17 NOW

international day of stude

nts

1939 2009 70TH ANNIVERSARY ENTS’ DAY OF THE INTERNATIONAL STUD

2010 OBESSU. This document is published with the financial support of the European Commission’s Europe for Citizens Programme. The information contained in this publication does not necessarily reflect the position of the European Commission.

The European Commission cannot be held liable for any use that may be made of this information.

ATOR General N I D R COO retary

T ec PROJEaCn Favereau, S Jonath

r

e R t Offic c O e T j I o r D E Galli, P a n a i v Vi SIGN E D C I RAPH G & T LAYOU aste nt D

ClĂŠme

iuse

ES Fransen, G R U T C I P rgdorf

lfetta,

i Mo ppe d

Bu Mark Riniolo o p p i l Fi

1

VERY SELDOM DOES A MIXTURE OF ACTIVISTS AND DECISION-MAKERS -PEOPL E CONCERNED WITH THE STATE OF THE WORLD - GET TOGETHER IN DIALOGUE. These rare occasions always seem to be some sort of anniversaries, or commemoration s, where we unite in wond er about history and where it has brought us. In these occ asions, we tend to commit to each other in promises which are scarcely followed through .

Still, let us make an effort not to forget this 17th of Novembe r in a veil of promises of progre ss. We will make our best to do our part and we count on you to do the same. On the 17th of November 1939, thousand s of Czech students in protes ts against the Nazi occupation fel l victim of brutal authoritaria n violence. Some were deporte d to concentration others we re executed.

The peaceful protests ending in tragedy marked a mileston e in the history of student movem ent.

2

ory, whenever soIt is an interesting fact that throughout hist dom and peace, ciety has faced violation of principles of free protest, the ones the ones acting in expression of collective ed out to be the keeping up the fight for liberation, have turn the ones punished students. It follows as a logical result that students. for rebellion have to a great extent been ns Polyteknikon in The Prague-protests in 1939 or in Athe still one of the most 1973 are only examples. Yet students are underprivileged groups in society.

y of rnational Da te In e th f o y, anniversary ration; toda But this 70th ot merely a commemo sis, and in sn a state of cri kers. In Students wa in re a e p a ro nd Eu t decision-m ation: s g n o the world a m a g or situ rity-settin in an inferi need of prio re a ts n e d stu rgets of cutt, ta x t te rs n fi o c e th is th of always one Education is of crisis. es backs in tim

3

up of students as a societal gro ion nit og rec l ma for no ll sti is There ms in sts; there are few mechanis with special needs and intere young people. society especially designed for nal students are left in a margi oo sch d an nts de stu s, thi Due to ancial increasing unemployment, fin lized position, dealing with using ubles in finding a proper ho tro n, tio uca ed ir the in cks cut-ba s. If we ion in decision-making circle and little to no representat that ader perspective, we will find bro a in nk thi to s lve rse ou allow speech hts such as the freedom of violation of fundamental rig over uggles faced by students all str are ate oci ass to ht rig and the the globe. l stuly mean students and schoo on n’t do we , e w ing say When political akers, the ones possessing dents, but also decision-m its history not to repeat itself in for d, ee Ind r. we po e tiv isla leg and -making fit activism into the decision worst, we must be able to machine.

4

We need to reinforce the basic principle of political representation: policy makers must give an attentive ear to the demands of the people. The need for such a reinforcement has been called for over and over again during the past years .

But, at a time when the European Union intensifies its will to become a knowledge-based society, we students have to ask the political players for more action, for more ambition.

Education and Training must not primarily be a machinery producing tax-payers and ready-to-use workers catering for the needs of employers; it is before and above all the path to personal fulfillment and active citizenship. These fundamental aspects of Education need to be further underlined in the European Programmes – be it in the Lisbon Strategy or in the Education & Training 2020 Programme.

STUDEN T ONLY T S AND SCHOO HE FUT L STUD UR E PART O F THE P E OF EUROPE NTS ARE NOT RESENT , WE AR .

