It’s been half a decade since Amnesty International brought together young leaders in Asia Pacific and created the Asia Pacific Youth Network. There was only one aim – connect and bring together young people like YOU from the whole region to campaign and lead on human rights change together.

And now, APYN has reached a critical point and we need all YOUTH to help lead, shape, and form the future.

For YOUTH, by YOUTH

APYN is a network of young individuals that is FOR YOUTH, BY YOUTH, and that means young people need to be at the forefront leading, campaigning, and making decisions.

APYN has grown to over 13,000 young people in 29 countries all over Asia Pacific and the world. These amazing youth activists are connected to APYN on Facebook, Twitter, and this website. Together, YOUTH have taken over 36,000+ actions for human rights though online and offline campaigning and youth leadership development.

Is now the time?

Five years is a pretty big milestone, and we have one question for YOUth – is it time for young people to lead and run APYN?

Let’s try to explain how it currently works:

• AI maintains the network (ie. the website, uploading online petitions, checks email accounts etc.)
• AI makes strategic decisions about it with consultation from APYN (ie. campaign themes, membership & partnerships, representing APYN, financial and resource management, etc.)
• Young people lead some campaign activities, Facebook groups, and Youth Ambassador Program from planning to implementation and evaluation. Sometimes, AI will start campaign activities on APYN for youth to participate.
• Young people participate in strategic decisions about the network through online surveys and focus group discussions

Most youth-led networks are run by leaders under the age of 30 supported by a group of more experienced activists. This group usually makes most, if not all, the decisions, ranging from campaign petitions to financial and resource management, and all the way from planning to implementation and evaluation. This is the only way that APYN can truly be for YOUTH, by YOUTH, and we’ve sort of started the plan to realize this vision.

In September 2012, a group of APYN youth leaders and AI representatives met in Hong Kong to talk about APYN becoming a safe and fun regional campaigning space that is 100% led by young people. Together, we formed the Transitional Core Team and came up with a four-step plan that we will work on:

1. Design a decision making framework
2. Recruit Core Team of youth leaders that will be the key people in making decisions, leading youth, and organizing activities, and a Resource Group that supports the Core Team through a 12 month Mentor Exchange Program
3. Secure basic resources needed to run APYN and develop a plan focused on retaining members (ie. domain name, membership database etc.)
4. Keep everyone involved in APYN updated about what’s happening

And here is what we need from YOUTH:

1. Your thoughts and ideas – by taking the survey here
2. Your participation – by joining an online focus group discussion (stay tuned for sign ups!)
3. Your leadership – by applying to join the Core Team or the Resource Group (stay tuned for application links!)

Taken from Spirit of Rebellion http://spiritofrebellion.wordpress.com/2012/02/26/writing-for-justice/

DO SOMETHING

The Attorney General in Indonesia announced that authorities plan to execute nine more people following the state’s decision to resume executions on 14^th March 2013 when Adami Wilson, a 48 year old Malawian national was put to death for drug trafficking.

What happened?

Since 2008, there have been no executions in Indonesia, but this following the execution of Adami Wilson, it is thought that the authorities are bringing back the death penalty. So far, at least 6 people have been sentenced to death in 2013 and at least 12 in 2012. The authorities have not disclosed the exact number of the condemned prisoner’s names or relevant information.

Death sentences in Indonesia are carried out by a firing squad made up of 12 people. The condemned prisoner has the choice of standing or sitting and whether to have their eyes covered by a blindfold or a hood. The firing squad will then fire from a distance of 5 – 10 metres.

What can YOU(th) do?

Got 3 seconds?

Send a letter to the government of Indonesia, by adding your name below, urging them to abolish the use of the death penalty. We will deliver your letters by post with your details appearing as below.

Maldives: 15 year old rape survivor found guilty of “fornication” and needs protection from the government After a 15 year old rape survivor was found guilty of “fornication” and sentenced to 100 slashes and 8 months of house arrest, the government of Maldives released a statement saying the girl is also a victim of sexual abuse and her rights should be fully protected – BUT we hear from our friends at AI that she is still at risk of the slashes and house arrest!

