Peace Direct’s Post

Happy International Youth Day! Here's what the Youth Community Office within Kunsill Nazzjonali taż-Żgħażagħ has in store for the next few months: 1. Inclusivity on all fronts, not just in terms of policy applications to how we as youth can be included but also noting diversity, equity and a sense of belonging in our advocacy and the campaigns we put up - this builds upon what is currently being dealt with in the 10th cycle of the EU Youth Dialogue 2. ⁠Inter-organisation collaboration with youth professionals and youth/student organisations in Malta and Gozo, ensuring our advocacy and campaigns is far-reaching rather than divided and diluted 3. ⁠Representing our community efforts nationally and internationally, applying global advocacy efforts from fields (e.g. Health) to all directorates so we can learn, but also peer educate fellow organisations and youth at the national, European and international levels #internationalyouthday

So no one has to start from scratch, has been etched in my mind ever since I heard about the vision of The African Immigrant Professionals Summit powered by African Immigrant Collective happening May 25th at Georgia State University Shout out to the visionary Nnamdi Ihenacho for leading this movement and monument. I have never been more intune with the vision and mission of a community as this because it represents me and thousands of immigrants who have shared experiences and journeys as mine. When we kicked off the volunteer call by introducing ourselves, someone mentioned their first job was as a cleaner , currently she is an IT professional. I can relate to this and so many can - for in these stories we have our own paths in it. The vision behind African Immigrant Professional Network (AIPN) is all about empowering immigrant success in the workplace and beyond. A future (soon to be reality) where we are not just surviving but thriving in the global workforce and equipped to achieve our full potential and contribute to our communities and the world at large. From workforce development to mental health and more - Migrating is beyond the act of moving from one place to another - it is larger and deeper than that. This is why I am so excited for the African Immigrant Professionals Summit happening May 25th at 9am EST. If you identify as an African Immigrant or an ally, please register: https://lnkd.in/e68fpuc6 And share to everyone you know! #Immigrationmatters #AfricanDiaspora #Diasporalife #GlobalAfricans #MigrationStories #AfricanImmigrants #Africaninclusion #AfricansinDiaspora #AIMCollective #AfricanImmigrantProfessionals #DiasporaCommunity #AfricansInUSA #AfricanExpat

If you are involved in public policy, is your policy-making inclusive? More diversity of voices in public policy-making brings more creativity, richer information and better policy recommendations. It also signals to the members of the public that all people and perspectives are valued, making all feel more welcome and invested.    Decision-makers should strive to include all voices in the policy-making process to get these benefits. It does not have to be complicated – it can be achieved by:   Reaching out - reach out to diverse groups in your jurisdiction and invite their input. There are many established ethno-cultural organizations that can help you to facilitate connections with diverse community members.    Overcoming barriers – overcome barriers to diverse participation, such as language translation and civic understanding. Put on a civics course at your local community school for instance.   Celebrating – look for ways to celebrate all the diverse people and cultures in your jurisdiction. It could be as simple as providing space for cultural groups, or showcasing different cultures through food, music and dance, as Stratford PEI does each and every year during Canada Day and other community events. This will help people to feel more welcome in your jurisdiction and increase their participation in policy-making when called upon.    #inclusion #diversity #policy-making

Delighted to share that 📚 Activated Citizenship is out 📚 If you’re curious to learn more about Citizens’ Assemblies and the ways in which we can solve collective public problems and strengthen civic muscle, then this comparative study is for you! Some of the key features include: 1. an introduction to Voice Insecurity - the pervasive problem of inadequate access to meaningful voice across democracies; 2. a new definition for Activated Citizenship, a set of five variables and a methodology to examine Engaged Citizenry, meaningful and consequential citizen engagement; 3. a multi-methods, data-driven approach and analysis of four international Citizens’ Assemblies presented as case studies; 4. evidence-based recommendations to Design for Legitimacy and Transformative Citizens' Assemblies; and, 5. a Blueprint for Democratic Renewal and how to promote a more responsive and inclusive democratic culture. 🌻 2 requests 🌻 please SHARE this with your networks and take 5 minutes to post REVIEW on Amazon: https://lnkd.in/e-BtmdBq In Gratitude is dedicated to many of you who’ve guided me along this path. Special thanks to FIDE - Europe, FIDE - North America, Yves Dejaeghere Dawn Nakagawa Berggruen Institute Amy Lee MASS LBP Peter MacLeod Sarah Yaffe Conseil économique social et environnemental The newDemocracy Foundation Iain Walker Jonathan Moskovic Unify America Harry Nathan Gottlieb Healthy Democracy Art O'Leary Routledge Taylor & Francis Group and many many others ... without your support and guidance this book would never have seen the light of day! 