E ALSO

5

VE BEEN LAID DOWN THE RIGHTS WE CLAIM FOR HA ATION OF SCHOOL STUBOTH IN THE OBESSU DECLAR ENTS RIGHTS CHARTER. DENT RIGHTS AND THE ESU STUD t rs, at Commission, Parliamen We call upon European leade ibrace and support the recogn but also National levels to em ne do ll aware this will not be tion of these rights. We are we down in these documents are overnight. Still, the rights laid to take in order for our geneundoubtedly necessary steps s ness the day when Europe ha ration of young citizens to wit based society. indeed become a Knowledge t rate the Students who fough So as we together commemo t ve today, we have to commi yesterday for the rights we ha t. en el of power or involvem ourselves, each at our own lev

ep the mmit ourselves to ke co t us m s, nt de stu We must ht before us alive. We spirit of those who foug live ally upon the world we tic cri ng cti fle re p sto r neve to feel give up our capacity in. We must never let tion ssary, we must take ac ce ne en wh d an d, lte revo ard. to make our voices he

6

WE MUST KEEP ON FIGHTING FO R THE RECOGNITION, IMPLEMENTATION AND PRESERVATION OF OUR RIGHTS AS STUDENT S, AS YOUNG PEOPLE, AS CITIZENS. WE NEED OU R POLITICAL REPRESENTATIVES TO HEAR US AN D BRING OUR DEMANDS UP ON THEIR TABLES. NOW IS THE TIME FOR COMMITMEN T, AND THIS TIME, LET US FOLLOW IT THROUGH.

7

,

R TH OF NOVEMBE 7 1 E ORY OF TH A BRIEF HIST STUDENTS’ DAY AL INTERNATION

INTRODUCTION

International The 17th of November is the al observance of Students’ Day, an internation s first marked in student activism. The day wa ational Students’ 1941 in London by the Intern the Allies, and Council in accordance with up by the Interthe tradition has been kept which has been national Union of Students, s of Students in pressing with National Union make the day an Europe and other groups to vance. official United Nations obser

1939 HOW IT ALL STARTED - PRAGUE ants of Cze-

up During late 1939 the Nazi occ led protectorate choslovakia (at the time cal ppressed a deof Bohemia and Moravia), su of the Medical monstration held by students rsity in Prague.

Faculty of the Charles Unive to commemoThe demonstration was held endent Czechosrate the creation of an indep lovak Republic.

8

This demonstratio n resulted in Jan Opletal’s death. Opleta l, a simple studen t at the faculty, was serio usly wounded, an d later died on Novembe r 11. His funeral on November 15, attend ed by several thou sands of students, turn ed into another anti-Nazi demonstration.

Drastic measures were then taken by the Nazi’s. All Czech higher education institutions were closed down; more then 1200 students were ta ken and sent to concentration camps, an d the most hideou s crime of all: nine studen ts and professors were executed without trial on the 17th of November. The 17th November has be en chosen to be the In ternational Studen ts’ Day in rememberance of these victims:

JOSEF MATOUSEK JAROSLAV KLÍMA JAN WEINERT JOSEF ADAMEC JAN CERNYÝ MAREK FRAUWIRT BEDRICH KOUKALA VÁCLAV SAFRÁNEK FRANTISEK SKORKOVSKY

9

VEMBER -

ANOTHER BLOODY 17th OF NO ATHENS 1973

In November 1973 students of the Athens Polytechnic went on strike. They were protesting against the Regime of Colonels that was in power at the time. Their struggle began on the 14th of November. After barricading themselves and constructing a radio station from the equipment that they found in the laboratories they started broadcasting to the entire city of Athens.

ta. – democratic, against the jun Their broadcasts were pro ts. trio pa thousands of their com They were soon joined by rly e their objectives. In the ea However they did not achiev the gh ou AMX 30 tank crashed thr hours of 17th November an nic. blocked gate of the Polytech tch tured on a film by a hidden Du What followed after was cap of nce tra through the main en journalist: the tank passed io, dent, transmitting on the rad the polytechnic while a stu to ing ord fight the protesters. Acc pleaded the attackers not to at tion, no students were killed the contested official investiga d an ly, eral were injured severe the Polytechnic, however sev t mark on them. their injuries left a permanen

