IUSY Action Plan for 2010-2012

The IUSY Action Plan outlines the priorities set out by the IUSY Presidium for the period 2010-2012. It is a working document and will constantly be updated as the work proceeds.

The main purpose of the Action Plan is to strategic developing IUSY so we get stronger focus and a more long-term approach in our work; in order to strengthening our movement, member organizations and the possibility to reach out with the political agenda of IUSY.

IUSY is a huge and complex organization with the world as its working field. The Action Plan is suppose to give a guiding in the work that is being done by people involved in IUSY. However it is mainly a working paper for the Presidium and the Secretariat in order to ensure an efficient, high-qualitative and successful running of the organization.

The first part of the Action Plan is supposed to give an overlook of what are IUSYs priorities. The second part of the Action Plan is more detailed and is giving an overlook of the process of the work within the Presidium.

Hopefully the Action Plan can also serve as a presentation and introduction of IUSY activities for all who is interested in getting more involved in IUSY.

Regional Committees

The Regional Committees of IUSY is in many ways the base of IUSY. IUSY is a global organization but much of its work is organized within the regional committees. It is important to have a good balance between IUSY on global and regional level. The regional committees should always constantly affect IUSY on a global level and vice versa, IUSY global politics should always affected the regional committees. The Presidium and the Secretariat is the cross point of this exchange. Only by working together we can strengthen IUSY on a global and regional level.

IUSY regional committees must be developed during the coming mandate. Passive organizations must be turn active, new organizations must be brought in and we must be ready to evaluate memberships when necessary. In between our activities the network within the regional committees must be strengthened so the development is constant, member organizations can more easily cooperate with each other and IUSY can play a stronger role on the regional and global arena.

The level of political debate within IUSY and the regional committees must be increased by a stronger involvement of the regions in the global political agenda but also by the development of stronger political agendas within each region. The regional political agenda must be developed in to political demands and campaigns so that the identity of the region gets stronger but also the impact of the regional committee get stronger in the region and in IUSY.

The regional committee must be link from grassroots, member organizations to IUSY globally when it comes to current political developments in conflicts, elections or policy by endorsing members to write articles to the IUSY website and newsletter. Visibility is depending on action and IUSY is depending on its members in order to be able to reach out on the global arena as a relevant and interesting political actor.

IUSY will between each Congress/Council and Council/Congress do one regional committee meeting in each region. IUSY will also try to do study visits where needed in order to support our member organizations and strengthening the regional committees.

The Regional Coordinator and the Vice Presidents from the region coordinates the work in the Regional Committees in cooperation with the IUSY Secretariat.

All Regional Committees face different challenges even though our struggle is global. Therefore each regional committee have outlined their political priorities, which go hand in hand with the activities in the region.

IUSY African Committee will political focus on conflict resolution, democratisation, social justice, education & employment and gender equality. In order to strengthen the network there will be three sub-regional meeting during 2010 and the first half of 2011 that has the possibility to reach out more due to both practical and political reasons. One Committee meeting for the entire region will also take place in second half of 2011.

IUSY Asia Pacific Committee will political focus on the promotion of democracy in the region. Solidarity campaigns will be one important part of this with special campaigns on Burma and Bhutan. Another part will be to strengthen the political debate and the agenda of Social Democracy within the region. For the network development it will be important to strengthen participation at activities by study visits and to give other organizations the possibility to attend IUSY meetings. The Committee will meet in Malaysia in July 2010 and in India in February 2011.

IUSY American Committee will political focus on strengthening of political participation and institutional democracy in the region. Youth Employment is a political priority and a campaign will be done on the issue. Regional integration is another political priority important for the regions development. The political developments in Central America require IUSY to be more present and engaged. For the network development the membership situation will be overlooked in order to look into the possibility of new members. The need of Study Visits will be looked into. The Committee will meet in Costa Rica in October 2010 and in the second half of 2011.

