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Posted: Aug. 16 2006,17:33 by gertdanielsen from INTERNATIONAL - Gert Danielsen
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1. INDIVIDUAL AND ORGANIZATIONAL ACTIVITIES
a) If funds were available, what youth activities related to a culture of peace (CoP) would you like to do as an individual?
I
would like to reach out to groups which are not reached through
traditional and organised activities. I would like to look for
alternative channels for them to get involved.
I would also try
to identify links between projects in the South and the North, for
instance between violence prevention in South Africa and violence
prevention in Norway. I would like to work on how our energy being used
outside Norway also can be used efficiently in Norway, build on what
exists outside and take it back. I would further act as a link between
groups which do not have much contact now.
b) What non-financial support would you need to do these activities?
I
would need support to build competence in youth clubs and child welfare
institutions in Norway and organisations which work in the same field
in the South. Time is an essential element to make people meet and
build programmes together, for instance creating a non-violence project
from South Africa in Norway.
c) If funds were available, what youth activities related to a CoP would your organization like to do?
What
is the most relevant is what we already do, especially how our funding
is allocated and distributed to projects between south and north
organisations, with good results.
Since the North-South
partnership projects started in 1998, we have seen that through
democracy and equal participation from both parties, Norwegian
orgaisations turn from traditional charity towards doing more
cooperative projects based on equality and mutuality. We would like to
further this arrangement.
We would also like to work on creating and improving National Councils in other countries.
d) What non-financial support would your organization need to do these activities?
Time
to follow up organisations. Where there is a desire to do international
work, one also needs to work a lot to promote values in this, make
organisations understand these ideas. We would therefore need more
money to fund follow up for the organisations. Our projects are
cost-efficient, spend max NOK 70 000 per year and produce good results.
They are also long term. They provide training in project management
and we need to further develop the input on what values to promote.
We
would also need more training and guidance from the government for us.
And guidance from us to the organisations, especially to work on values.
We work mostly on democratic participation and sustainable development. We do not work with individual projects internationally.
2. SUPPORT FROM GOVERNMENT AND THE UN
a) What changes in youth policies do you think the government/leadership in your country should make to promote a CoP?
We
have been consulted on thw Statement on Ratsø-commission on NGOs role
in development cooperatoon. The problem is that recommendations to be
taken into account do not state that civil society building is part of
development work. We want recognition of the importance of this, and
youth organisations need to be part of civil society building, due to
democratisation.
Children and young are not to be seen as part
of women projects and other target groups. There needs to be an
explicit youth focus for development cooperation: youth learning
democratisation and organisational development. We build democracy
through civil society building – a place for children and youth.
Current
government ignores former policy on youth in development cooperation,
not recognising the value of the youth democratisation work. This needs
to be changed.
b) What CoP youth activities do you think the UN should carry out?
3.
Do you have any suggestions or recommendations for improving youth
participation in CoP activities on any level (UN, government, civil
society)?
AS a National Council we work to improve youth
participation in for a, such as youth delegates to the UN, and work for
them to have the right to negotiate. Get seats for youth in different
fora, due to their different perspectives and their enthusiasm, and as
it contributes to competence and democratisation experience, which will
make others get involved later on through sharing this competence.
Youth representation is also important as a symbolic effect on other
youth.
Also in Norway, we work on having a NCY rep in all
committees and commissions relevant to child and youth issues. Contact
with youth parties.
4. What could be done to improve/ensure transparency and flow of information in promoting the CoP?
5. To ensure the best possible benefit of a UN Voluntary Fund for youth on the CoP, how should it be managed/administered?
Organise
youth work through a National Council in each country. Secure
democratic and quality control of the resource allocation.
Cost-efficient, cheap.
Exchange of experience for organisations working in same organisations.
A National Council is a meeting point for youth organisations, improving youth organisations’ competence.
Possibly create new structures, and where they exist, use them.
6. How can youth not yet involved in CoP activities be reached and motivated to get involved?
One
fails in getting people involved because one does not understand how
much resources it may require. Needed: More time, good participatory
methods, good follow up, making it simple to reach back. Lots of human
resources.
7. a) Which other organizations do you know of, that work for a CoP?
Our whole member mass. Those working on international projects.
b) Would you be willing to contact them or may we contact them with the questionnaire? Please specify.
Yes
8. My response to this questionnaire is my organization's opinion.
LNU, Øvre Slottsgate 2B, N-0157 Oslo | Tel: (47) 23 31 06 00 | Fax: (47) 23 31 06 01 | E-post: lnu@lnu.no
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