HELD AFTER THE FALL OF THE RECORDS OF THE TRIALS DEATHS. IT IS POSSIBLE THE JUNTA DOCUMENT CIVILIAN ARE INACCURATE. THAT THE OFFICIAL NUMBERS 10

THE VELVET RE PRAGUE 1989 VOLUTION

In 1989 indep endent stude nt leaders together with th e Socialist Un ion o (SSM/SZM) org anised a mass f Youth tration to com demonsmemorate the International Students Day. This 50th Anniversary event gave st udents an op portunity to voice their d ispleasures w ith the communist party of Czechoslov akia.

What began as a peacefu l commemorative event turned into a violent one, by nightfall, with many participants being brutally beaten by rio t poli barrettes and other membe ce, red rs of the law enforcem ent agencies.

There were about 15 000 people taking part in this demonstratio n. The only person to be left lying dow n where the b eatings took place was all egedly a stu d ent who in fact was an undercover a gent. The rumour of a fe llow student who passed away due to police brutali ty triggered events that th e secret poli ce had not envisaged.

THAT SAME NIGHT, STUDENTS TOGETHER WITH ACTORS FROM THEATRES AGREED TO GO ON STRIKE. THE FOLLOWING EVENTS THAT TOOK PLACE BROUGHT ABOUT THE DOWNFALL OF THE COMMUNIST REGIME IN CZECHOSLOVAKIA. 11

As it can be seen, students have always been on the forefront of the movement of change.

Always when the country was in crisis students took the opportunity to demonstrate their opinions, even the one that went against the current regime’s values and beliefs.

Unfortunately these actions took place only when there was crisis, or unbearable suppression of human rights.

12

WHAT ABOU T STUDENTS N TODAY? EE AND OPINIO D TO HAVE THEIR VOIC NS HEARD! ES

T TOWARDS O N IF N IO T A OBLIG O WE HAVE AN WARDS THE OTHERS WH TO OURSELVES, US, TO TRANSMIT THEM E WILL FOLLOW IOUS GENERATIONS HAV REV WHAT THE P LEFT US.

13

der res still live un g in e b n a m u xist. h om do not e , millions of d e ts e n e fr d d tu n s a f o n Millions International , participatio is cy a th f cr o o s m n e o d ti who e celebra gimes where se students e opening th o il h th w ll a y, h to w t s And that’ ught wen ny. (…) my first tho y, a D ains of tyran ’ ts ch n e e th ff Stud o w day to thro estruggle every intain the m a m to ly n o up n not oral obligatio ft to us but also to stand m a e v a h e s I think w enerations le d. History ha g rl o s u w io e v th re r p e t v ” ents all o mory of wha ul than unity. r fellow stud rf u e o w h o it p w re ty o ri m in solida nothing son: there is s le a s u t h g tau

GIUSEPPE BECCIA, OBESSU Secretary 14

STUDENT ACTIVIST

General (2007-200

9)

“This annivers ary and to think (… must be an opportunity to reflect ) and to unde rstand what th for freedom m e eans for every fight body in this p our history” hase of

AN PARLIAMENT

ROPE MEMBER OF THE EU , ER U G N LI ER B I IG LU

ucation in Italy

Ed Former Minister of

15

AKTION KRITISCHER SCHULERINNEN (AKS) - AUSTRIA / WWW.AKS.AT

s of the educage debate on the issue hu a r be to Oc of ek we le hunThe first the initiative of a coup m fro d rte sta ia str Au the University tional system in the main lecture hall of ed pi cu oc o wh s nt de dred stu as. d occupied until Christm of Vienna, which staye in which tions and discussions ac s, ion at str on m de y nt union AKS This led to man course the school stude of d an s nt de stu ol ho many sc participated, as well.

In occasion of the 17th of November AKS wanted to point out the problems which school students have to face and the deficits of the educational system.

