UNOY in the Asian region

Due to the restructuring process of UNOY that has been implemented since October 2006, the Asian part of the UNOY Peacebuilders network now consists of 7 member youth peace organisations and a few affiliates. What UNOY intends by Asia includes the South Eastern part of the Asian continent, where most of the member organisations are located (Bangladesh, Nepal, Pakistan and Phillipines), and also the Middle East (Palestine). Because of the huge variety of languages spoken in the Asian region, the language used for communication is English. The Asian members are mainly involved in youth work and peacebuilding but also in human rights.

Members in Asia

International Friends Youth Society (IFYS), Bangladesh
National Federation of Youth Organisations in Bangladesh (NFYOB), Bangladesh
Idea Action, Nepal
Coalition of Rights and Responsibilities of Youth (CRY), Pakistan
Arab Education Institute (AEI), Palestine
International Palestinian Youth League (IPYL), Palestine
GZO Peace Institute, Phillipines

Mission

To strengthen the network by linking up organisations and leaders.
To advocate and promote the role of Asian youth in peacebuilding and peace related issues.
To improve the knowledge, skills and capacities of youth peace organisations within the Asian region by trainings and sharing expertise.
To facilitate an exchange of experience and practice among youth leaders working in peacebuilding and strengthen their capacity to network and develop joint projects at local, national and regional levels (self-help networks).
To increase young peoples capacity to deal with the inter- and intra- personal, community and organisational, cultural, social and political dimensions of conflict and peace by sharing experiences.

Activities International Secretariat

Facilitation of the network by communicating with the members and affiliates (through e-groups for instance) and linking them up so as to share experiences and strengthen the effectiveness of their actions.
Exchange of ideas on how to collaborate in joint projects between UNOY and the member organisations.
Development of new partnerships with other Asian NGOs to expand the network and to set up intercultural cooperation.

Activities of Asian members and affiliates, a few examples:

peace advocacy and networking programs for the promotion of citizens’ peace initiatives;
peace education and capability building;
international voluntary work camps and intercultural youth exchanges;
democracy and human rights campaigns;
training courses on conflict resolution;
celebration of the International Youth Day;
sport/music programmes for youth engagement;
ICT project for Human Rights promotion;
pioneering various social movements including the promotion and construction of a sustainable culture of peace and non violence.