Let’s tell the WORLD why SEXUAL AND REPRODUCTIVE RIGHTS are important! World leaders will meet and discuss sexual and reproductive health rights, so let’s pressure them to prioritize the health and human rights of young people in the ICPD+20 and post 2015 development plans because around 1.8 billion young people worldwide still struggle to access sexual and reproductive health services, education and information YOUTH need for a safe and healthy life.

Send NOW: http://bit.ly/XhcNh8

Pressure NOW: http://bit.ly/11YZbuZ

More YOU(th)! More Change!

The Asia Pacific Youth Network now has over 13,000 friends in Asia Pacific who want to work together to create change! Invite your friends to join APYN, so more YOU(th) can take action to campaign for human rights change!

Invite NOW: http://bit.ly/fXa2LA

Join APYN language-based Facebook Groups to connect and communicate with Asia Pacific youth activists who speak YOUR language(s)!
Bahasa | Bangla | Chinese | English | Filipino | Hindi | Japanese | Lao | Thai

Ask the Maldives government to protect the 15 year old girl by adding your name to the letter below by 23 April 2013.

What happened?

The girl was first arrested after the body of a baby she had given birth to was found buried outside her house on Feydhoo Island in Maldives in June 2012. Authorities found that she was raped by her stepfather. He was charged with murder of the baby and the sexual abuse of a minor. Her mother was charged with both concealing a crime, and murder.

During their investigation, however, authorities came across evidence to support charges of “fornication” against the girl in a separate incident. In February 2013, she was found guilty of sex outside marriage (or fornication) by a juvenile court in the Maldives, and sentenced to eight months’ house arrest and 100 lashes. The law says that the sentence of flogging is ordinarily carried out when she turns 18, but could be carried out earlier in exceptional circumstances.

What can YOU(th) do?

In just 3 seconds…

Send a letter to government of Maldives by adding your name below. We will deliver your letters by post with your details appearing as below.

The Arms Trade Treaty is round the corner and we need to keep the pressure on world leaders. We want the Obama administration to take a lead and support a treaty that will protect lives.

The Obama Administration bears heavy responsibility to lead efforts in establishing a strong, human rights orientated treaty – during the negotiation.

To increase pressure we need our voices to be heard and we need people to know that this process is going on – so, we’re asking YOU to help us spread the word by Obama Harlem Shaking it! It can take as little as an hour to do but it will raise awareness and help get conversation going on what is one of the most important treaty’s of our lifetime – one that could potentially save thousands of lives every year.

What’s the Harlem Shake?

For those of you that haven’t seen it, here’s one of the thousands of videos uploaded this month

Why are we suggesting that activists do a Harlem Shake?

Youth activists from our friends at AI formed a global youth campaign team. Their goal was to come up with ideas about how to get young people involved, take action and raise awareness of the Arms Trade Treaty during the week of action.

After a brainstorming session they felt really strongly that the Obama Harlem Shake would be a fun activity for young people to do during that week.

Why the Obama Harlem Shake?

This activity is tied to the Enough! campaign

By getting your friends together to do a Harlem shake, it gives young people the opportunity to tell them why they’re doing a Obama Harlem Shake – Obama should be leading by example at the Arms Trade Treaty and should be protecting young people not just in America but around the world.

Also the version of the song that we are encouraging activists to use has the phrase “with the activists”, so we are asking Obama to be with activists and support a strong Arms Trade Treaty that will protect lives.

Conversations about the Arms Trade Treaty can begin because of an activity is something that will attract friends of activists too (which could help grow your activist network).

In addition to that, the video will also promote the online petition by including a link – which will mean you’re giving those people a way to create direct pressure on the target.

It also becomes a really great thing that everyone will want to share on Facebook, on their own wall, APYN or the Hands up for Arms Control youth page.

Items you’ll need:

• The Amnesty version of the song (the lyrics now say con los activistas, which translates as with the activists) Download here!
• The Obama Mask Download here!
• The CHEAT SHEET

How to get your Obama Harlem Shake on:

1. Download this version of “Harlem Shake”
2. Tell your friends the place and time you’ll film the event – the number of people doesn’t matter, it’s about making it as funny as possible.
3. Start the video with one person wearing the Obama mask, dancing for 15 seconds, everyone else goes about their business like nothing is happening.
4. Everyone goes completely crazy after the lyric, “…and do the Harlem Shake” which is when the beat drops. This goes on for another 15 seconds.
5. Put the audio and video together
6. Upload it onto YouTube and send the link to apyncampaigns@gmail.com
7. Share on Facebook and Twitter @apyouth with APYN and your friends!

