Announcement

Since September 2004 Azerbaijan Young Lawyers Union in partnership with Assosiation of Young Azerbaijani Friends of Europe and Society for Humanitarian Researches with financial support of US Embassy in Azerbaijan started the implementation of Youth Human Rights Network (YHRN) project. The goal of the project is to mobilize the efforts of youth within the Human Rights Youth Network for improvement of the situation with human rights in Azerbaijan through the enlightenment and protection activity.

The objectives of the project are the following:

o To increase the knowledge and activeness of youth and youth organizations their leaders and members in direction of independent protection of human rights
o To try to direct the attention of state bodies and local governance to the human rights problems and enforce advocacy activity based on the joint activity of youth in the form of youth coalition
o To protect violated rights of people by means of professional legal defense and public advocacy campaigns.
o To take real steps in growing up the new generation of human rights defenders.
o To increase the role of youth on development of the civil society in Azerbaijan.
o To create the Mobile Groups in Baku and regions for conducting the monitoring and reporting activity on human rights

As one of the components of the network the membership is offered to individuals and organization that work in the sphere of Human Rights and democratization.
Individuals and organizations are invited to submit below given documents for the membership to the network.

Criteria for the membership are the following:

o To be involved in human rights and freedoms advocacy and protection
o To have work experience with youth

The following documetns should be submitted for the membership:

- Application
- Copy of charter or decree
- Minimum one recommendation letter from law-related organization
- Brief information about activity or projects implemented in the mentioned sphere

Deadline for submission of documents is December 29, 2004.

Contact person: Murad Yahyayev

Azerbaijan Young Lawyers Union
11, Mirza Ibrahimov str., Apt 8
Baku AZ-1005, Azerbaijan
Tel: (994 12) 497 32 47
(994 12) 495 31 62
Fax: (994 12) 441 34 79
E-mail: myahyayev@aylu.az

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HUMAN RIGHTS YOUTH NETWORK IS BEING ESTABLISHED IN AZERBAIJAN

There are more than 80 youth organizations in Azerbaijan. But very few of them are working in the field of Human Rights. Unfortunately, recently, there are many disagreements and problems among NGOs working in sphere of Human Rights Protection in Azerbaijan. In general, now these NGOs are divided into two parts. But AYLU is not in the monopoly of any of these groups and works with all groups in the frame of equal rights and equal opportunities. There are many NGOs like those and there are many Youth NGOs among them. The situation in the Youth sector in sphere of enlightenment on Human Rights and Human Rights protection for today is no comforting. Sometimes, youth organizations instead of solving social problems join politics or take actions not corresponding with their charters. Because AYLU is NGO actively working in the field of human rights and legal enlightenment, decided to enhance the role of youth in the sphere of human rights protection and legal enlightenment by means of creating structures in the field of human rights in Azerbaijan.

Recently, establishment of Human Rights Youth Network initiated by AYLU and this initiative was supported by several Youth Organizations and active young people.

AYLU states that, at the beginning together with other youth organizations it is ready to use its resources in the field of establishment and formation of the network. During the negotiations with other youth organizations and young people participating in formation of the network it was decided that youth organizations having political activity, divided between government and opposition will be able to become a member of the network only after making crucial changes in their activity in sphere of human rights. The membership and participation in foundation of the Human Rights Youth Network is open for youth organizations and young people willing to work in sphere of enlightenment on human rights and human rights protection.

GOAL OF THE HUMAN RIGHTS YOUTH NETWORK:

To conduct joint activity in the field of Enlightenment on Human Rights and Human Rights protection via mobilizing the intentions of youth and youth organizations to join in Human Rights Youth Network for improvement of the situation with human rights in Azerbaijan.

OBJECTIVES OF THE NETWORK:

- To increase the knowledge and activeness of youth and youth organizations their leaders and members in direction of independent protection of human rights by means of seminars, trainings, furthermore, by means of small grants programs.
- Basing on the joint activity of youth in the form of coalition of youth, to try to direct the attention of state bodies to the human rights problems and enforce lobbying activity.
- To protect violated rights of youth by means of professional legal defense and public advocacy campaigns.
- To take real steps in growing up the new generation of human rights defenders.

Young people in the age of 18-35, furthermore youth organizations working in Azerbaijan and their leaders willing to join the Network may apply to Azerbaijan Young Lawyers' Union.

Working group of the Human Rights Youth Network.

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