This spring, “Hands Up 4 Your Rights” campaign participants led the first session of the World Bank-supported Youth Dialogue Series video-conferences. Following exciting and informative presentations by our youth and the Philippino counterparts, an engaging exchange ensued with participation from not only Mongolia and Philippines but also Cambodia, Laos, East Timor, Thailand, and Singapore.

The main topic of the discussion was Youth Empowerment and participants exchanged views on what youth empowerment means, how it can be supported, what methods are effective, what are the challenges and what are the opportunities.

The discussion was web-streamed live and viewed by youth in other locations as well. You are welcome to view the session by clicking here and choose YDS Session (you will probably need to use Internet Explorer to do so).

If you wish to view pics from the video conference, press here.

It is anticipated that the video exchange will take place every 2 months with youth from different countries taking turns to lead and facilitate the sessions. If you wish to participate in these sessions, e-mail handsup4yourrights@gmail.com or call us at 70110355.

On December 12, 2008, upon invitation from and in cooperation with Alliance Francaise-Mongolie (French-Mongolian Alliance), MONFEMNET and youth from the “Hands Up 4 Your Rights!” campaign organized an informal discussion on fun and engaging way to conduct human rights education, particularly for children and youth.

The youth participants exchanged information and experience with many other stakeholders invited by the French-Mongolian Alliance. The participants included international organizations, national human rights advocates, artists, social workers and other individuals and organizations.

Youth from the “Hands Up 4 Your Rights!” campaign supported the annual 16-day campaign to stop violence against women and girls and the white ribbon campaign of men who oppose gender-based violence.

Young men and women created messages such as “We Denounce Violence!”, “This Hand Will Not Commit Violence!”, “I Am NOT a Target for Violence!”, “I Was Not Born to Commit Violence!”, “Show Your Love!”, “My Strength Was Not Intended for Violence!”

The messages were written on colorful self-made posters, then the youth put the posters on themselves and set out to walk in the most crowded areas of the city to raise public awareness on gender-based violence and contribute to the promotion of a violence-free culture, especially among youth.

If you wish to see our anti-violence human poster walk-abouts, press here.

If you wish to join us for the 2009 16 day campaign, e-mail handsup4yourrights@gmail.com or call us at 7011-0355.