S w Ne ERTA LIB ITION ED
Editorial
Here we are... at the beginning of year 2011, reading the first special issue of Libertas+. The topic for January is on young people and their rights. Have you ever thought about what rights you have and which are the most important in your opinion? Is it easy to defend your rights in your country or do young people fight for them? Education, employment, housing, safe environment, participating in the decisionmaking process and so on. And do you know the Declaration of Youth Rights and Duties? Lots of contributors from various European countries want to share their thoughts and ideas. Let's enjoy this moment and travel in your mind with Libertas+ across Europe. I wish you many beautiful moments while reading our magazine and a Happy New Year!
Vladmíra Brávková, coordinator
p. 2 Editorial
Vladimira Bravkova - Czech Republic
p. 3 Project and funding Dragan Atanasov, Macedonia
p. 4 The biggest ignorant in the world Tiberiu Lacomi - Romania
p. 6 Philosoph Lina Vosyliute - Lithuania
p. 12 Young people rights Ivana Galapceva - Macedonia
As a young person I have the right
p. 10 to effectively participate in the decision-making process
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Boyan Tabutov - Bulgaria
p. 12 Rights that Every Young Individual Should Have
Nevena Smileveska - Macedonia
p. 14 Studies in France Charlie Delhumeau - France
p. 20 Book review :
Do androids dream of electric sheep Filip Ilievski
p. 18 Interview with Washington Katena Dragan Atanasov - Macedonia
p. 22 Essay : As a young person I have the right too...
Daniel John Carter - United Kingdom
Projet and funding It is more than a year since we started using the label “Libertas” to collect and publish the ideas of young people from around the world. Since September 2009, Libertas has been gathering the brave and honest thoughts of youth on issues that matter to them, and making them available for free to anyone interested. Readers from more than 70 countries from all continents have read the monthly issues of Libertas until now.
Seeing the potential that this kind of independent youth magazine has, we decided to propose cooperation with the European Youth Foundation (EYF) of the Council of Europe. Our application for funding was approved and Libertas+ was born – as an additional European issue of the magazine. With the financial support of the European Youth Foundation, Libertas is now able to offer a space for young Europeans to share their thoughts on topics important to European society, and particularly to them as young European citizens. Thus, every 15th of the month, from January to June, you will discover the new Libertas+, published as usual on our web page www.magazinelibertas.com and distributed by e-mail to anyone interested. We fully believe that by publishing a continental version of Libertas, we are not losing our global approach. On the contrary, we believe that this way we have more direct contact with young people from different countries, and we can address their needs and interests more precisely. We hope to launch more regional and even national versions of Libertas in the future, while still keeping our main worldwide issue that unites young people of the world in a unique way.
This launch of a regional issue of Libertas was made available thanks to the European Youth Foundation, which funds hundreds of youth projects in Europe throughout the year. If you have an idea for a youth project that you want to implement, feel free to check their web page; EYF provides grants for a wide range of projects, from publications, through seminars, trainings and other types of youth gatherings, to innovative pilot projects. More information is available at www.eyf.coe.int/fey. And that is enough explanation – it is time for action. Read us, write for us, and spread the word about Libertas: the unique magazine by youth, for youth. Dragan Atanasov, Macedonia
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THE BIGGEST IGNORANT IN THE WORLD I admit it. I have no right to write this article. I know nothing about human rights, youth rights or children’s rights. Even after the most thorough research, I cannot – I couldn’t – tell you that I completely know and understand my rights as a young person. But I know this thing for sure: as a young person, I have the right to read, to hear and to know my rights and thus, to spread them to all youth across the world. This can only be done, though, through the hundreds of youth associations for human rights, through the international conferences and summits on youth that establish new bases for work in the field, through the extraordinary workshops and trainings, textbooks and manuals that teach young people how to teach their fellow young people about their rights. Thus, I admit it to you. I am the biggest ignorant in the world. But if you give me a little of your time, a minute of undivided attention and your full passion for good, I want to tell you that as a young person, I have the right to praise those who made it possible for me, for us to say that as a young person, “I have the right to”. Since we should be like brothers, as the Universal Declaration of Human Rights said in 1949 (maybe a little too late but who says it’s too late to remember human rights?), I am entering the room of your mind and asking your permission to play with your toys : your values and principles. Do you need new ones? Do you need better ones – repaired, improved, upgraded ones? Since 1949, everybody says so. The European Union has put forward its Convention on Human Rights; conventions on torture and genocide have also been signed and agreed; the Convention on the Rights of the Child has been, since 1989, legally enforced in more than 190 countries all over the world. All of these international documents outline the fact that as the world changes,
categories
of
people
and
their
corresponding rights (along with their opinions, ideas and voices) are changing and amplifying.