IUSY European Committee will political focus on youth employment as a top priority. The importance of European enlargement will continue to be a constant focus and IUSY will advocacy for a faster process for countries in the Western Balkans and a increased interest of EU in the Black Sea Area Region. The fight against right-wing extremism needs more of our attention and the network will focus both on political solutions as well as trainings on the issue. For the network development the priorities is the develop the political identity of the European Committee and to engage more member organizations in the IUSY activities in the Balkans and the Black Sea Area Region. The Committee will meet in Rome in October 2010 and in the second half of 2011.

IUSY Mediterranean Committee has its main focus on Peace in the Middle East. The Israel/Palestinian conflict remains the centre of its political focus. Building support on both sides for peace by giving examples of that peace is possible is the role of a young generation. A Peace campaign will be done by the member organizations in the region. For the development of the network it is important to establish more contacts in the region, especially in Middle East, and to engage more in the network. A Study Visit will be done in the broader region. The Committee will meet in Israel/Palestine/Amman in December of 2010 and in the second half of 2011.

Working Groups

The IUSY World Congress sets out the Working Groups in IUSY. The Working Groups have the task to focus, affect and develop IUSY in the area of the working group. The working groups work globally and one of the priorities for the thematic working groups is to become more global. Each working group must develop its strategy on how to reach out more globally and create a stronger network.

IUSY Feminist Working Group has the role to increase gender equality in IUSY and the world. Raising awareness of gender equality by campaigning is one important task. Another one is to overlook the work within IUSY in order to ensure gender equality. In order to strengthen the agenda it is important that support of young women leaders in IUSY and in member organizations by Feminists Trainings is a priority for all of IUSY. Even though IUSY policies on gender equality is good there is in practise more to be done and especially in some of IUSYs member organizations a lot needs to happen.

IUSY LesbianGayBisexualTransexual – LGBT Working Group has the task to ensure LGBT rights within IUSY and the world. LGBT rights are a fundamental principle of IUSY but its presence could be stronger. Raising awareness of LGBT rights must be a priority for the network and IUSY. Especially since too many of IUSY member organizations needs to improve their politics on LGBT rights. It is important that all IUSY is working with LGBT rights even though the work must be lead by the LGBT Working Group.

The Students Working Group has the task to bring together students within IUSY and to focus on their political agenda. For the network development the establishment of students regional network will be a priority that will also ensure a more global perspective. The role of the networks will be to gather knowledge about students situations worldwide and put forward suggestions on how to improve educations policies.

The Social Movements Working Group has the task to further engage IUSY with the civil youth society. This in order to increase IUSY visibility, create strong networks and reach out with our political agenda. It is also an opportunity to bring a broader political agenda in to IUSY. The World Social Forum and other regional forums are main areas for this. IUSY should be present in these events and focus on building support for our global campaigns. The Global Progressive Youth Forum, GPYF needs to be developed together with the Global Progressive Forum, GPF and ECOSY. IUSY should be present in activities of the GPYF and actively contribute. Campaigns of the GPF should also be made within IUSY.

The EU-Arab Dialogue Working Group has the task to develop the cooperation between Europe and the Arab World. Relations between these to worlds are based upon misunderstandings and suspicion, we as progressive youth from both continents have an important role in breaking down barriers. For the network development meetings with the Arab Youth Union is an important opportunity for exchange.

The Balkan Round Table Working Group has the task to strengthen the cooperation in the Balkans. Political focus will be on democratisation and minority rights in the region. The European enlargement process is constantly important. A special focus is need on the current political developments in Bosnia and in Kosovo. Study visits to these countries and Albania will therefore be done. Central political points is mobility and youth employment and the network will further develop how it best should work on this. The Working Group will meet have a Balkan Round Table Conference in November in Slovenia 2010 in cooperation with ECOSY. The possibility of doing a Leadership Conference in the first half of 2011 will be looked into.

The Black Sea Area Region Working Group has the task to strengthen the cooperation in the Black Sea Area region. Political focus will be on democratisation and human rights. One important part of this is to raise awareness of the youth civil society and strengthening your participation. The many conflicts in the region must be overcome and a better relation with the neighbourhood, EU and Russia, is needed. For the network development it is important to work with strengthening of member organizations and to train more activists in the region. The Working Group will meet in Kiev in June 2010, do a Feminist training in the second half of 2010 and meet in trainings during 2011.

