Food, water, work, health, education (and many more) are all basic rights that allow us to live in dignity.

We may not be able to feed everyone tomorrow, but as young people in Asia Pacific, YOU(th) can show the region that hunger & poverty are one of today’s biggest human rights violations and World Food Day (October 16)/International Day for the Eradication of Poverty (October 17) is your chance to do it!

More Human Rights = Less Poverty It may seem weird to put the two together but poverty is actually the largest human rights violation today! Food, water, work, health, education (and many more) are all basic rights that allow us to live in dignity. What’s worst is that people living in poverty are usually stripped of rights to freedom of expression and political participation so they are left voiceless. More Human Rights will empower them to break through barriers and escape poverty!

DO SOMETHING

We want the world to know how serious hunger & poverty is in Asia Pacific by putting together a report by YOU(th) called Under US$2.0 Recipes – YOU(th) on Hunger & Poverty in Asia Pacific and we’re asking all of YOU(th) to contribute!!!

Since YOUth (especially in Asia Pacific!) are super creative, this report is going to be in the form of a cook book or a cooking show! Send your recipes now!

Got 3 seconds? Add to our cook book!

If you only have 3 seconds, then just share the ingredients that can be bought for, or under US$2.0 and the cooking instructions. Please send us a photo of the final dish if you can!

If you facilitate at least 5 friends to each submit a recipe (and photo if possible), then you will receive a certificate for facilitating World Food Day/International Day for the Eradication of Poverty with APYN as long as you provide their names and emails for verification!

Got 30 minutes? Add to our cooking show!

If you’re feeling very creative, then put on your chef’s hat and take a video of yourself cooking! Your video will be featured on the APYN Cooking Show on YouTube!

Anyone who sends a video will also receive a certificate for facilitating World Food Day/International Day for the Eradication of Poverty with APYN!

What happened?

Over 140 young people Asia Pacific – Bangladesh, Brunei, Fiji, India, Indonesia, Japan, Malaysia, Mongolia, Myanmar, Nepal, New Zealand, Nigeria, Pakistan, Philippines, Singapore, Sri Lanka, Thailand, and Vietnam - facilitated a ‘Meet on MDGs’ with their friends (five or more!) to answer five simple questions on human rights and the MDGs. Young people who were unable to facilitate or join a ‘Meet on MDGs’ also shared their views with us.

What did YOU(th) say about the link between human rights and the MDGs?

Click here to download our findings!

What next?

The MDGs Youth Campaign Team has been expanded to cover other issues related to poverty and is now the Human Rights & Poverty Youth Campaign Team. Email apynactionn@gmail.com to volunteer!

Over a thousand young individuals across the Asia-Pacific region took took part in an APYN activity called APYN Meet on MDGS that aimed to tackle the link between the Millennium Development Goals and Human Rights last 17-19 September 2010.

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 as they answered five important questions about the MDGs:

1. What can you buy with $US 1.25 (a day) in your hometown?
2. Please list the MDGs in order of importance 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?

The campaign also aimed to provide a tool which can be used by youth across the region to continue their human rights work for the realization of the MDGs. As such, the APYN proudly presents these two videos created by and for the youth: More Than One Twenty Five and Think About. These videos reflect youth views on MDGs and Human Rights solicited during the Meet on MDGs!

More Human Rights = Less Poverty!
For more info about the campaign, please see: http://bit.ly/lMJF6x or www.facebook.com/apyouth.

Discrimination is a key driver of poverty and women often face discrimination on multiple grounds – they may be denied their rights because they are women and because they belong to a marginalized group. Women living in poverty also face discrimination simply because they are poor. This discrimination can mean that women are excluded from access to justice, protection or services. In some countries discrimination is built into the laws, while in many other countries it persists despite equality laws. Women are often responsible for providing for their families, though are often paid less than men for the same work, do work in the informal sector with no job security and have less access to resources such as land, credit and inheritance rights.

Many women living in poverty don’t have access to healthcare because they can’t afford to pay for it or reach health services. Women in South Africa, particularly black women, are disproportionately affected by poverty and the HIV pandemic. Transport costs are high in relation to people’s income and women living in poor rural communities often find it difficult to reach hospitals and maintain their treatment. Many women don’t have adequate food, which is essential for coping with the side effectives of anti-retroviral medication. Women’s low social status compounds the problem as when there’s not enough food to go around, they are likely to be the last to eat.

The discrimination women face is linked to violence against women. It shapes the forms of violence that a woman experiences. It also makes some women more likely to be targeted for certain forms of violence because they have less social status than other women and because perpetrators know such women are less likely to report abuse or seek assistance.