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As a volunteer for Save the Children Romania, I got the chance to learn about the World Summit for Children, Voices of Youth at UNICEF, Youth for Human Rights International and Millennium Development Goals. I got the chance to participate in a series of international conferences where topics such as the immigration policy and the right to work for children and youth were discussed within new and specific frameworks. I got the chance to read manuals like Compass or Domino (created by European specialists), experience training techniques for human rights learning and take part in what could be the research conclusions for the next handbooks on human rights. I am privileged for that. But most importantly, I got the chance to understand that as a young person, I have the right to envision new rights according to the new realities.
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“I have the right to read, to hear and to know my rights and thus, to spread them to all youth across the world.”
Children still die. Young people still die. At early
And I shouldn’t even have the right to write this
ages. Because of diseases. Because of wars.
article. In the last 30 minutes of keypad texting, I could
Sometimes, children and young people become
have done a lot more for youth rights than writing
soldiers and even kill other people. Children and
about them. Maybe this will convince you not to read
young people around the world are seldom told about
less and blindly act more, but let yourself be touched
the freedom of thought, speech or choice of religion.
by what you read about human rights breaches across
Generations are still deprived of education and thus, of
the world and do what your good hearts and minds tell
understanding, peace and ultimately, of survival. As a
you to.
young person, I had the right to read Orwell, to
As for me, I still remain the biggest ignorant in the
remember that even if we are all born free and equal,
world. And hopefully, one day, the biggest liar.
some people are more equal than others. I gave up this right because it is too painful.
Tiberiu Iacomi, Romania
“Children and young people around the world are seldom told about the freedom of thought, speech or choice of religion.”
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The Rights of the Young Person : From the philosophical prism Lina Vosyliute - Lithuania
Today I am a young person studying human rights in Central European University; however my article will be more philosophical than legal. I would like to share my personal understanding of young people’s rights, gained from a course with visiting professor Wiktor Osiatynski. His insights on human and individual rights irreversibly changed my way of thinking. Despite his age, he raised crucial points for young people of today and tomorrow. One such point was the existence of somewhat “non-enforceable” rights like the right to peace, the right of a child to be loved and the right to be the owner of one’s life. Right to be the owner of your life
personal development. One of the most
I would like to develop the last idea above,
influential and well-known human rights
because I think it is extremely important for a
documents, the United Nations’ Universal
young person to understand and exercise this
Declaration of Human Rights cites the
right. So what does it mean to own your own
clauses of dignity and free development of
your life? It does not imply total freedom but it
the personality as one of the aims and man-
goes with responsibility for your deliberate
ners in which the declaration should be
actions. Therein is the trick: when and how are
implemented. However, this declaration is
our actions deliberate? We live in a society full
non-enforceable,
of constraints, taboos, roles and stereotypes
primarily for educational purposes even
and whether we want or not, we are influenced
though it raised understanding of human
by them.
rights within all signatory countries.
has
been
made
From the Kantian approach it could be
For example, these social constructs tell you how to plan your life, what “good goals” are,
said
what the “right” lifestyle is, and what “success”
oblige states to see people as objectives,
means. Thus, answers differ from one social
not merely a means to reach economic,
context to another. Let’s say in the Far East
political or security goals. It shows the
communal life is given priority, whereas in the
respect for human dignity with which we are
western world it’s individualism.
endowed since birth.
Universality of dignity
Expectations
However, there is a noticeable countertrend in the current age of globalisation. It
6
and
strengthens universally accepted claims for
that
the
abovementioned
clauses
In the current socio-political context it
“We are so pressured into well-known, “good” decisions, that we are discouraged from experimenting, finding new and alternative goals, lifestyles and professions.”
seems that we tend to forget about the diver-
we are discouraged from experimenting, finding
sity of ways towards personal development.
new and alternative goals, lifestyles and profes-
Our governments want us to be primarily
sions. The Romans had a saying “errare huma-
patriotic citizens, economies - human capital
num est” (“to err is human”), but is it still valid
and justice systems - compliers with the
nowadays?
letter of the law. In our social and private lives, we are also pressured with expecta-
Disappointments and discoveries
tions: to be powerful, beautiful, rich, suc-
I know young people who have “good”
cessful – whatever that means. Thus, one is
jobs and make a lot of money in high positions.
expected to be the first and best in compari-
And they live from weekend to weekend, and in
son with others.