Some school students organised a public action in front of the Austrian parliament: they hold placards with various catch phrases as, for example, “failed class”, “socially selected” or “no say so” and staged as they were run over by a car which symbolised the school system.

16

The aim was to underline how school students are literally overrun by the educational system and its prob lems.

AKS was demanding for more opportunities of participation for school students in all decision-making proc esses related to school and education, for a comprehensive scho ol for pupils between 10 and 14 years old, for the abolishm ent of the possibility of having to repeat an entire school year and for directly elected school student representatives.

AFTER THIS PUBLIC ACTION, AKS ALSO JOINED THE DEMONSTRATION OF THE UNIVERSITY STUDENTS WITH AB OUT 2000 PARTICIPANTS. 17

UNIJA SREDNJOSKOLACA SRBIJE (UNSS) - SERBIA / WWW.SREDNJOSKOLCI.OR G.R

S

ts, sernational Day of Studen te In e th r, be m ve No ty to proudly On the 17th of rbia took the opportuni Se in s nt de stu ol ho law on sc condary ed thanks to the new in ga ey th at th s ht rig present the new ation UNSS took part). education (in whose cre n of the 17th synchronized celebratio g bi ry ve a d se lving ni ga UNSS or around the country, invo all ols ho sc y ar nd co se s loudly spread November in 84 this day school student On s. nt de stu 0 .00 55 ard! You around «Vote in the School Bo : ds en fri ol ho sc eir th the message to have the right to!».

18

Early in the morning on the 17th of November, scho ol students could see massive banners in their schools prom oting their new rights.

Besides this, school student councils organised different activities in schools and around their towns to mak e their peers, teachers and other people from their cities awa re of the importance of this day.

In the framework of the «Light on the rights» cam paign, stickers, balloons, posters, notebooks and info desk s with information about the International Day of Students were just some of the tools UNSS used for the promotion of school students’ rights.

SERBIAN SCHOOL STUDENTS BE LIEVE THEY HAVE MANAGED TO CONCRETELY PUT “LIGHT ON THE RIGHTS” AND PROPERLY CONT RIBUTE TO THE INTERNATIONAL DAY OF STUDEN TS. UNSS CAN THEREFORE PROUDLY SAY THAT ITS GOAL OF IMPROVING AND PROMOTING SCHO OL STUDENTS’ RIGHTS WAS SUCCESSFULLY AC HIEVED! 19

ELROOIJ

ELINE VAN NIST

ration Young e d e F n o rs e p s Spoke ns (FYEG) European Gree

“We are the activists (…) we are all concerned about our role, about our plane t. We have to make sure that we act, that we ma ke our voice heard, together!”

20

Maros Sefco

vic

Former Euro pean Union Co for Educatio n, Training, C mmissioner ulture, and Youth

oads of the history, very “If it comes to the crossr g people and these are often these are the youn the charge (…) and of the students who are taking s is happening and I think course we can ask why thi look for several factors: that you always have to sm which belong to the the first one is the dynami l of energies.” young people, they are ful

21

ÖRBUND F S M O D G N U L O K S A FINLANDS SVENSK TO (SAKKI), T II L N IE V E L E K IS P (FSS), AMMATIIN O N LIITTO (SLL), SUOMEN TE SUOMEN LUKIOLAIS (OSKU) - FINLAND SSI OPISKELIJA-ALLIAN W.LUKIO.FI / M.FI / WWW.SKOLUNGDO WWW.OSKU.FI

22

WWW.SAKKINET.FI

/ WW

In Finland , th Svenska S e four school stud ent union kolungdom s, Finland sfรถrbund tiin Opisk s FS elevien Lii tto SAKKI, S, Suomen Amma Liitto SLL Suo an vited the d Suomen Opiskeli men Lukiolaisten ja-Allianss Minister o i O f lebrate th e Interna Culture, Stefan Wa SKU intional Day llin, to ce with them of Studen . ts togethe r The Minis ter and th e shared a birthday c school student or gan ak the Intern ational Da e for the 70th ann isations iversary o yo school stu f dent rights f Students, while d unions. iscussing and the im portance of studen t

23

ble for lin, who is responsi al W r.

