Young Liberals Learn to Advocate for Peace and Human Rights
2008-11-18

"Before the genocide in Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of Congo, there were the unimaginable horrors brought by Pol Pot's Khmer Rouge in Cambodia and Slobodan Milesovic's Serbia in the former Yugoslavia. And we all thought humanity learned from the mistakes of the Auschwitz."

Such is the provoking observation made by Mr. Rajendra Mulmi, outgoing president of the Young Liberals and Democrats of Asia (YLDA), when he delivered his opening remarks before the 36 international delegates to YLDA's Peace and Human Rights Workshop in Siem Reap, Cambodia. The challenge for Asia's youths, he adds, is "to look for definitive reasons, purpose, and strategies that would prevent a repeat of these reprehensible crimes against humanity."

In her reply to this call for youth participation, Hon. Mu Sochua, the Deputy Secretary General of the Sam Rainsy Party, stressed that before the youths become effective advocates of peace and human rights, they must first become citizens - citizens with endowed rights and obligations as interpreted and understood in liberal politics. Citizenship in this sense, the MP from Kampot Province further explained, "translates to both the requisite and privilege of promoting, protecting, and even fighting for the right of every human being to live a life in peace and with dignity."

MP Sochua then emphasized to her young audience the need for citizens to remain vigilant in the exercise of power by the government. She pointed out that genuine peace would remain elusive if governments do not respect the rights of its citizens.

Mr. Manuel Guzman, the facilitator of the workshop, echoed this unquestionable link between peace and human rights by citing the immutable truth in all war and conflict: all wars and conflicts can be avoided if governments and their citizens learn to respect human rights. Awareness and education comes before appreciation. Hence, for us to appreciate the immeasurable value of human rights in the pursuit of peace, the key is to educate the public.

With this goal in mind, the young liberals from seven countries participated actively in the workshop that gave them knowledge on how to do documentation and fact finding on human rights violations. Participants also learned how to do advocacy work for peace and human rights. The skills imparted include report, case, and press release writing, networking, and campaigning.

The workshop ended with the participants presenting to the plenary viable advocacy plans aimed at making their target group in their respective country aware of various human rights issues.

After the presentations, newly elected YLDA President Jan Argy Tolentino emphatically concluded the workshop by declaring: "From the country that saw two million of its citizens killed in the worst human rights violation in Asia's recent history, Cambodia shall now see the rise of new and young leaders who will become the vanguards of peace and human rights in Asia."

Garda Bangsa Garda Bangsa was formed in 1998 following the successful political reform spearheaded by students and other campus activists to depose the tyrannical regime of President Suharto. The organization was founded by Abdurram Wahid, a former adviser of President Suharto who resigned following an escalation in government corruption and political management by the administration. He championed "Responsible Openness" within the government system and proposed the establishment of a Reform Committee in order to mitigate poor governance within the administration. His calls were left unheeded and so he eventually withdrew support for the government and joined the efforts advocating for reform in the government. Read more...