between undergo the pain called “work”. Some
But how often are you asked whether
of them don’t have weekends, so they end up
you want all this, or what you really want? I
not having time to spend the bloody money. As
do not deny that we need all the abovemen-
well, I know people who are the opposite: doing
tioned things, but there should be some
things considered “time-wasting”, such as creat-
space left for you to decide, for example, for
ing art, going to vote, socialising, volunteering or
an adolescent, what kind of studies to
just travelling. But these other ways of self-
choose. I know many examples of young
expression may be crucial. In fact, they may
people who study what their parents want,
make our lives full; even if they’re not perfect
considering it “a guarantee of a prosperous
according to some merchandised criterion of
future”. And ultimately, they hate these stud-
“quality of life”, where “what you are” depends
ies. Therefore, I would add one more right:
on “what you have”. So, in order to enforce this
the right to make mistakes. We are so pres-
right of personal development, the seminal
sured into well-known, “good” decisions, that
question for all of us is, “Who I am to know what
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maintain human rights as a shield from government interfering with our freedom. But as my professor emphasised, our happiness mainly depends on our relationships with others, within our social and private lives. If we want to benefit from the latter two, we must take away our shields of “human rights claims” and keep them for moments of abuse. In our private lives, we can receive most not by claiming rights, but by asking. But here a vicious circle arises, because only those who have high self-esteem dare to ask. Thus we should encourage and empower those in need and teach how to ask: for help, for friendship, for advice, for support. The nicest thing is that there is an endless list of things which can be received simply by sharing. The
sources
of
happiness
and
self-
limitations you need?” The fuzzy concept of dignity tells me that my understanding cannot dominate over yours, if we are speaking about your life and choices. It tells me that I am not some supreme being who knows what’s best for you; therefore I need to ask and accept what I hear. This is the path to everyone’s personal development and, in the end, a way of peaceful coexistence. Limitations on choices All the abovementioned ideas seem quite acceptable, but another “funky” thing is how much of a real choice we have. Society consists of rich and poor, black and white, citizens and migrants, men and women and so on, so do we really have the same starting point? Stereotypes and misconceptions create obstacles for some but not for others and are destructive for the person in question: whether the girl is chosen for the top job, or the migrant establishes a meaningful life in a new country, or the poor person enters the prestigious university. I would suggest then to refer back to my studies: according to legal mechanisms of human rights, our states have positive obligations towards us to help in these vulnerable situations. Also, we
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If we look to the state, budgets are limited; our own bank account (if we are lucky enough to have one) also has a limit. However, there are many unlimited sources of happiness. In our social life it could be social participation; in
“It shows the respect for human dignity with which we are endowed since birth.”
private spheres, relationships with others, with
freedom, comfort or ego they are happiest,
a supreme being or with nature. It can happen
because they feel they are making some sense
that watching a sunset or sunrise can make
of their lives. As Winston Churchill once said,
you feel so full, so present in the here and
“The kites raise highest against the wind, not with
now, as can a chat with a good friend,
a
it!” Thus a young person should not follow the
prayer (if you are a believer) or a kiss from a
crowd just because it is easier, but look for
loved one. How much sense does it make in
his/her own path.
your life? If it makes some, you have every chance
of
being
happy,
because
these
sources are unlimited. However, there is the risk of turning unlimited sources of happiness into
hedonism
or
fanaticism;
therefore
balance is advisable in all situations. According to my professor, one thing always makes us happy and our life meaningful: the limits we put on our rights and actions of our own free will. Thus, the happiest people are those devoted to a goal. Have you ever seen the shining eyes of the volunteer who has devoted his life to others ? Or the human rights or environmental activist opposing state officials ? Or the traveller who has exchanged the safety and comfort of home for challenge and uncertainty ? When people limit their own
“Stereotypes and misconceptions create obstacles.” Instead of conclusions… wishes ! All in all, in this New Year “Libertas” edition I would like to inspire you to consider these rights, of such importance in the life of a young person. Be positive, be critical, be determined in your aims and dare to go against the wind ! These are the keys to personal development and becoming the true owner of your life. In the end, it is a guarantee for a better society with less pressure and more creativity. So, what about starting together to enforce these unenforceable rights in our little, or big, personal choices from 2011 ?
Lina Vosyliute - Lithuania
“The happiest people are those devoted to a goal.”
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As a young person I have the right to effectively participate in the decision-making process Since a right defines what you may do without the
prominent documents promoting youth participation in
permission of others and erects a moral and legal
Europe is the Revised European Charter on the
barrier across which they may not cross, then we can
participation of young people in local and regional life,
acknowledge the rights that young people have when
adopted by the Council of Europe.
it comes to areas such as health, welfare, family and
EU programmes like “Youth in Action” claim to
education. Nonetheless, the words of 14-year old
involve a great deal of young people in projects
Rebecca Tilsen are a powerful reminder why there is
attempting to promote participation. Various international
no greater insight into the future than if we also
institutions, mainly the European Union, the Council of
officially recognise the unalienable right of young
Europe and the United Nations, work closely with the
people to be effectively involved at all stages of the
European Youth Forum in order to support the active
policy-making process :
engagement of youth in the construction of a common Europe.