M , on si ca oc ent On this uth policy and stud yo l na tio na as ch questions su ions’ rea gift from the un ed iv ce re so al s, l benefit with the title “Schoo ok bo y pt em an : presentatives student rights”. the need med at underlining ai t en es pr lic bo m The sy the future of school t ou ab e rit w to d to reflect an their improvement. student rights and

24

THROUGH THESE ACTIONS TH E FOUR UNIONS WANTED TO CELEBRAT E THE INTERNATIONAL DAY OF STUDENTS IN A FUN AND FESTIVE WAY WHILE SEND ING A REMINDER ABOUT SCHOOL STUDEN TS BEING AN IMPORTANT GROUP IN SO CIETY AND OPEN TO A DIALOGUE ABOU T SCHOOL STUDENT RIGHTS.

25

DS) UNIONE DEGLI STUDENTI (U ITALY / WWW.UNIONEDEGLISTUDENTI.IT

In Italy, in occasion of the 17th of Novemb er, the school student union UDS and the student union LINK orga nised a big strike with demonstrations in about 50 cities around Italy.

A call for actions was issued to both scho ol students and university students. Moreover, concerts, cultural eve nts and movie screenings were organised in several schools and teac hers seized the opportunity to experiment alternative pedagogica l methods.

rike concerned a na The claims of the st an right to education, tional law on the ilbu ment for school extraordinary invest . tive welfare system dings and an innova e as (and still is) th The crucial point w ued cutbacks on the contrast of the huge ore then 8 billion eu cational system - m e ris the demand for a ros in 3 years- and t in education. of public investmen

26

Furthermore UDS representatives par ticipated at the conference in Brussels promoted by OBE SSU and ESU in remembrance of the victims of totalitarian regimes and for the relaunching of the role of student dem ocracy and participation at European level.

Throught those events UDS final inte ntion was to create the best possible basis to launch a new and innovative concept for the celebration of the Internation al Day of Students on the 17th of November 2010, where the main focus will be on students’ participation, knowledge and student protagonism.

27

“We think that is very urgent to have strong cooperation. (…) We need to keep solidarity between our organisation and the organisations in other continents.”

Diego Marin

studiantes E e d a n ia b olom Asociación C ACEU) Colombian stus ( Universitario tical refugee li o p r, e d a le dent

28

who fought, before “Let us honour those students 17th of November 73 the Second World War, on the who fought for freein Greece, all those students freely their thoughts, dom, for the rights to speak for the right to think freely.�

STAVROS LAM Vice-Preside n

BRINIDIS,

t of the Euro

pean Parliam

ent 29

ROMÁNIAI MAGYAR KÖZÉPISKOLÁS OK SZÖVETSÉGE (MAKOSZ) - ROMANIA

WWW.MAKOSZ.RO

High the Union of Hungarian Z, OS AK M r be m ve No r the commeOn the 17th of ia, organized events fo an m Ro m fro ts en ud School St in two cities. ational Day of Students rn te In e th of ion at or m j-Napoca cil of the city of Clu un co nt de stu ol ho sc from TransylMAKOSZ local arian school students ng Hu 0 10 an th e or m symbol gathered producing a bulb, the re ob m sh fla a d ze ni hool students vania and orga “Light on the rights”: sc ign pa m ca SU -E SU ES papers of the OB their rights on yellow g rin cla de ” lb bu an formed a “hum students are, indeed, d an , on is lb bu e th which symbolised that fend their rights. active and ready to de

MAKOSZ also realized life-size pictures, on which school students could glue their printed faces and draw creative pictures.

By representing a student, a teacher and a headmaster, the pictures emphasized the cooperation that should exist in the school environment.

Beside the actions taking place in Cluj-Napoca, MAKOSZ local student council of Satu Mare also thought it would be important to commemorate the International Day of Students this year, considering that young people of the city are very active.

30

The preparation of the event we nt very well: the three largest Hungarian secondary schools of the city took part in the commemoration and more than 100 school students joined.