Caught in cycles of poverty and violence

Violence, for women, is both a cause and a consequence of poverty – violence keeps women poor, and poor women are most exposed to violence. Women who suffer from violence lose income and their capacity to earn a wage is impaired. Being poor may make women make difficult choices which puts or keeps them at risk from violence. A woman who is economically dependent on her abusive partner may see no way to support herself and her children if she leaves. A girl who becomes pregnant as a result of a rape may find herself excluded from school, with fewer prospects of finding safe work and an independent future.

Poverty is widespread in Haiti and many parents in rural areas make the choice to send their children to cities in the hope that their life chances will be improved. More than 100,000 girls between 6 and 17 in Haiti are in domestic service. Children in domestic service work long hours doing domestic chores, looking after other children in the family and selling goods in markets and are provided lodging. Far from their relatives and friends, and trapped in a situation of total dependence on their employers, many girls are exposed to physical abuse and sexual violence. With virtually no one concerned for their welfare and few prospects of finding safer work, these girls live a lonely, isolated and vulnerable existence.

Women’s lives, men’s decisions

Poverty can restrict women’s opportunities to make choices about their own lives. This can be exacerbated by law, custom, culture and religion which often combine to deny women access to decision-making processes and even crucial choices over their lives and bodies, such as whether to become mothers. In the Philippines, government policies limit women’s control over whether and when to become pregnant as the government prioritises ‘natural’ family planning methods such as periodic abstinence or withdrawal.

Especially at a time of economic crisis when the costs of goods and commodities are rising, many poor women have little control over the timing or spacing their pregnancies where the government fails to make effective contraception free or affordable.

Ten Filipino women die every day from complications related to pregnancy and childbirth that quality health care could prevent or treat. Abortion is banned in all circumstances, even in cases where the pregnancy puts the woman’s life at risk. At least 400,000 Filipino women resort to clandestine abortions every year, and estimates suggest that around 800 women die each year from complications from unsafe abortions.

Girls miss out on education

Violence and poverty often combine to trap women in difficult situations though education can provide an escape route. Getting an education can open up the possibility of economic independence, increasing women’s choices of how to live their lives. Education is a human right, yet more than 55 millions girls worldwide do not attend school as violence and discrimination impede girls’ access to education.

In Tajikistan, many families cannot afford the basic essentials needed for their children’s schooling – text books, clothes and transport. So rather than sending girls to school, they prioritize the education of boys, who are likely to earn more in later life. Many girls do not complete their education but instead care for family members, work in the fields or at the market, or get married at an early age. A lack of education not only reduces women’s chances of economic independence, but also the possibility of them learning about their rights.

Women Speak Out

When women know they have rights, they will claim them despite all the obstacles they face. There are inspiring examples to be found throughout the world. Whether acting as human rights defenders or simply as members of their families and communities, women drive social progress and human rights advancement for all. In numerous countries, women are active participants in the political process and have made significant strides towards political and economic equality.

Progress on Paper

Sustained progress by women’s rights activists over the past decade has brought significant advances in the international community’s commitment to the advancement of women’s rights. At the international level there are legally binding agreements to protect and promote women’s rights while equality between men and women is a key principle reflected in all human rights standards. At national level there are laws in many countries to protect women’s rights, though these laws do little to improve the lives of women if they are not enforced.

There are no legitimate excuses to explain why governments have failed to fully implement and make effective the national and international laws passed over the last few decades to end violence against women and end discrimination and despite the leaps forward, many women’s lives have hardly improved. Women continue to be the most affected by poverty, violence, environmental degradation and disease. One thing is certain: equality and rights can only be achieved when women actively participate in political processes and when their voices are heard.

The Way Forward

States and international institutions must work harder to protect women’s rights, but everyone one of us has a role in creating the political will for change. We can challenge our governments to improve women’s rights at home, and all around the world, through international cooperation.

In September 2009, all government agreed to the creation of a strong new United Nations agency for women. This agency will have greater capacity to help the UN and governments to ensure women and girls around the world enjoy their rights in practice. This new agency urgently needs sustained political commitment and funding to succeed. Take action now to support the creation of a strong new women’s agency at the UN!

TAKE ACTION!

We need to collect a lot of signatures for this to be effective! We’re going to deliver the petition to the President of the General Assembly in March, which is a crucial moment in the creation of the new women’s agency at the UN, when a big push for sustained political commitment from all governments and sufficient funding are crucial factors in ensuring the effectiveness of the new agency. Also, we need signatures from as many countries as possible

How to take part:  Sign the petition

CONGRATULATIONS! You did it!! 30 May 2009

Together… Ten countries, 46 activities, youth voices amplified!
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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!

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.