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!

Sumangsang-ayon din ako na tiyakain na maipapahatid sa APYN Project team ang anumang gawain na aking isasakatuparan sa ngalan ng APYN at titiyakin ko din na ang aking mga kontribusyon ay sang-ayon sa mga sumasakop na batas pang-lokal o internasyunal.

Nangangako akong susuportahan ang mga kagawian ng network at kikilos upang mapangalagaan at maitaguyod ang mga karapatang pantao sa rehiyong Asya-Pasipiko
Sumasangayon ako sa mga sumusunod na kagawian:

• Ang paglahok ay pagiging aktibo
• Pangangasiwa sa sarili, serbisyo at pagkilos para sa ikatataguyod ng APYN
• Pagtiyak na ang mga gawain ay sang-ayon sa mga balangkas ng karapatang pantao
• Paghikayat sa isa’t-isa tungo sa tunay na kolaborasyon
• Paggalang sa kaibahan ng isa’t-isa at pagtanggap ng mga pagkakatulad
• Tiyakin na ligtas at legal ang mga gawain
• Isakatuparan ang mga pangako sa loob ng itinakdang panahon
• Pagtutok sa panganagutan bago kapangyarihan
• Hindi kakatawan sa APYN ng walang kompirmasyon mula sa APYM team
*para ito sa mga pampublikong gawain – nararapat lamang na ipakilala ang iyong sarili na isang indibidwal na aktibista ng APYN

Para sa iba pang impormasyon tungkol sa mga Balangkas ng Asal, Katawagan at mga Batayan , Pampribadong Polisiya at mga Pahayag ng Impormasyon, tingnan dito

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.

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

theres a cool ‘World Cup 2010: The Art of Great Defence’ here too