The participants carried the OBESSU logo, orange balloons and posters with the slogan of MAKOS Z in three languages: Hungarian, Romanian and English.

ganized of the city was or th ar he e th om ion. fr the commemorat A parade starting of ce an rt po im e gn of th ajor’s office and this was a si d in front of the m pe op st en th ts ic life.

The school studen participate in publ to s es gn in ill w as a sign of show the law court to of t on fr in as w t stop Another importan student rights. to the commitment 31

ion meeting parade an informat e th of d en e city th At arian schools of the ng Hu e th of e on in was held t the Interts could learn abou en ud st ol ho sc ok re he w d the events that to an ts en ud St of y Da national place 70 years ago. lebrations s of this year, the ce es cc su e th g in w llo rtainly Fo of Students will ce y Da l na io at rn te In for the years to come. be repeated in the

32

MAKOSZ IS CONFIDENT THAT THIS COMMEMORATION WILL HELP YOUN G PEOPLE TO UNDERSTAND THE IMPORT ANCE OF STUDENT’S RIGHTS AND THE VALUE OF INDEPENDENCE.

33

U ASOCIJACIJA SREDNJOSKOLACA H) BOSNI I HERCEGOVINI (ASUBI WWW.ASUBIH.BA

For the first time, the Association of Seco ndary School Students in Bosnia and Herzegovina (ASu BiH) celebrated the 17th of November, the Internationa l Day of Students.

Rights and responsibilities of secondary scho ol students were printed on panels which were distribu ted to every secondary school in Bosnia and Herzegovina .

portant ed the most im d u cl in s el an p ary The ghts of second ri e th to d te zegolaws rela Bosnia and Her in ts en d u st l U’s schoo stated in OBESS ts gh ri e th l al vina and hts. hool Student Rig Sc of on ti ra la Dec councils school student d an ls oo h sc e rts, Som organised conce s el an p e es using th ntations, educative prese d an s op h to ks wor ing happening az am an as which w 17th of rst time on the fi e th r fo s es n wit vina. snia and Herzego November in Bo

34

The ASuBiH executive board took adv antage of this unique opportunity to promote school studen t rights and recognised the need of celebrating the Interna tional Day of Students in the future.

THEY DECIDED THAT THE CELEBRATIO NS FOR THE 17TH OF NOVEMBER SHOULD BECOME A TRADITION IN ORDER TO APPEAL THE PUBLIC AND TO REINFORCE EVEN MORE THE POSITION OF SECONDARY SCHOOL STUDENTS IN BOSNIA AND HERZEGOVINA.

35

le right, to be ab l ra u ct ru st a right, live in.”

“We want the ciety which we so e th to in t u p to make an in

Tony Kins e

lla

Irish time s’ leader an columnist, forme d OBESSU r student founder

36

ropean u E r e m r linguerFo r e B i n n Union of Giova l a n o i t a he Intern ormer Member t f o t n e Presid 53) and f t.

9 4 9 1 ( s n Student Parliame n a e p o r of the Eu

“When the Cold War ca me to an end, a grea t idea took root: the creation of a united, democratic , joint and international Euro pe.

I hope you students all are, or shall become, pr omoters and leaders of this idea.�

37

UNION NATIONALE LYCﾃ右NNE (UNL ) FRANCE / WWW.UNL-FR.ORG

really wanted to take part UNL, the biggest French student union, iversary of the 17th of Noin the commemoration for the 70th ann is for them. UNL, as stuvember and show how important this date dictatorship, by believing dents, strongly fights against tyranny and favour of a more fair and in democracy, human rights, and acting in egalitarian society. onstration in Paris on the After taking into consideration a big dem ask school students to or17th of November, UNL finally decided to discuss together about the ganize round tables in their schools and s and implications.

International Day of Students, its meaning and posted all useful inUNL sent a message to all their members : why, when and how to formation about the events on the website g up the topic on that day. use the OBESSU website and video to brin

38

A lot of regional councils showed stro ng interest for the project and UNL’s goal to raise awaren ess amongst school students was, therefore, achieved.

