration;
• Standards on termination of employment; dispute resolution mechanisms, including access to courts.
• The right to collective bargaining and freedom of association must also be guaranteed to domestic workers.
• Provisions for the establishment of mechanisms to monitor the situation of domestic workers.
• Provisions to ensure sexual and reproductive rights to domestic workers including access to information and services on family planning and contraceptives.

I request that you ensure that there is an equal protection of domestic workers rights and those measures are developed to protect domestic workers from gender-based discrimination, psychological, physical and sexual violence and other human rights abuses.

Thank you for your consideration.

Yours sincerely,

Speak Bahasa Indonesia? Join APYN online here

Share on Twitter, Facebook below (Add this link to your facebook or share with a friend who is a domestic worker or who employs a domestic worker now!)

Everyday for your employer and their family:

• You generally need to cook, wash clothes, clean the house, look after children and do the shopping.
• You often work very long hours, being allowed little or no rest, reports indicate some domestic workers being forced to work 21-22 hours per day, seven days a week.
• You are likely to not be permitted to take holiday leave (even public holidays)
• You sometimes don’t get paid for months and when you do, often it is less money than you agreed to when you first were employed – and much less than minimum wage in Indonesia.
• You may also not be able to leave your employers house, or are prevented from joining meetings or social events outside the home. Perhaps you are even locked in your room at night.
• You live with a high risk of experiencing physical and sexual violence, and very limited opportunities to seek justice for this when it occurs, not only due to limitations in the law, but also as you are afraid to speak out against your employer as you may lose your job.

Imagine this, everyday…

Women domestic workers in Indonesia face human rights abuses at work including economic exploitation, poor working conditions as well as gender-based discrimination.  The approximately 2.6 million domestic workers are subjected to physical, psychological and sexual violence. In  Indonesia,  women  domestic  workers  are  not  protected  by  current  legislation safeguarding  workers  rights,  in  particular  the  2003  Manpower  Act  (No.13/2003,  Undang-Undang  tentang  Ketenagakerjaan).

For a number of years, civil society groups working on the rights of domestic workers have been campaigning for a specific law on domestic workers that will recognize them legally as workers and that will safeguard their rights.

Imagine for a moment, what you can do to change the everyday for domestic workers in Indonesia.

The Indonesian parliament has included a domestic workers bill in their legislative agenda for 2010.  Domestic worker groups coordinated by the domestic workers coalition Jala-PRT have planned a series of activities over the next few months to ensure the bill is debated and that it integrates international human rights standards. To support the initiative of Jala-PRT and its global friends, and to highlight the following concerns, we ask YOU to take action now by adding your name to the letter below.

Your name and details will be added to a copy of this letter and sent to the Chair of the Parliamentary Commission IX. This commission will initially debate and amend the draft bill.

Take action now and help create a better everyday.