WYA Europe supports the Grand Duke of Luxembourg - members write to their deputies!
The Grand Duke Henri of Luxembourg has announced that he will not sign the new legislation legalizing euthanasia in his country. On December 11th, the Parliament of Luxembourg has then adopted an amendment to the constitution that would reduces the Grand Duke's powers. This amendment will be proposed for a second reading before being actually applied.
Consistant to the promotion of the dignity of the human person from conception to natural death, World Youth Alliance invites members and young people from Luxembourg to send their own letter to the Deputies.
Here you can find all necessary resources to express your support to the Grand Duke and to protect human dignity:
- The official WYA press release of support to the Grand Duke
- A standard letter to be sent (and personalized) to the deputies by mail or email.
- The addresses and emails of the deputies. Please pick up 'your' deputy and/or email them all using hiden copy (Bcc).
Freedom of Conscience in the European Union
Training on Anti-Discrimination Measures on the Occasion of the 60th Anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights
Brussels, December 4th – 7th '08
On the occasion of the 60th Anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights the World Youth Alliance Europe has organised a training on the rights to freedom of thought, conscience and religion (article 18 of the Declaration) in the context of anti-discrimination measures. The European Commission has recently proposed a new directive on "the equal treatment of persons irrespective of religion or belief, disability, age or sexual orientation."(Click here to read the text of the Directive in your language).
From December 4th till 7th WYA Europe hosted a group of young people from nine different European countries. The four-day training seminar focused on the much debated new 'Equal-Treatment' Directive, relevant to many concerns on the respect for human dignity. Participants, active young advocates at grassroots level, enjoyed a session of workshops and lectures as well as a fieldtrip round the Christmassy Belgian capital with a slight detour to place Jourdan to enjoy a nourishing, healthy and typical Belgian lunch- des Frites (also- completely unjustly known as french fries).
The kick off took place in the European Parliament with a panel discussion titled: “Freedom of Conscience and Religion in Anti-Discrimination Measures”. Our guests: Mr. Mayor Oreja (MEP, EPP-DE Vice-President, Spain), Dr J. Lopatowska (Legal Affairs Secretariat, COMECE), Mr.
Dan Boucher (Director of Public Affairs, CARE), Mr. Christel Lamère Ngnambi (Manager, European Evangelical Alliance) and Ms Rebecca Austen (WYA Director of Advocacy). The discussion was chaired by WYA Europe Director Francois Jacob.
The Director of the WYA Europe speaks to the Irish Parliament Sub-Committee on Ireland’s Future in the European Union
Dublin, November 12th '08
Recently the Irish Parliament established a Sub-Committee on Ireland’s future in the European Union to analyse the challenges Ireland is facing following the Lisbon treaty Referendum results. On one of the Sub-Committee’s meetings, held at the 12th November ’08 and considering inter alia social policy including fundamental rights, inequality and education, Francois Jacob, the Director of the World Youth Alliance Europe, was invited to speak about these issues.
In his speech Francois asked, that the human person be placed at the centre of debate about social policy and human rights. He also commended Ireland for its strong tradition of respecting human dignity as evidenced by the Irish constitution. To read Francois Jacob's speech, please click here.
Power of Youth at International Institutions:
Workshop on how young people speak for human dignity in EU and UN
WYA training, European Parliament, Brussels, 16th Oct '08
WYA Europe held an afternoon training session organized for a group of over 40 young people from Ireland in the European Parliament on the invitation of Kathy Sinnott MEP.
For more information and pictures please click here.
WYA Slovenia in love
WYA training weekend, Škofije, 26th - 28th Sept '08
World Youth Alliance Slovenia gathered 30 young people from all around Slovenia on a training weekend entitled "Drama of Love". It took place in Škofije at the Slovenian seaside.
The programme included a film night "Shadowlands", a debate about decision making, reading of Karol Wojtyla's play "The Jeweller's shop" and a lecture by the guest speakers - a couple of family and relationship top-Slovenian counsellors. They spoke about romantic relationships between men and women and the differences in communication but also the complementarity. The weekend was completed with a sunny breakfast on Sunday morning.
Viviamo! Summer Camp entitled: "Solidarity Experience" took place in Cracow in mid-July 2008 and gathered participants from different parts of the world: Costa Rica, Peru/Spain, Austria, Romania, Russia, Croatia, France, Italy and Poland.
The 10-day-programme consisted of lectures, workshops, volunteer work with children and the elderly in need as well as sightseeing, trips and a variety of leisure activities. This year we partnered with the Cracow-based-NGO, The Spring Foundation, which is involved in many grassroots development projects and coordinates volunteer work locally.
WYA members reflected upon the meaning of solidarity as a value in their personal lives as well as for society and could observe how the Solidarity movement influenced Polish history. Thanks to the volunteer work with children and the elderly Viviamo participants had an opportunity to discover how important solidarity is, especially when exercised in a simple daily self-gift to others. They had a chance to share this experience with Cracowian citizens and tourists during the "Solidarity event" on the Main Square. Click here to read more.