“If 16-year-olds are old enough to drink the water polluted by the industries that you regulate, if 16-year-olds are old enough to breathe the air ruined by garbage burners that government built, if 16-year-olds are old enough to walk on the streets made unsafe by terrible drugs and crime policies, if 16-year-olds are old enough to live in poverty in the richest country in the world, if 16-year-olds are old enough to get sick in a country with the worst public health-care programs in the world, and if 16-year-olds
“Young people still appear to be systematically ignored by many public agencies, or where they are consulted is too often tokenistic”
are old enough to attend school districts that you
Regardless of the multi-level efforts and cooperation,
underfund, than 16-year-olds are old enough to play a
this is simply not sufficient to guarantee that the voice of
part in making them better.”
youth is being heard in the policy-making process. Young people still appear to be systematically ignored by many
Governments throughout Europe have recognised
public agencies, or where they are consulted it is too
and accepted responsibility for trying to ensure the
often tokenistic. On top of that, major barriers to youth
involvement of youth in the political process at local,
participation in formal politics remain; so too do the signs
national and international levels. National strategies,
of the problem.
action plans and many other policy papers have been
For instance, the results from the Eurobarometer
produced in order to increase the opportunities
survey “Youth in Europe #202” demonstrate that one of
available to young people striving to be effective
the most defining characteristics of young people across
members of their communities. One of the most
Europe is that they feel disillusioned and taken aback
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with formal politics. This is not only the age group abstaining most from voting at general and local elections, but they are also those who refrain most from engaging with traditional political organisations. As the policy-making process remains within the realm of traditional politics, such a tendency generates reasons for concern both about the empowerment of young people and the future of democracy itself. Clearly, adopting the right to effective political participation will not only legitimise the problem, but it will create momentum and willingness to deal with it. It will also be sound to believe that it will help young people recognise some of the benefits associated with political participation, such as: enhancing the relationship between young people and adults, challenging negative stereotypes of young people and contributing to effective policy making. Thus, it becomes logical that the most effective way to promote the interests of youth and improve its
There is no greater insight into the future than if we also officially recognise the unalienable right of young people to be effectively involved at all stages of the policy-making process.
prospects in life is to make it possible for them to genuinely influence the policy-making process. Only through this can they feel they are able to make a positive contribution to their community and become active members. This is the essence of the right of a young person to effectively engage with the policy-making process: the one that our society should embrace, commit and fight for.
Boyan Tabutov - Bulgaria
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Young peoples’ rights What about young peoples’ rights ? What are the general rights all young people have in common? I tried to do some research for my country, looking through certain legal regulations and what I found is that young people are covered with the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child. There is no special legislation referring to young people in Macedonia, but depending on the specific area, certain matters are included in separate laws.v
1)The right to a healthy nutrition sufficient to be able to think, study, work and communicate; the right to a healthy and comfortable home where youths can live in a dignified manner; 2) The right to freedom of religion, thought, speech, information, association and movement and the duty to respect and defend such freedom; 3) The duty to respect religions, nationalities, races, ethnic groups and cultures different from one's own and the right to defend one' s religious, ethnical and national appurtenance; 4) The right to an education and the duty to apply oneself in one's studies in order to be able to develop one's creative resources for the individual and social well-being; 5) The right to work and the duty to commit oneself with honour and justice so as to build the necessary resources to create and maintain the work; 6) The right to use every means of communication in order to promote and defend freedom, truth, justice, peace, life and solidarity, within individual and social well-being; 7) The duty to maintain one's own state of health by avoiding and obstructing within one's environment, any means or behaviour which could damage one's own or another person's health; 8) The right to have medical aid and care when in a state of illness; 9) The duty to aid, within one's possibilities, people of
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every age who are in a state of human and social disadvantage; 10) The right and duty to respect and defend one's own life and that of every human being from conception until death; 11)The duty to aid and respect one's own parents and the right to be aided and respected by them; 12) The right to marry and to procreate, by constituting a family without cultural, familiar, social and religious conditioning; 13) The duty to responsibly provide, along with one's spouse, for a family environment which is serene and full of love, for the education and the development of the affective, cognitive, moral and religious resources, for a home, for the nutrition, for the children's care, by building and receiving all the necessary support needed; 14) The duty to promote, conserve and respect works of intelligence and human civilization; the duty to promote, respect and defend the natural environment's life; 15) The duty to promote, conserve and defend liberty, justice, brotherhood and universal peace among persons, people and nations, with cooperation, commitment, moral and intellectual courage, work, in the spirit of eternal and Universal Love. As a young person, I want to have the basic human rights with extended and specific opportunities for young people: educational, vocational and work-related. What about you?