UNL took advantage of the OBESSU campaign related to the 17th of November in occasion of a big strike organised on the 24th of November to protest against the new French school reforms. UNL sen t posters of the campaign “I WANT NOW” to the reg ional councils and obtained press coverage, both about the strike and the campaign.

All the actions organised by UNL dur ing the month of November served to remember and learn from the past in order to never reproduce in any ways the shameful mistakes that were made.

ALL THE ACTIONS ORGANISED BY UNL DURING THE MONTH OF NOVEMBE R SERVED TO REMEMBER AND LEARN FR OM THE PAST IN ORDER TO NEVER RE PRODUCE IN ANY WAYS THE SHAMEFUL MISTAKES THAT WERE MADE. 39

SAMBAND ÍSLENSKRA FRAMHALDSS KÓLANEMA (SIF) - ICELAND WWW.N

EMINN.IS

Iceland d for the first time in te ra leb ce s wa r be m dic upper-seThe 17th of Nove Iceland SÍF, the Icelan in e tim st fir e th r Fo ted the this year. school students celebra d an , ion un nt de stu condary school rnational Day of mmemorated the Inte co ey Th r. be m ve cated No 17th of to those who have dedi ion ut rib nt co lic bo m sy nts.

Students with a of the rights of all stude e m na in es liv eir th and given

In all the schools where SÍF is present, lessons were suspended in the morning from 10 to 11 and different activities were organised. School students gathered together and paid tribute to the struggle for student rights, discussed the obstacles youngsters face as school students in Iceland, and watched a video that explained the reasons behind this historical date.

SÍF also seized the opportunity to launch “Kveikjum á perunni”, the Icelandic version of the OBESSU-ESU “Light on the rights” campaign. At one of the meetings the Minister of education was present and representatives of SÍF handed her the Icelandic version of the Declaration of School Student Rights.

40

Although this was the first time that Icelandic scho ol students came together in the occasion of the International Day of Students, SĂ?F believes that this served as an ice-b reaker for the commemoration of the 17th of November in the future.

In addition, from now on with the Icelandic vers ion of the Declaration of School Student Rights at disposal , school students in Iceland have now a powerful tool whe n it comes to problems concerning school students, injustices , participation and democracy in the schools system.

THE FIRST CELEBRATIO N OF THE 17TH OF N OVEMBER OFFERED THE OPP ORTUNITY TO SPREAD THE MEANING OF THE INTE RNATIONAL DAY OF STU DENTS AND ALSO TO MAKE SC HOOL STUDENTS AWAR E OF THEIR RIGHTS AND TH E TOOLS THEY HAVE TO FIGHT FOR THEM! 41

STUDENT , IA C C E B E P SEP

GIU

ACTIVIST -2009)

7 General (200 y r a t e r c e S OBESSU

42

“I HATE PEOPLE WHO SAY THAT STUDENTS ARE THE FUTURE OF THE WORLD. W E AR PRESENT, AND OU R ROLE IS IMPORTA E THE NT RIGHT NOW. WE ARE TH E GENERATION TH AT HAS A DUTY TO TAKE CH ARGE OF THE WO RLD’S FUTURE, AND THIS HAS TO BE DONE NOW, NOT TOMORROW.”

43

OBESSU THANKS

ITS MEMBERS AN

D

AEVL (FRANCE), AK S (AUSTRIA), ASU BIH (B DOS (SLOVENIA), EEO (DENMARK), ES CU (E (IRELAND), LH (D ENMARK), LMS (L ITHUAN SSUN (NORWAY), SUS (SLOVAKIA) SV EA (SW (SWITZERLAND), VSK (BELGIUM).

44

OBSERVERS ORGA

NIZATIONS:

BOSNIA HERZEGO VINA), CANAE (SPA IN), DGS (DENMAR ESTONIA), ESSA (U K) NITED KINGDOM), FSS (FINLAND), IS NIA), MAKOSZ (R SU OMANIA) SIF (ICE LAND), SLL (FINLA WEDEN), UDS (ITA ND), LY), UNL (FRANCE ), UNSS (SERBIA) , USO

45