Advice:

• When it comes to making the video use props and lots of them! Whatever you can grab for the final 15 seconds to make it as ridiculous as possible (can’t think of anything, check out the other videos online).
• Use the version of Harlem Shake that you can download here, because the words have been changed so that it says “con las activistas” which means with the activists, because we want Obama to lead and support activists calls for a strong arms trade treaty that protects lives.

How can I make the video?

• If you have a Mac: You can use iMovie, which comes standard on Mac’s. Just open the video, cut it so that it abruptly changes when the beat is dropped.
• If you have a PC: Windows Movie maker is available on most versions of Window.
• If you have neither: YOU can still participate! Let us know and we can edit it for you – just email apyncampaigns@gmail.com

Advice when editing the video:

• Don’t make it fancy, it’s the abrupt cut between the two videos that makes it work.

Uploading your video to YouTube:

Give your video a title like “Obama Harlem Shake in [insert where it was]” and fill in the description with the following:

• A link to the petition here – www.clickboom.org
• Who took part (was it your youth group? Your class?)
• This message about what the Arms Trade Treaty Campaign:

From the 18 March, world leaders will have a Final Conference to negotiate the first ever treaty that will prevent weapons from ending up in the hands of tyrants and child soldiers. The Obama Administration bears heavy responsibility to lead efforts in establishing a strong, human rights orientated treaty – during the negotiation. Stand with activists everywhere and call for an Arms Trade Treaty that will save lives.

Done all that? Share share share!!! With your friends, your networks, APYN, and the youth activist Facebook page for the Arms Trade Treaty Hands Up for Arms Control

If world leaders fail to keep their promises, then the sexual and reproductive rights of many more are at risk in future.

What’s the problem?
Too many young women and girls face violence, stigma and discrimination – unable to access contraception without consent from their husband or family, forced into marriage, or denied access to abortion. Boys and girls are taught to think and behave in ways that perpetuate these violations of their human rights. Some governments and groups are even questioning the principle of gender equality.

What can YOU(th) do?

On International Women’s Day (8 March 2013), let’s take action to pressure world leaders to protect sexual and reproductive rights because this year, they will meet to discuss progress on sexual and reproductive health and rights, and the future they hope to create!

Action #1 SIGN THE PETITION!

We will send your actions through our friends at AI who will deliver everyone’s signatures directly at events throughout 2013!

Action #2 SHARE WITH OTHERS WHY SEXUAL AND REPRODUCTIVE RIGHTS ARE IMPORTANT

One of the ways to protect sexual and reproductive rights is to get the word out – YOUth need to tell the world that sexual and reproductive rights are human rights!

Here’s how to do it:

Option 1 Take a picture

1. Write on a piece of paper why sexual and reproductive rights are important to YOU(th)
2. Take a picture of you holding that piece of paper
3. Submit below or send to apyncampaigns@gmail.com

Example of creating a visual

Option 2 Create a visual

1. Create a visual explaining why sexual and reproductive rights are important to YOU(th)
2. Submit the file or send to apyncampaigns@gmail.com

DO SOMETHING: Carlos Celdran, a Filipino activist for reproductive health rights has been convicted of “offending religious feelings” in a peaceful protest and is facing up to 13 months in jail.

Ask the Philippines authorities to not imprison Carlos Celdran by adding your name to the letter below by 27 March 2013.

What happened?
On 30th September 2010, Carlos staged a peaceful protest where he dressed up as the Filipino national hero, Jose Rizal, and protested against the Catholic Church’s involvement in politics by going to the alter of the Manila Cathedral with a placard reading “Damaso” while the Catholic priests and Protestant pastors were having a meeting.

Damaso is the name of a character in a book, written by Jose Rizal, who is a morally corrupt priest. Carlos’ controversial but peaceful protest addressed the clergy’s efforts to influence the Congress against passing a reproductive health law.

He was arrested under Article 133 of the Revised Penal Code which punishes with imprisonment those who perform “acts notoriously offensive to the feelings of the faithful” in places devoted to religious worship or during a celebration of a religious ceremony. As a state party to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, the Philippines have a duty to uphold the right to freedom of expression.

