Visit the French national committee webpage: france.wya.net
Participation at the 18th International AIDS Conference in Vienna, Austria
July 18-23, 2010
Currently WYA Europe participates as a young delegation at the 18th International AIDS Conference, taking place from July 18-23 2010, to advocate effective longterm solutions to tackle the immense problem of HIV/ AIDS through integral prevention, treatment, care and support.
AIDS Campaign needs a broader vision of the human person
To fit conference participants, WYA members and friends with information and knowledge on the matter WYA Europe organized a pre-event on July 16.
To read WYA's declaration on HIV/ AIDS please click here.
To get an update on WYA Europe's Events and News from June 2010 please click here.
WYA Europe movie nights
The next Ubuchindami (Ubuchindami means 'dignity' in Bemba, one of the 70 languages spoken in Zambia) movie night will take place on: June 24th, 2010 in Brussels.
The selected films portray broad elements of the truth and transcendental nature of the human person, and the ability and need for beauty in the world around us. Each film reflects an experience of humanity and inspires us to search for what it means to be human.
The film showing will be:
"Copying Beethoven - The Sound of Silence"
For more details and to view the flyer please click here.
To attend please RSVP until June 23rd via Email to europe@wya.net
The Audio version of the movie will be in English, subtitles in German.
"Europe's quest for Identity and values"
Youth Seminar - May 20-21 2010
In order to learn and reflect about European and human identity in general, as well as to discuss the values that form European societies and the conditions needed for an authentic and integral human development, WYA organized a two days seminar for the students of the Xavier University entitled "Europe's quest for identity and values'. Europe's struggle to secure its own roots and values, have lead our societies to different interpretations and ultimately to question its universality and relevance. Reconciling the various rights to freedom with the fundamental rights to life and integrity has become a challenge and thinking about Man's nature and inviolable value in a rational way is almost a taboo in a world of absolute relativism.
Therefore, the seminar contained lectures, presentations and discussions on the foundations of European identity and values, the history of the EU and Europe, the definition of human dignity, current legal issues actually or potentially violating human dignity and how different understandings and ideas about the human person can affect policy, legislature and society. To learn about the functioning of the European Union the participants undertook a guided tour in the European Parliament and through the European quarter; to discover Brussels culture a tour to Brussels sights. Much food for thought to grapple with the question of 'what gives meaning to human life?' gave a presentation and discussion on Viktor Frankl's book 'Man's search for meaning'.
Invited as speakers David Fieldsend (Care for Europe) spoke on the ideas and philosophies behind European policy and their concrete effects in legislature and society's daily life, Sophia Kuby (European Dignity Watch) spoke on the reinterpretation of human rights on European Level.
To have a look at the detailed program please click here.
''The HUMAN project'' Education for life and dignity Brussels, September 2-6 2009
World Youth Alliance - Europe has celebrated WYA Decade of Dignity and Development (DDD) through ''the HUMAN project''. Young leaders from all over Europe attended this 4 day training in Brussels to advocate for person-centered education programs and policies. The goal of the Human Project was to promote a context that foster the human person's integral development, dignity and on the primarily role of the family in raising the new generations. The event included a high-profile conference and an exhibition in the European Parliament. Through these manifestations, young attendees discussed and shared their experience on the following topics:
the citizenship, human rights and commitment of young people,
See the poster of the Human Project. Newsletter 2008 publishedWe are pleased to present you our Newsletter 2008. See 'Europe Newsletters' in the column on your right.
It was a year of growth and development for the World Youth Alliance Europe. The growing blend and integration going on in Europe has reflected on the energy and dynamism with which our region has been working.
WYA played an important role in monitoring the activities regarding the relevant topics in the region. Given the successes of the membership growth and the variety of events in past years, WYA Europe has focused on reestablishing the contact with member organizations as well as on the training of members, representatives and new young people.
In the second half of the year, WYA enjoyed an intense period of concrete action in the field of advocacy.
Enjoy!
Your WYA Europe team
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.
To become a WYA member organizationIreland's Future in the European UnionThe Director of the WYA Europe speaks to the Irish Parliament Sub-Committee on Ireland’s Future in the European UnionDublin, 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.
To consult the Oireachtas' Sub-Committee on Ireland's Future in The EU final report including some of WYA recommandations, click here.
To consult the Oireachtas' Sub-Committee on Ireland's Future in The EU final report including some of WYA recommandations, 