The Working Group Coordinators is responsible for the Working Groups in cooperation with the IUSY Secretariat.

Drafting Committee

The role of the Drafting Committee is to lead the political debate within IUSY. The Drafting Committee is in somehow our own Think Tank.

The level political debate within IUSY must be increased. For this all Presidium members, member organizations and activists have a responsibility. Especially when it comes to making current statements on political developments around the world IUSY is depending on getting contributions from the local perspective that can be developed through the regional level and then finalized on a global level.

IUSY Presidium have decided to focus on the following political themes for this period:

1. Equality
2. Progressive Economies
3. Education and Employment
4. Sustainable Development and Climate Change
5. Peace and Security
6. Democracy and Human Rights

For each political theme the Drafting Committee will put forward a policy paper that will further be developed to a IUSY Political Manifesto that will be put forward to the IUSY World Council at the IUSY World Festival in July 2011. During the year a publication on each political theme will be published to create visibility and debate about the politics of IUSY.

The work of the Drafting Committee is coordinated by the Chair of the Drafting Committee together with Vice President according to portfolio responsibility and in cooperation with the President and Secretary General.

Global Campaign

IUSY Global Campaign on Equality will be the frontline of IUSY this period. Equality is on the main principles of our ideology and always on top of our agenda. However equality has the last years not been so present in the political debate and by the campaign we want to raise awareness of equality among young people around the world. IUSY also believes that within our political family equality could be more in focus so we are also campaigning for a strengthening of the agenda of equality within our political family and member organisations.

The Global Campaign will effect all of IUSY and in all our activities be present. We also want to involve all of IUSY in the creation and performing of the Campaign. The Global Campaign is very important for the IUSY Identity both in how it is done and in what that is stated.

Besides the global campaign on equality IUSY will also campaign on Climate Change before the UN Climate meeting in Mexico. Join the Global Progressive Forum Campaign on the Financial Transaction Tax and other initiatives focusing on the global economy.

All regional Committees will develop regional campaigns according to their political priorities. All Working Groups will develop campaigns focused mainly on effecting IUSY as movement and its member organisations.

Responsible for the Global Campaigns is Vice President with that political portfolio within the Presidium and Drafting Committee together with the IUSY Secretariat.

World Festival

IUSY World Festival is the most important activity of IUSY. It is at the IUSY World Festival that all of our movement have the chance to meet and set our political agenda.

The IUSY World Festival in July 2011 will be held at EuropaCamp, at Attersee (close to Salzburg) in Austria. We expect 2 500 activists from all over the world. During five days we will have political seminars and trainings as well as sport- and social programs. It will be a perfect combination of joy and politics.

Political Theme for the Festival will be Equality and International Solidarity. The Festival is being held in the memory of Bruno Kreisky and his global engagement. Hosting organizations is SJÖ, Austria.

IUSY World Council will also take place during the Festival. This will give the opportunity for more people to take part, which will contribute to make IUSY more open and transparent. It will also be an important step of increasing the political debate within IUSY.

IUSY and Socialist International

IUSY is the youth organization of the Socialist International. The relation between IUSY and SI is strong and good. However IUSY wants to develop and deepen the relation with the SI.

SI is the most important political organization within our family and the natural political body for IUSY to address in its political work. As youth of the SI IUSY have the responsibility and the possibility to contribute to the political and organizational agenda of the SI. One important part of strengthening the IUSY SI relation is that IUSY will be present and active at each SI activity. SI will always be invited to IUSY global activities. IUSY will get more involved in each of the SI Committees in order to contribute to the political agenda but also be able to bring the political agenda of the SI in to IUSY.

IUSY wants to have the same status within the SI as the Socialist International Women, SIW has. It is important for IUSY to be further recognized as the youth of the SI and to get a stronger possibility to contribute to the SI and to develop its own work. It is equal important for the SI to have a strong youth organization that can contribute to the political and organizational agenda and be more present in SI.