What can YOU(th) do?

Got 3 seconds?

Easy! Send a letter to Philippines authorities by adding your name below. We will deliver your letters by post with your details appearing as below.

Call for an investigation of his disappearance by adding your name to the letter below by 12 March 2013!

What happened?
Sombath Somphone, 62 years old and a respected member of Lao civil society, left his office in his car at about 5.30pm. At about 6:00pm, the police stopped him at a checkpoint on Thadeua Road. Video footage shows him getting out of his car to speak to the police. It then shows a motorcyclist arriving and driving off with his car, leaving the motorcycle behind. A truck with flashing lights then came and Sombath Somphone was put into this truck and taken away. His family and friends have identified that it was him on the video footage.

Lao authorities have denied arresting Sombath and say that they are not responsible for his disappearance. They said that he might have been abducted as part of a private dispute. Lao government released a statement on 19th December 2012 saying that they are “seriously investigating” the matter but they haven’t provided any details about their investigation.

Who is Sombath Somphone?
Sombath Somphone founded the Participatory Development Training Centre in 1996 to promote education, leadership skills and sustainable development in Laos. In 2005 he received the Ramon Magsaysay Award for Community Leadership. He also helped to organise the Asia-Europe People’s Forum in Vientiane in October 2012.

What can YOU(th) do?

Got 3 seconds?

Easy! Send a letter to Lao authorities by adding your name below. We will deliver your letters by post with your details appearing as below.

In the three-day meeting, what I found to be the most intriguing was experience sharing from campaigners in different countries. From the sharing, it seems to me that obstacles to anti-death penalty are often cultural specific and deeply rooted in the mindsets of general public. Undoubtedly, there are successes in the region. Yet, there is still much to be done in order to make the general public to understand the argument and stand point of the anti-death penalty concern groups. What complicates the matter is that death penalty is very often linked to the flaws or inadequacies of domestic legal systems in ensuring the defendants’ rights to a fair trial, which sometimes can be very hard to be explained to the general public.

As YOU(th), we have the capacity to say NO to death penalty. After the meeting, I personally feel that further actions or campaigning should be focused on convincing the public that death penalty is ultimately a form of human rights violation. For a start, we can start spreading the message to our friends and families. It would be awesome if any one of you would like to join us.

Do leave us a message and let us know. Stay tuned with us for further actions!

Disclaimer: The views expressed in this article represent the author and do not necessarily reflect those of the Asia Pacific Youth Network or its members.

What happened?
P. Tharshananth, Sanmugam Solaman, Kanesamoorthy Sutharsan and K. Jenemajeyamenan were arrested without warrants by the Terrorist Investigation Division (TID) of the police on 1 December 2012 in Jaffna, Northern Sri Lanka and were held in Vavuniya and questioned about their alleged involvement in a petrol bomb attack on the office of a local political organisation, as well as their involvement in organising demonstrations. A fifth student, V. Bhavananadan surrendered to the TID in Jaffna on 7 December 2012. They were held for interrogation and were at risk of torture.

Their arrests came after several days of student protests following efforts by the security forces to suppress peaceful commemorations of Maaveerar Naal (Heroes Day), a day of remembrance established by the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE). On 27 November security forces broke up a lamp lighting ceremony at the women’s hostel at Jaffna University, reportedly breaking lamps, threatening students and pointing weapons at them. The following day students did a silent protest and short march and held placards stating the restrictions on freedom of expression. At least 20 undergraduates were injured and beaten by riot police and officers in civilian dress, including Sanmugam Solaman. Security forces say that the students had thrown stones at them, which made them react; university staff told local media that the event was peaceful until the authorities attacked the marchers.

Sanmugam Solaman and V. Bhavananadan were released from detention – but P. Tharshananth and K. Jenemajeyamenan are still in detention and at risk of torture!

What can YOU(th) do?

Got 3 seconds?

Send a letter to the Inspector General of Police N K Illangakoon New Secretariat and the  Defence Secretary Gotabhaya Rajapaksa asking them to keep the activists safe and release them if they are not charged, by adding your name below. We will deliver your letters by post with your details appearing as below.

Share this page on Facebook and other social networking sites and encourage your friends and family to take action too!