Ivana Galapceva, Macedonia
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French student’s rights French rights As a young person, I have the right to choose my studies, which will pretty much condition my future. This also means not being forced to work by the need to survive, by parents or by any other authority, for example religious or political, and not being forced to leave the place where I live against my will. As a young person, I have the right to express myself and have the same chances as other young people to integrate into the society in which I live, which includes quality of education. Now, I'm gonna talk to you about what's going on in France about the right of access to education.
grant
away by the government and
work before the age of 16, and has to
anymore because their parents are
immigration laws. There are many
go
age.
not poor enough to obtain this
young students who have lived in
Registration for public university costs
financial help... Needless to say the
France almost all their lives and
from €174 for a bachelor to €360 to a
student with less money will have
who, at the age of 18 (when not
doctorate. In regard to families with
difficulty in being competitive with
legally
financial difficulties, students can get
the richer one (who, by the way, can
anymore) are forced to quit their
a monthly grant from the government
also pay for private university in
school and lives to be sent back to
for their studies which includes the
which conditions for studies are
the country of which they are
cost of registration.
often better). The current financial
considered nationals – and where
crisis has also decreased the quality
many of them have never been
of life for young students by making
before. It happens that because
student
it harder to get even a student job.
they do not possess a long term
accommodation, usually at lower
It's hard to know where the limit is
visa,
prices than ordinary accommodation.
between rights and equality; I think
students
Much of this financial help does not
we have the right to be equal, but it
university. Usually, the people in
exist in many other countries, but it
is not for today.
charge in the administration are
A young person is not allowed to to
school
until
this
There are also in France around 160,000
places
in
people
cannot
get
the
considered
these
illegal
cannot
children
immigrant
even
enter
We can also ask ourselves if
not competent enough to make
is
this right of access to high education
these decisions, but they always
increasing every year. This a real
is not totally disrespected when it
have the power to make them. The
threat to the right of access to higher
comes to foreigners. What about the
right to be considered a human
education. Many students also have
rights of young illegal immigrants?
being instead of a case would
has to be said that the number of French
students
in
poverty
to work as grants are not high enough to live in good conditions. Also, some
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For the last few years in France, their rights have been totally taken
probably cost too much money for this bureaucratic society.
Many students also have to work as grants are not high enough to live in good conditions.
Thankfully,
there
are
some
associations which fight against this discrimination,
for
example
families
and
of
foreigners,
and
international and European rights.
the
without
The rights of students and young
Frontiers (Réseau des Universités
people have to be defended by
sans Frontières). In 2000 a new
citizens; we should not forget that
authority, independent from the state,
people have fought for it before us. The
was created with the purpose to
least we can do is be aware that it is
defend the rights of child, called
our responsibility to protect them,
Défenseur des enfants, (‘Defender of
because they protect us!
Network
of
Universities
Children’). People can contact it for get legal help in cases of children in danger, child criminality, rights of
Charlie Delhumeau - France
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Rights that Every Young Individual Should Have
If we define youth as the period live in. between childhood and adulthood, we must acknowledge that this is a
These are basic rights that
period in which the individual devel- every young individual in every ops
his/her
own
identity
and country should have.
adulthood in the education process,
personal system of values. At this However, aside from these I believe
not only through studying, but also
stage of life the young person not there are other rights that each
through working in the real world, as
only has rights, but also responsibili- young individual should be entitled
interns, volunteers or employees.
ties and should participate in society to, such as the freedom to have
Any way of learning is good as long
– maturing, but also changing and
different opinions and political views
as one is prepared to learn, and is
influencing it. In order to be able to and express them wherever and
capable of learning, from the experi-
do any of this, the young person whenever it’s politically correct. Also,
ence.
must be provided with several condi- in order for young people to make
At home, young people should
tions, such as the right to autonomy, the changes in the world that society
live in a supporting and loving envi-
education, civic and political partici- needs them to make so that it can
ronment where they are encour-
pation, decent employment, decent develop, they must have the right to
aged to learn and try new things
and affordable housing, but also the socio-political initiative, access to
because that is how one develops
right to freedom from discrimination, institutions and the opportunity to
into a successful, open-minded
to choose a partner and to found a make themselves heard.
person with a purpose in life. This is
family or not, and lastly, a healthy,
what young people should strive to
safe and sustainable environment to
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I also believe that young people have the right to be prepared for
become.
As a young individual of 30 years of
young people. I hope to find like-minded
age, throughout my youth and adulthood
people who are willing to help me work on
I have had to choose in various situations
improving this situation.
whether to continue with my college education with none of the benefits
Nevena Smilevska, Macedonia
employment brings (health or social insurance, salary and so on) or work full-time with benefits. In my case, neither the education system nor employers were flexible enough to make finishing education and working full-time at the same time possible. And basic rights of people, young people included, tell me that there should be a way for working and educating oneself at the same time. This is only one example, and there are many more. There is a lot to be done in my country to improve the rights of
At this stage of life the young person not only has rights, but also responsibilities and should participate in society.