🚨 Let's Act #Together! 🚨 The recent #EuropeanElections have shown a worrying rise in far-right power. Now, more than ever, we need to stand united against those who seek to divide us. SINGA Berlin provides you with 5 Tipps on what to do in the current situation. 📢 We call on all citizens to mobilize and make our voices heard, both on #socialmedia and in our #communities. Every #voice counts in promoting #inclusivity and #unity. Together, we can create a society where everyone, regardless of background, is respected and valued. #JoinUs in this crucial movement to defend our shared values. ✊ #migration #standtogether

EU citizenship is built on shared European values, including respect for human dignity, freedom, democracy, equality, the rule of law and respect for human rights, including the rights of persons belonging to minorities. Sharing these common values, EU citizens help build a society of pluralism, non-discrimination, tolerance, justice, solidarity and equality between women and men.

"How can societies identify spaces of inclusion, civic engagement, and representation for marginalized communities, including immigrants? Perhaps a larger challenge is how societies and communities can create spaces of inclusion, engagement, and representation. I suggest that such action cannot begin until there is first a philosophical commitment to compassion." To mark the #zerodiscrimminationday we wanted to bring to your attention this op-ed, written by Michelle Rumbaut, who attended the Salzburg Global American Studies program "Beyond the Nation-State? Borders, Boundaries, and the Future of Democratic Pluralism" Follow the link to the full article 👇 https://ow.ly/S4gQ50QINC1 #SGSAmericanStudies #InclusiveSpaces #GlobalCitizenship #SocialJustice #DiversityandInclusion #CommunityEngagement

Interesting insights about the relationship between civic engagment and the provision of ethno-specific multicultural services in Australia. In their recent study, Distinguished Professor Fethi Mansouri, (PhD, FASSA) Matteo Vergani Enqi Weng found that "access to multicultural services is significantly associated with higher levels of civic engagement among migrants, rather than social exclusion and urban segregation." Their findings resonate with my experiences working in multicultural communications. In this space, we often rely on community leaders from multicultural community organisations and ethno-specific service providers to participate in research and advisory groups, but also increasingly to be involved in the co-creation and co-distribution of communications campaigns and content. All of this invisible labour is usually done for free or a minimal amount of money. In my experience, one of the main reasons these community members participate is to ensure their communities are represented and have a voice, but many also view it as their contribution to the fabric of social cohesion. This article is critical because it offers the empirical evidence to challenge assumptions about the appropriateness, relevance and need for ethno-specific services and organisations.

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In the last few months, I've worked with non-governmental organizations to apply for the Consultative Status with the United Nations Economic and Social Council #ECOSOC. To be honest, the challenging part was not the application at all, it was having updated practical information about the Status and the application process, as the last formal guide from the ECOSOC was issued in 2018. On the other hand, despite all its shortcomings, United Nations is still the largest and most important hub for international #policymaking, and I believe that it has to be a core target for #NGOs that #advocate to have an impact not only on the global level, but also on the local. Addressing this information gap, in addition to my deep belief in the importance of increasing the civil society representation in the global arena, encouraged me to develop this "#NonGovernmental Organizations #Guide to Apply for the United Nations #ECOSOC Consultative Status". I hope the guide would provide a practical source that presents the benefits of the ECOSOC Consultative Status for non-government organizations, and explains the application process in details. The guide is a result of personal, voluntary, and non-funded efforts. It was not reviewed by the UN, and does not reflect their official position. It is available in English and Arabic, and I would be grateful for any interests in translating it to other languages, especially local languages, hoping to reach local civil society groups leading the change in their communities all over the world. 🔍 Guide Highlights: - Introduction to ECOSOC: Understand its mandate and structure. - Consultative Status: Learn about its types, eligibility criteria, and benefits! - Application Process: Step-by-step instructions, practical resources, and recommendations from my personal experience. - Challenges and Solutions: Navigate potential obstacles effectively. If you have any question about the guide, the Consultative Status, or the #UN Mechanisms, please let me know and I will be glad to help! And PLEASE APPLY! The United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) #ConsultativeStatus #Advocacy #UnitedNations #UNMechanisms #CSO #CivilSociety #InternationalPolicy #InternationalRelations #HumanRights #SustainableDevelopment #SustainableDevelopmentGoals #SDGs #InternationalDevelopment #GlobalImpact #GlobalAdvocacy #NGO #UNPartnerships #Networking #ECOSOCConsultativeStatus #UNHRC #HRC #HumanRightsCouncil #CSW #InternationalPolicy #NonProfit #Humanitarian