Young people go global for human rights

As part of the NYCI event, young people will be showcasing a range of artistic activities including a DVD on a youth justice project in Honduras, performing a drama entitled “Human rights are for everyone”, demonstrating a rap on young people’s rights and also displaying a cartoon strip highlighting rights issues affecting young people across the globe. The young people will also express solidarity with youth across the world by adding leaves displaying messages onto a “Tree of Human Rights” created by artist Joe Coveney.

“Young people are passionate about global justice issues. Throughout One World Week they have been highlighting young people’s rights in Ireland and across the world in the lead up to the 60th Anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. Today they are joining with a group of young Zambians to showcase the creative ways in which young people have highlighted these issues locally,” stated Johnny Sheehan, Development Education Co-ordinator at the National Youth Council of Ireland.

One World Week is an event that enables young people from diverse backgrounds to come together to learn about local and global issues and take action to bring about change in their own communities and in the wider world. During the week a group of 6 youth workers from Zambia will be travelling across Ireland to meet with youth organisations and share t their experiences of young people’s rights. This event coincides with the upcoming 60th Anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and gives young people the opportunity to celebrate this milestone.

In Ireland, One World Week is coordinated by NYCI’s Development Education Programme in partnership with Irish Aid and is also supported by Trócaire. The theme of Young People’s Rights was chosen by youth organisations and young people.

An education pack, ‘Setting Our Sights on Rights’ was developed around the theme and disseminated to youth organisations and development education groups around the country. This year, over 300 youth workers and volunteers have received direct training on One World Week activities and the resource pack.

ENDS

For further information, please contact Clodagh O’Brien, Communications Officer at the NYCI on 087 781 4903 or 01 425 5955 or email communications@nyci.ie

Notes to Editors:

National Youth Council of Ireland

The National Youth Council of Ireland (NYCI) is a membership-led umbrella organisation that represents and supports the interests of 56 voluntary youth organisations and uses its collective experience to act on issues that impact on young people.