In the city of Volta Redonda, south of Rio de Janeiro, living conditions are precarious, leisure and cultural facilities are lacking, and illicit trafficking and violence are frequent. In most families, the mother is the head of household. Most young people study in precarious public schools and also seek to supplement the income of the family network. Young people are the children of workers, mostly in the informal sector.
This November 25, the International YCW is joining in the celebration of the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women.
This day, dedicated to raising awareness and eradicating gender-based violence, encourages us to reflect on the persistent reality faced by women, teenage girls and young girls around the world.
We recognize that violence against women knows no borders, affecting all ages, ethnic groups, social classes and economic status. It is an assault on fundamental human rights and a major obstacle to the achievement of equality between men and women.
The IYCW was invited to the 42nd Session of the General Conference of UNESCO held at the organization's headquarters in Paris, France, from November 7 to 22, 2023. As an official partner of UNESCO, the IYCW was invited to share its views on the issues currently on UNESCO's agenda.
Basma Louis, the president of the IYCW, stressed the importance of raising awareness among young people by providing training spaces to compensate for the failure of public institutions, and so that young people do not consider traditional and social media as an alternative for developing their analysis of the current situation in the world.
A community without leaders, a lack of interest from local residents in taking care of their neighborhood, many abandoned spaces - the central park, the municipal hall, the sports fields - occupied by outsiders who were using them for drugs and alcohol.
This was the situation five years ago in the working-class, self-managed district of Villa El Salvador, south of Lima. This reality was the starting point for action by young YCW members, who involved residents in reclaiming the area, transforming the neighborhood where they lived and changing the lives of young workers and community members.
Last September, the European movements of the IYCW celebrated their European Seminar in Linz, Austria in collaboration with KJ Upper Austria (KJ means Catholic Youth and is the organization YCW Austria dissolved into some years ago). It was the first time in many years that the IYCW was meeting in Austria.
The seminar focused on the topics the different national movements brought up. Every delegation prepared one part of the program, sharing not only their actions but also the topics the actions are addressing, and including the participants from the different countries in their process.