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INTERVIEW with
Who is
Washington Katema
in few words?
Born 27 years ago, Washington Katema is a frontline human rights defender in Zimbabwe. My roots as a human rights defender (HRD) are located in my past experiences as a student leader in an authoritarian state of Zimbabwe.
You declare yourself as a human rights defender (HRD). What does this practically mean? What does it mean when you act as a human rights defender in Africa?
culture of human rights in closed societies such
The operation environment was driven with many
separate us from anarchy or according to
landmines to the extent that as the national student leader, I had to lead for the front in our struggles in defense of our academic freedoms. As a badge of honor, I have been arrested on more than 13 times, deregistered from the University of Zimbabwe on several occasions due to my leading role both as a HRD and student leader in an environment that is alien to democratic ethos, principles and practice. Are you satisfied with what you have achieved in relation to respecting human rights in Zimbabwe/Africa? In reality, how much can young people do in this field?
as Zimbabwe, Sudan, Guinea, only to mention just three. We are the future and the future began yesterday. Respect for human rights approximation
of
Thomas
Hobbes
characterisation of a state of nature where life is ‘solitary, brute, short and nasty’. From 2005 to 2006 you have acted as a General Councilor of All Africa Students Union. Africa is quite big and diverse continent. Is it difficult for young people from all over Africa to be organized on a continental level? Do young people from the whole continent share the same challenges in life? Despite a historiography of brutality and violent
Be that as it may, I am satisfied with my role as a HRD
disregard of human rights in some African
in Zimbabwe and Africa. It is our generational duty and
countries, my experience as a General
obligation to make sure that humanity finds a common
Councilor of the All Africa Student Union taught
destiny in our life time by cultivating and fostering a
me that young Africans have the potential to
18
liberate Africa. If we mobilize, in our respective communities, universities, villages and social circles we can change the face of Africa. And as young people, united, we can do better in the field of promoting and defending human rights in Africa. We are key building blocks for the future Africa and Africa of the future. Exactly that. Are there any international educational programs or opportunities available for the African young people, which you could share now? I have also tried to create safety nets for the victimised student leaders and activists in Zimbabwe through the Royal Dutch Government. They availed more than 35 scholarships under the Libertas Scholarship scheme and today, we have around 34 former student leaders in Zimbabwe studying in various Universities and College Universities in the Netherlands. I did my masters in developing studies specialising in Human Rights, Development and Social Justice at the Institute of Social Studies of Erasmus University Rotterdam in 2007 and 2008.
How is the situation regarding human rights in Zimbabwe nowadays? What is the life of young people like? Currently I am working for a policy institute in Zimbabwe,
which
knowledge-based
is
technical
providing advice
and
evidence-based strategic advice to democratic actors and reform-minded institutionsin the transitioning state of Zimbabwe. The human rights situation is still fragile, so is the inclusive government which was born-out of a negotiated political settlement amongst the three political parties with a representation in parliament. However, thereis still hope after all. Aluta continua, Victoria acerta, Little by little freedom is coming.
Dragan Atanasov - Macedonia
“Aluta continua, Victoria acerta, Little by little freedom is coming.� 19
BOOK review
Philip K. Dick Science
fiction
novels
have
always
been
regarded as special. For some people, they are just a way to kill time, whereas others regard them as shelter from a cruel reality. There are, however, certain people who can see society through sci-fi. Set in 2021, ‘Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep?’ depicts Planet Earth a couple of years after the World War Terminal, which has resulted in complete devastation of the world we know, and extinction of animals because of the radioactive fallout. ‘Emigrate or disintegrate!’, ‘Come to Mars, and get yourself a free android!’ People are continuously urged to leave Planet Earth and re-start life somewhere in the Galaxy. Rick Deckard is a bounty hunter: he ‘retires’ androids for a certain sum as an employee of the San Francisco Police Department. Happily married, he lives in San Francisco, where like everywhere around the world, the laws of entropy and kipple (‘useless objects, like junk mail or match folders after you use the last match or gum wrappers of yesterday's homeopape’) rule. Now, a group of eight brand-new Nexus 6 androids has escaped from Mars because they couldn’t stand the exploitation and slavery there. Rick must find them and retire them as soon as possible. However,
“Should we play Creator? How far can we go? Do we need to go that far?”