IUSY and United Nations

We believe that we can and must contribute to strengthen the political agenda of the UN in order to develop a more safe, democratic and equal world. We also believe that focusing more on the UN will give us a stronger connection the global political agenda and especially a strong focus on politics for development. UN engagement also provides opportunities for IUSY to take part in activities and process that will strengthen and develop our movement.

Further IUSY engagement is the best way to strengthen the role of youth within the UN and to strengthen the role of UN in the world.

Political Education and Pool of Trainers

The level of Political Education in IUSY needs to be raised. Our Political Agenda is in a time of global crisis facing difficulties as well as opportunities. One main challenge is to reach out to more with our political agenda. In order to be successful we must be more that can meet people. Our global political platform also needs to be strengthened.

IUSY will develop a Pool of Trainers Team that can do political trainings around the world. This will raise the level of political education within our movement as well as the visibility of IUSY. The trainings will also indirectly energize our political discussion.

Responsible for the development of the Political Education and Pool of Trainers is the SG together with the Drafting Committee. One first step will be to establish a Trainers of Trainers Team that will lead the development of the Pool of Trainers and develop trainings. The first training should focus on Social Democracy.

Election Watch

The fair and free elections still are one of the most important challenges for any state on the way to democratization. The societies in these states are still facing problems of the forged elections that cause general distrust in democratic institutions. For many IUSY member organizations this is the first and most important political challenge.

The development of IUSY Election Watch Team that would carry out election monitoring tasks would be a direct contribution to democratisation around the world. For IUSY member organizations it would be a tremendous help in their work for democracy and it would give IUSY as an organization but also individual members a unique experience that would give a stronger base to our political agenda. It would also strengthen visibility of the organization on national level as well as support its international position.

The development of IUSY Election Watch Team is a long process and it has just started within IUSY.

Communication

For a global organization like IUSY Communication is essential. IUSY Communication must be improved and increased both internally and externally. IUSY should also be developed to a more open, transparent and visible organization so more people can take part in IUSY, realize what we are doing and to make sure that we reach out with our political message. IUSY visibility in our member organisation must be increased. IUSYs role within our political family can be more visible and stronger. IUSY can be a strong voice in the international youth civil society. IUSY should take part in the world media as political youth movement who dares to lead and come with new political solutions.

During the first period of the mandate IUSY have developed and put forward a new IUSY logo and a new website. This needs to further be developed and the structures for communication will be constantly developed. However content is what it is really about. Therefore we all need to contribute and the Presidium must take the lead.

With the IUSY Logo we want to communicate 1. We are a modern and progressive movement. 2. We know from where we are coming from and are proud of our history that have been characterized by the will to reach forward and lead development to the future. 3. We are a Socialistic/Social Democratic political youth movement struggling for Freedom, Equality and Solidarity. 4 We are a part of the civil society as a global NGO with activities all over the world.

IUSY Logo is the most visible thing of IUSY and it is important that it is used in all IUSY Communication and in all activities so our visibility is increased. The update on the logo is one important part of making IUSY a more professional organization. Together with the logo IUSY is persons the face of IUSY. We will therefore focus more on presenting persons since that are the best way of showing that we are global movement that represents youth from different backgrounds and that we are speaking with one voice.

IUSY Website will be the centre for IUSY Communication. The idea is that all information should be found at the website and that external and internal communication more or less will be the same. Content of the website should therefore contain 1. Organizational information about IUSY, like how we work and are structured 2. Presentation of IUSY Politics. 2. Information on activities so all can join and see what we are doing. 3. Political statements on current political worldwide development. 4. Political debate within IUSY.

Other priorities in short; A newsletter will be sent out every week based on information from the website. The Presidium will constantly contribute to the political debate on the website, space will open for all members. Publications will be published on the website during the year by the Drafting Committee. Each Regional Committee and Working Group will have their space on the website. Social Media will be integrated and updated constantly. Media connections will be developed.

IUSY Secretariat is responsible for IUSY Communication.