| Asia Pacific Committee meeting 2011, New Delhi, India |  |  |
| Members of the International Union of Socialist Youth (IUSY) from the Asia and the Pacific met in New Delhi, India (March 8-10) and agreed to work more closely to accomplish several programs to strengthen progressive youth organizations in the region and advance the cause of Democratic Socialism. The challenges specific to the country conditions and the role of young socialists in the region build one main focus of the meeting. Participants had the chance to discuss the development of Social Democracy in the Asia Pacific with IUSY veteran and former Deputy Secretary General Pradip Bose as well as Dr. Giri from the Association for Democratic Socialism. As part of monitoring the democratization process in the region, representatives from different organizations shared on the situation of media freedom, freedom of organization, freedom of expression in their respective countries. The reports showed that while modernization has taken place after colonizers and dictators were ousted, democracy has been regressive and draconian laws are imposed in many parts of the region. The case of Burma and Tibet remain the most difficult battle. The IUSY Secretary General presented and invited the organizations to the World Festival to be held in July 25-31, 2011. Suggestions for topics include „Migration and Gender", „Water, the New Oil: The Sustainability Question", „Climate Change's Vulnerability in Asia Pacific", „Youth Unemployment", and „Establishing Social Welfare under different conditions" as well as trainings for Campaigning and Party Building owing to the challenge for youth activists to reinvent its communications in order to capture the imagination of young people and to build progressive, democratic parties in a region with a long history of colonization and dictatorship from Left and Right political forces. On the last day, the body approved of the Conference Paper on Social Democracy in the Asia Pacific, the outline of the Asia Pacific Democracy Paper to be launched in the World Festival, and resolutions on the continuing battle for Burma's genuine freedom even after the release of Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, UN investigation on the Human Rights violations in Tibet under China's occupation, recognition of political freedom in Thailand against the Lese Majeste, and the demands for equal rights and protection for women in celebration of International Women's Day with focus emphasis on trafficking, female infanticide and female genital mutilation happening in Asian countries. The meeting was attended by delegates from Burma (Democratic Party for New Society), Malaysia (Democratic Action Party Socialist Youth), Nepal (Nepal Tarundal ) and Philippines (Akbayan Youth), Tibet (Tibetan Youth Congress), Indonesia (Pergerakan Indonesia), Philippines (Student Council Alliance of the Philippines), Sri Lanka (Council for Social Democrats Youth), and youth organizations in India. A joint discussion of the Asia Pacific Committee and the IUSY Presidium on the status of the region and ways forward ended the meeting. Marie Chris Cabreros |