20
there is a problem: androids are made of human
into one superficial reality and a dystopia.
cells and tissue and consist of no metal parts. They
The book raises many ethical and religious
can love, hate, feel sad and show empathy, can’t
issues. Should we play Creator? How far can we
they? And they have already killed once, and won’t
go? Do we need to go that far? What do we
hesitate to do it again, if their lives are endangered.
believe in? What if there wasn’t anything to be
Rick doesn’t have the slightest idea that his life is
believed in? All these questions are just a drop in
going to change completely, if he manages to
the sea that is found behind all the symbols used
survive the hunt…
by PKD. The book also criticizes ‘the creators’ of
‘Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep?’ was written
our time, urging them to take the responsibility for
in 1968, by one of the most prominent American
their creations, the same responsibility they have
science fiction writers, Phillip K. Dick. Known as
‘accidently forgotten.’ With a duration of only 24
PKD, he was a strong believer in the existence of
hours, permeated with disappointment, pessi-
parallel worlds and greatly condemned violence and
mism and moral helplessness, the author shows
war throughout his life. He was keen on hallucinat-
us the way we are going, and sends one strong
ing and often used various types of drugs to reach
and desperate call for us to be saved from
this state. It is believed that parts of this book were
ourselves. I strongly recommend this book to everyone,
written while he was hallucinating. A classic sci-fi novel at first glance, one should
because it shows the serious consequences of
thoroughly analyze the world around, and will easily
our perpetual mistakes, and makes one reflect on
cotton on that this ‘straight-face satire of contempo-
the issue of whether we’re heading towards a
rary society’ hasn’t lost any relevance, and still
brighter future of development, or to a dark chaos
satirizes the same situation even 40 years later.
of destruction.
Greed, violence, egoism, fall of moral values and
Filip Ilievski
other vices we have accumulated through our existence, have turned a world of harmony and utopia
This novel inspired the famous science fiction movie “Blade Runner” - Ridley Scott
21
these rights are not met Essay means there can be different levels of understanding or commitment within a nation, as well as different countries interpreting how to follow these rights in different ways. Even in such a union as the As a young person
I have the right too...
As a young person I feel that I should have the right to be lawfully assigned basic human rights just like any other human being. In my view, this means that I have the right to be treated equally with others, socially, intellectually and politically, and receive a fair hearing when things go wrong. I also feel that as a young person I need help to make the transition through childhood into informed and responsible adult citizenship. I would go so far as to expect my right to a safe and secure passage with all my basic needs fully met and life chances provided for. So, let me consider whether this expectation is realistic in terms of conditions for young people in Europe and specifically in my own country, Wales, in the United Kingdom, as well as elsewhere in the world. How do we define, young peoples’ rights globally and how do we apply them? How also do we ensure young people know what their rights are?
First of all, what is the ‘official’ definition of
This convention gave rights in 54 articles and
young people’s rights? In my personal opinion it is
two Optional Protocols, yet these rights are techni-
difficult to establish a universally applied definition
cally not an obligation, they are optional. The United
because of the cultural differences between coun-
Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) upholds the Con-
tries.
vention on the Rights of the Child and they advocate
A young person’s rights are often hard to pinpoint
that, “States parties to the Convention are obliged to
and difficult obtain an accurate description for,
develop and undertake all actions and policies in the
young people aren’t often aware of their rights as
light of the best interests of the child”. Yet no interna-
they can be sometimes be difficult to understand
tional prosecution will occur if these rights are not
and to interpret. An example of this includes the
met. UNICEF asks that if a nation is signed up to the
United Nations (UN) Children’s rights convention,
convention, they will “hold themselves accountable
as there is an overwhelming amount of information
for this commitment”. Every nation signed up to the
about this convention, which takes time to research
conventions agreements except for The United
and comprehend.
States of America and Somalia.
The convention came about In 1989, world leaders decided that children needed a special convention
The fact that there are not any major repercussions if
just for them because “people under 18 years old
these rights are not met means there can be different
often need special care and protection that adults
levels of understanding or commitment within a
do not”; this led to the Convention on the Rights of
nation, as well as different countries interpreting how
the Child. The Convention was adopted by the UN
to follow these rights in different ways. Even in such
General Assembly in September 1990. It became
a union as the European Union, the rights of a young
the most widely accepted human rights treaty in
person differ on massive scales, especially from East
history.
to West.
22
What is the ‘official’ definition of young people’s rights?
To take it a level deeper, within the United
jargon of the UN General Assembly. The UNICEF
Kingdom the rights of a young person change on
website answers crucial questions for young
certain levels between the different countries that
people, especially in the “Are you old enough?”
make up that kingdom. I am a Youth Worker in
section. This area answers youth related questions
Cardiff, Wales; my understanding of young people’s
on topics such on war, work, sex, voting, and most
rights will be based around those rights upheld in
perhaps most importantly, young people’s right to
Wales itself. In my role as a youth worker, I try to
be heard.
compare those rights to those within Europe, as well
There is also a section of the website for youth
as a small look at young people’s rights on a global
reading around how to take action when a young
level, to further my understanding on young
person believes that some of these rights are being
people’s rights.