Click here to read more about Viviamo Summer Camps in Europe.
"Europe has provided for mankind with a way to reach its full potential growth. It is up to Europe to demonstrate this new way, which allows diverse civilisations to flourish, while showing mutual respect for each other."
European Director of Operations and a French comittee member attended a Novussanguis conference in Paris on May 14. The aim of the conference was to launch the Novussanguis consortium, an international research consortium on cord blood and adult stem cells for therapeutic aims. The founders of the consortium, Professor Colin McGuckin and Foundation Jérôme Lejeune, hope to meet the expectation of many patients who could benefit from treatment with adult and cord blood stem cells and wish the consortium advance the development of the responsible regenerative medicine. The initiative is welcomed as a promising step towards support and promotion of research that respects the dignity of each human being.
'Giving Europe a soul'* Training Seminar on Policy and Ethics Brussels, 8th - 11th May
From May 8th till 11th WYA Europe hosted a group of youth from eight European countries, with a majority coming from the EU presiding state – Slovenia. A four-day training seminar focused on the recently debated EU policy & ethics questions, relevant to concerns about the respect for human dignity in Europe. Participants, active advocates for human dignity at grassroots levels, enjoyed a session of workshops and lectures as well as a fieldtrip round the Belgian capital and a picnic in the flowery CinquantenairePark. Read more.
* Inspired by Robert Schuman: "Europe requires a soul, the conscience of its historic affinities and its present and future responsibilities, a political will serving the same human ideal", from 'For Europe', 1950.
Dignity, Freedom, Solidarity - how ideas shape policy? Workshop for Dutch - Russian Youth Group Brussels, 27th Feb '08
On Wednesday, February 27th, WYA Europe had the pleasure to host a Dutch-Russian youth group on a three-hour workshop, which took place in the WYA Intern Apartment. Our guests arrived straight from their conference in the Netherlands to get a short but intense breath of Brussels.
Meeting involved introduction and presentations of our work at the heart of Europe and the EU institutions. After lunch we reflected on the understanding of concepts such as: dignity, freedom and solidarity rooting the debate in the WYA Charter and Declarations. Afterwards we moved on to research on recent legal documents such as: "Draft Report on the Demographic Future of Europe" from the EP Committee on Employment and Social Affairs or "Draft Report on Gender Equality and Woman's Empowerment in Development Cooperation" from the DEVE EP Committee, as well as the Youth Proposals from the Cairo+5 Conference (a part of the Track A training). Our aim was to analyze how the discussed ideas can shape policy as well as mirror themselves in our daily lives.
November Follow-up Seminars Brussels, Nov 2007
Following the success of the November conference on "New Atheism," World Youth Alliance, Forum Brussels and Hanns Seidel Stiftung wish to deepen the debate on this current cultural issue and organize a serious of follow up seminars. The two coming seminars will be held on Nov 21st and 28th on the following topics: Man's Search for Meaning, and Man – A Spiritual Being. The discussions will be introduced by invited Members of the European Parliament and the themes are inspired by the authors of the WYA Track A training materials (Viktor Frankl, Joseph Pieper).
New Atheism and Western Civilization Brussels, 7th Nov 2007
On Nov 7th, WYA Europe, together with Forum Brussels and Hans Seidel Stiftung, hosted a debate on the phenomenon of the “New Atheism” and its effects on Western Civilization. The introductory speech was given by Dr. Ingo Friedrich, Member of the European Parliament, who exemplified how different thought streams can mirror in political decisions at the EU level. Dr. John Carson Lennox from Oxford University, the main speaker, mathematician, scientist and philosopher, raised various issues connected with the growing popularity of the atheism and its presence in culture and social thought. His speech will soon be available online.
The seminar was preceded with a short lecture by Dr. Lennox on “Courageus Leadership”, which was of special interest to the WYA Europe staff and interns. What we have learnt from his speech is that the key to successful leadership are values and moral integrity of the leader.
You can find the programme details here. Please find the report and pictures here!
Regional Committee Meeting and Training Session 2nd - 6th November 2007
From November 2nd to 6th, Brussels hosted members of the World Youth Alliance Europe regional committee from Austria, Croatia, France, Germany, Poland and Slovenia. Young people met to share their WYA stories and experience of their work at the national level. They discussed the mission of WYA rooting it in their various backgrounds as well as debated on the ideas for the development of the European Region. On November 5th, participants visited the European Parliament, where after the training session, they had an opportunity to attand the Committee on Women’s Rights and Gender Equality. Members enjoyed a few cultural events (film night and a chello concert). They had the opportunity to taste Belgium specialities and visit the magic Grand Place by night. Looking forward to the future fruitful cooperation, WYA staff wish to thank all members for their presence and volunteer engagement for the promotion of human dignity with WYA in Europe!
