The World Youth Alliance: The World Youth Alliance: Dignity. Solidarity. Life.Dignity. Solidarity. Life.

Presented by Rebecca AustenPresented by Rebecca Austen

Director of AdvocacyDirector of Advocacy

World Youth AllianceWorld Youth Alliance

IntroductionIntroduction

The World Youth Alliance is a global The World Youth Alliance is a global coalition of young people promoting coalition of young people promoting the dignity of the human person in the dignity of the human person in policy and culturepolicy and culture

Three aspects:Three aspects: Training – raising up future leadersTraining – raising up future leaders Culture – expressions of human dignityCulture – expressions of human dignity Advocacy – the fruit of training and Advocacy – the fruit of training and

cultureculture

Intro Cont’dIntro Cont’d

Build solidarity between young people Build solidarity between young people from developed and developing nationsfrom developed and developing nations

Founding StoryFounding Story Anna Halpine and the UN Commission on Anna Halpine and the UN Commission on

Population and Development, 1999Population and Development, 1999 32 young people with radical demands32 young people with radical demands Anna’s responseAnna’s response Delegates’ responseDelegates’ response ECOSOC consultative status granted - 2004ECOSOC consultative status granted - 2004

WYA TodayWYA Today Five offices around the worldFive offices around the world

New York, NY, USANew York, NY, USA Mexico City, MexicoMexico City, Mexico Brussels, BelgiumBrussels, Belgium Nairobi, KenyaNairobi, Kenya Manila, PhilippinesManila, Philippines

Over 30,000 individual members Over 30,000 individual members Internships in every regionInternships in every region Official status at UN, OAS, EUOfficial status at UN, OAS, EU

Intro Cont’dIntro Cont’d

WYA VideoWYA Video What is Dignity?What is Dignity?

State or condition of being worthy of State or condition of being worthy of respectrespect

Foundation of every human rightFoundation of every human right Intrinsic/InherentIntrinsic/Inherent Dignity is particular to human beingsDignity is particular to human beings

What are the Implications?What are the Implications?

Dignity of the human person exists from Dignity of the human person exists from conception to natural death: the only conception to natural death: the only logical positionlogical position

No human community can grant or No human community can grant or rescind that dignityrescind that dignity

Human beings can’t be used as means to Human beings can’t be used as means to an endan end

Dignity is the foundation of human rightsDignity is the foundation of human rights Solidarity with fellow human beingsSolidarity with fellow human beings Duties to fellow human beingsDuties to fellow human beings

Solidarity and the Common Solidarity and the Common GoodGood

Every person is free; capable of Every person is free; capable of choosing to act in accordance with the choosing to act in accordance with the reality of the dignity of all personsreality of the dignity of all persons

Solidarity is the recognition of the Solidarity is the recognition of the intrinsic dignity of othersintrinsic dignity of others

Solidarity and the Common Solidarity and the Common Good cont’dGood cont’d

Solidarity enables us to recognize Solidarity enables us to recognize that the elements of human that the elements of human flourishing can only be obtained flourishing can only be obtained through cooperation with others. through cooperation with others. This is the common good. This is the common good.

InteractiveInteractive The WYA CharterThe WYA Charter

What are the 3 main assertions of the Charter?What are the 3 main assertions of the Charter? The Universal Declaration of Human RightsThe Universal Declaration of Human Rights

Accepted unanimously by the UN General Accepted unanimously by the UN General Assembly in 1948Assembly in 1948

What are the similarities? Differences? What is What are the similarities? Differences? What is the foundation of human rights for the UDHR?the foundation of human rights for the UDHR?

How is it possible that different countries, from How is it possible that different countries, from different legal, philosophical, ideological and different legal, philosophical, ideological and religious traditions, could come to a consensus religious traditions, could come to a consensus on this document? on this document?