infringed on and contains a downloadable guide to action. The guide’s suggestions, like the 54 articles,
On the 20 November 1989, when the United
are all based around the CRC's four core principles
Nations General Assembly adopted the Convention
of non-discrimination, the best interests of the child,
on the Rights of the Child (CRC), 193 Nations
survival, development, protection and participation.
signed the agreement; it provided a guideline for the basic standards for children’s well-being at different
UNICEF provides much on information on the CRC
stages of their development and is the first univer-
in a format suitable for young people, but how effec-
sal, legally binding code of child rights in history.
tively is it distributed? It has only been 5 years since I left high school in the UK and I was clueless about
The rights are stated in 54 articles, UNICEF has
what CRC was until I became a youth worker. I find
attempted to describe these articles in a more
frequently that a lot more adults know about the
people friendly form, away from the government
CRC and it articles rather than the young people
23
that they effect, and that this information is not regularly transferred to the young people. The lack of information available to young people regarding CRC seems to infringe on one of the major core principles of the convention; participation. There are a number of organisations that are trying to educate and inform young people about their rights, but frustratingly not nearly enough. Recently, in Willows High School, Cardiff, where I am based, the children's charity Save the Children, have been running a project with the young people which discusses the CRC and runs campaigns to try and ensure that these articles are followed. I felt this was a fantastic way to educate young people about their rights as the young people were not obligated to do the project and chose to do this in their own time and on their terms. The young people participating then used the time they had spent on this project as part of the 'volunteering' section of a UK based qualification called the 'Duke of Edinburgh Award'. This meant that the project based around the CRC was participative, for the young people’s development and in the best interests of the young people. In keeping with CRC, any
The rights of a young person differ on massive scales. young person could take part in this project, as there was no discrimination. This is a good example of a project based around the CRC reaching the four core principles. Within Europe now, there are a large number of organisations ensuring that the information from the CRC is accessible to young people. Article 12 Scotland is one such organisation, making the information readily available, actively getting involved to improve the CRC and is a member of Rights of the Child UK (ROCK), who are a coalition working for the incorporation of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child into UK law. Article 12 Scotland is outstanding at providing information on the UNCRC at a Scottish level, British level and international level. On their website young people can download the Scottish Government’s most recent report on the UN committee on the rights of the child, (UNCRC), in 3 alternative formats as well as a copy of the UN committees report on the UK and the Scottish response to this report. The organisation is also involved in a campaign to improve the UNCRC by introducing a complaints mechanism. “The UNCRC is the only international human rights treaty with a mandatory reporting procedure which
24
does not have, in addition, an existing or draft communications procedure. This is a serious matter of discrimination against children�. Scotland has shown itself to have a great range of NGOs providing fantastic information for young people about their rights nationally and internationally and how they can get involved. This is similar in other European countries, for example Macedonia (F.Y.R.O), Slovakia, Latvia, Northern Ireland and Czech Republic all have a number of NGOs working in this field, but why is it the NGOs and not the government themselves providing such high quality levels of information?
Daniel John Carter - United Kingdom With input from Portia Nicholson
To be continued on.... www.magazinelibertas.com/as-a-young-person-i-have-the-right-to/ Sources www.unicef.org www.article12.org The Youth Work Curriculum Statement for Wales www.nolabel.cz www.cid.mk www.youngwrexham.co.uk www.globallovetrust.org.uk www.assemblywales.org www.estyn.gov.uk www.thealternativeschool.co.uk www.iaw.org.uk www.mnch.gov.pk www.funkydragon.org www.paulofreire.org
25
Team
Vladimira Bravkova
Blรกthnaid Deeny Daniel Nunes Dragan Atanasov Charlie Delhumeau
Published by Youth Assocation Creactive www.cre-act-ive.org Vladimira Bravkova, Czech Republic Dragan Atanasov, Macedonia Tiberiu Iacomi, Romania Lina Vosyliute, Lithuania Ivana Galapceva, Macedonia Boyan Tabutov, Bulgaria Filip Ilievski Charlie Delhumeau, France Tamara Vasilkovska, Macedonia Daniel John Carter, United Kingdom Dragan Atanasov, Macedonia
Design :
Charlie Delhumeau
is additional European issue of the digital youth magazine LIBERTAS, published every 15th in the month with support from the European Youth Foundation of the Council of Europe. LIBERTAS is a monthly youth magazine fully prepared by a group of young people from different countries, supported by the Youth Association creACTive (www.cre-act-ive.org). Published for the young people worldwide, LIBERTAS and LIBERTAS+ are distributed through the internet to anyone who is interested - free of charge. All texts published in LIBERTAS+ represent solely the opinions of their authors, not of the magazine, its publishers or funders. LIBERTAS, creACTive and the European Youth Foundation are not responsible in any way for the contents of the articles, or for the photos published with them.
If you want to get involved feel free to contact us by e-mail at: hello@magazinelibertas.com