"Eyes Wide Open" Perspectives on Body and Behaviour in Global Health Policy
First Conference in the new Interns' Apartment
Brussels, 27th June 2007
On Wednesday 27th June, the team of World Youth Alliance Europe invited members and friends to attend a conference at their new interns' apartment in the centre of Brussels. The discussion, entitled "Eyes Wide Open", was based around the theme of perception of body and behaviour in global health policy and the three speeches gave an insight into the complex problems: Allison Herling: HIV/AIDS & Behaviour Change: Integral responses to curbing the Global HIV Pandemic
Clare James: Hybrids, Tissue Trafficking and the Commercialisation of the Human Body
Susannah Petrie: Human Trafficking – a Violation of the Body
The talks, followed by wine and canapés, were attended by Members of the European Parliament and evoked some heated discussions among members of the audience about the controversial issues raised.
Our recent workshops and events in Slovenia attracted new members, media attention and many new friends of WYA! The five-day visit of WYA Europe staff was a chance for WYA members from Slovenia, Bosnia and Croatia to develop their understanding of issues related to dignity and to develop projects which could impact key cultural debates on a national and European level. The training weekend, workshops and University lectures provided young Slovenians with a valuable forum for exchanging ideas and experiences. Participants were encouraged to work together to articulate a core message for the media. Feeling empowered by the training and common activities, many young people decided to take an active role within WYA, taking the opportunity to share their ideas and experiences with local youth groups and media. On Sunday afternoon the group visited Postojna to participate in the Slovenian Family Festival - this was an opportunity to raise awareness about WYA projects and plans, to sign up new members and to meet special guests.
Our visit to Slovenia resulted in strong friendships rooted in shared experiences and common aims. We were delighted to experience the beauty of life and solidarity in a new and unique way! For more information about further activities in Slovenia, see the National Chapter page, or email: slovenija@wya.net.
"Europe's Fragile Conscience" Evening Seminar & Cocktail
April 10th 2007, Madariaga European Foundation - College of Europe Foundation, Brussels
Introduction
H.S.H. Prince Nikolaus of Liechtenstein, Ambassador of Liechtenstein to the EU
Ethics: An Illegitimate Interference into Freedom of Research?
Dr. Peter Liese, Member of the European Parliament, Germany
Trafficking, Tissue Trading and the Commercialisation of the Human Body
Kathy Sinnott MEP, Member of the European Parliament, Ireland
Art 9 ECHR and the Right to Conscientious Objection
Professor Frans Alting von Geusau, Professor Emeritus of International Law, Netherlands
Discussion & Cocktail
With cooperation of FORUM Brussels.
WYA Europe takes a stand in the EU debate on Advanced Therapy Medicinal Products
Advanced therapies: advancing human dignity?
On January 30th, the European Parliament Committee for Environment and Public Health (ENVI) approved a report on: "The proposal for a regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council on advanced therapy medicinal products". Amendments to the report and the final report itself are now due to be voted on by Members of the European Parliament (MEPs) during a Plenary session of the Parliament in Strasbourg. The WYA worked with members of the ENVI committee prior to their approval of the Report at the end of January. The aim of the proposed Regulation is to create a single European authorisation process for the placing of advanced therapy medicinal products on the market under the single market provisions of the European Treaties. This Regulation will cover new forms of treatment, including gene therapy, cell therapy and tissue engineering. Any types of products that are excluded from this regulation will be less attractive for research and development. By upholding fundamental ethical principles and calling for the exclusion of certain types of products from the scope of the Regulation, we can make our contribution to ensure that the Regulation will not be used in a way which undermines human dignity and fundamental values. Click here to read more.
Conference on Prostitution of minors in the German-Czech-Austrian border regions: Obstacles to the prevention of and the fight against sexual exploitation of children. Brussels, European Parliament, 07 November 2006
Members of the WYA European Office together with members of the WYA Slovenian Committee attended a conference in the European Parliament on the subject of child prostitution. The conference attracted expert speakers from significant European and Global organisations who spoke on the devastating effects of child exploitation, the role of the EU in this matter and importantly the link between prostitution and trafficking.
The hands-on experience of Cathrin Schauer, founder of KARO an association for cross-border social work in the field of prostitution and narcotics, gave an account of the demand for child prostitutes and the different levels of exploitation that takes place. She states that in many circumstances the young victims have been so stripped of their dignity and denied of any source of love and they are therefore often incapable of knowing how to love others. Click here to read more.
WYA Europe Director speaks at European Parliament European Parliament Hearing on Advanced Therapies
Brussels, 11th May 2006
European Director Emilia Klepacka addressed this recent hearing at the European Parliament, commenting on the European Commission’s text for a Regulation which will govern the use and authorization of tissue-based, gene-based and cell-based therapies in Europe. Her speech was delivered to a full committee room in the European Parliament. It was well-received and she was commended by the Parliamentary Rapporteur and as well as MEPs, NGO and industry representatives who attended the Hearing. Many people are now becoming more interested in the World Youth Alliance and requests for our commentary and engagement on bioethical issues within the European institutions are becoming ever more intensive.
