We are inviting you to visit the new webpage of the International YCW.

We have opted for a more user-friendly, more interactive page, with links to social networks and the possibility for the current and future IYCW leaders to participate in its management. In other words, we have opted for a webpage which counts on your collaboration because in addition to the activities, orientations and publications of the international team, we would like to rely on your participation, e.g. to receive information from you, link proposals, photos of activities, etc.

This new webpage includes a lot of new options:

• In the links menu, you will find the list of the movements and a map showing the countries where the IYCW is present around the world.
• With the system of photos we have chosen, you will have easy access to the photos and albums. Just click on one photo and it takes you directly to the album it comes from.

IYCW demands justice for young domestic workers at ILC

The International Young Christian Workers (IYCW) will once again bring the demands of young domestic workers from around the world to the International Labour Council in Geneva from the 1–17June.  

‘This issue continues to be of critical importance for justice and the dignity of young workers,’ said Geethani Peries, International president.  ‘As we prepare with our delegates to present our demands on behalf of domestic workers, we have gathered numerous stories to support our case.  It is our hope that the facts we have gathered will convince the representatives from the tripartite groups of employers, governments and trade unions that more action is imperative if real justice is to be achieved.

The IYCW Vows to Continue Its Work For Women's Rights

The IYCW is calling on all national movements around the world to join in the centenary celebrations of the International Women’s Day. They proclaim it as an opportunity not only to celebrate women’s lives and achievements, but also to join hands in solidarity with women around the globe and to focus on the many problems women face today.

The YCW is passionate about the importance of solidarity in its struggle for women’s rights.

‘We must stand together in our fight for equal rights for all,’ said Geethani Peries, the YCW International President. ‘There is still much to be done. We know from the experiences of our members that women make up the majority of those living in poverty, that there is still inequality in salaries and conditions, and that millions of women have died needlessly due to a lack of safe working and living conditions. We also know that today, in spite of the efforts of many people, there remains a worldwide epidemic of violence against women.’

Behind the Events in Arab Countries

“Either We Live in Dignity or Die in Dignity”

The self-immolation by Mohammad Bouazizi, an unemployed man (26 years of age) who was harassed by the police in the Tunisian town of Sidi Bouzid, on December 17, was the spark that ignited the Arab streets. It first started the “Jasmine” Revolution (jasmine is Tunisia's national flower) in Tunisia, and the President Zine El Abidine Ben Ali and his government had to go. Then the spark became a fire in the Tahrir Square at Cairo, Egypt, and President Hosni Mubarak and his government were forced out. Now the spark is flaming in the streets of the capitals and cities of Libya, Bahrain, Yemen, Algeria and Jordan. The core or the centre of this spark which became a huge fire is millions of young people.

Why this Fire?

The chanting, cries and slogans of the millions of young people in the Arab streets are “Bread, Freedom and Dignity”, “Freedom, Bread and Job”, “No to Misery and no to Unemployment!” If we carefully look into these cries of the young people, we discover that they felt neglected, they saw that their capacities were not used, leading to impoverishment in their countries. We also discover a small circle of people getting richer and having total power.

The YCW Calls for Action Against Violence Aimed at Women

The IYCW is calling on all national movements around the world to build awareness of women's rights, and to take action that will empower women to achieve equality and participate fully in action for social justice.

This is an issue very close to the heart of Geethani Peries, the international president of YCW. As a national worker in Sri Lanka, as a regional coordinator in the Asia-Pacific and now as international president, she has experienced at first hand what it means to be a woman in a man’s world.

‘I have met many women who have experienced violence – not only physical violence, but also mental and psychological violence from men who believe that they are superior to women and who dishonour them in word and action,’ says Ms Peries.

  YCW Demands Decent Work as a Sure Way of Fighting Global Poverty

As part of its resolutions from the WORLD DAY FOR DECENT WORK on 7th October, IYCW has urged its members around the world to heighten their efforts to raise awareness and take action in this critical area for workers internationally.

‘Decent work for all is part of our fundamental vision,’ said Geethani Peries, International President of YCW. ‘Economic and social protection for all workers is at the heart of YCW’s struggle for human dignity and equality for all. We have been proud to join with the International Trade Union Confederation to promote its themes: rights at work and solidarity, and decent life for women.

‘Of course, as a young woman worker I have a particular passion for the rights of women for decent work and a decent life. Equality for all, just work and conditions, are part of our international campaign of Social Protection for all, and so in joining with the mobilisation and thematic and electronic activities of WORLD DAY FOR DECENT WORK, we have been proud to endorse the resolutions of the ILO and the Trade Union confederation.

IYCW Bringing Young Domestic Workers Demands to the 99th Session of the ILC 2010

The International Young Christian Workers will bring the demands of young domestic workers around the world to the 99th session of the International Labour Conference (ILC), 2010.

The ILO will hold its annual conference in Geneva on 2-18 June 2010. The conference is a tripartite meeting gathering representatives of the employers, the governments and the workers. The items placed on the agenda of the conference are of particular importance to the IYCW:

• Decent work for domestic workers (standard setting, with a view to the possible adoption of a Convention supplemented by a Recommendation)
• Elaboration of an autonomous Recommendation on HIV/AIDS in the world of work (standard setting, second discussion)
• A discussion on the strategic objective of employment (first in the cycle of recurrent discussions to follow up on the 2008 ILO Declaration on Social Justice for a Fair Globalization)
• Review of the follow-up to the 1998 ILO Declaration on Fundamental Principles and Rights at Work.

Young Workers Fighting for Social Protection

Young workers across the world are becoming more united in their struggles for just work, says the International Young Christian Workers (IYCW) president, Geethani Peries.

‘Young people are making a difference because they are one in their vision of just work for all,’ asserts Ms Peries. The IYCW campaign for Social Protection for all is continuing to attract support right across the world, in both rich and poor communities, in many diverse religious and human rights groups, and among people of goodwill everywhere.

‘We must build this spirit of solidarity if we are to change the conditions of young workers such as Isabel Alvarez Rivas and the young isolated laborers in the Philippines,’ says Ms Peries. Their stories can touch us all.

“The YCW opts for the education of young workers. This is the specific and primary task of the YCW if it is to reach the objective of liberation of the mass of people.” - ToE

The IYCW held its international council in 2008 where it defined its campaign for social protection: just work, quality education for life and work, and the establishment of gender equality in social and labor relations for all young workers.

We also defined a series of activities which are included in our international plan of action as entertaining and conscious means to give shape and color to our campaign. These activities include the International Week of the Young Workers which takes place from April 24th to May 1st.

A bit of history

The International Week of the Young Workers celebrated by the IYCW from 24th April to 1st May has its origins in Brazil where it started some 40 years ago. “The Week first took place in 1970 and was institutionalized at the national council which was held the same year.” In other words, the Brazil YCW, though in the middle of a military dictatorship, was carrying out activities to draw attention from the mass of young workers.

Based on this positive experience of the Brazil YCW, the IYCW established the International Week of the Young Workers. And so the National Week of the Young Workers launched in 1970 became an international week in 1985 upon decision of the world council which was held in Madrid, Spain, in 1984.

Ever since, the IYCW has chosen a specific theme every year on young people’s reality and for each theme, it organizes debates and looks for solutions through countless activities.

Sarah is 18 years old and she finished her last year of secondary school in 2008. She is 4 months pregnant and lives with her boyfriend. After her studies, she registered at the VDAB (employment office) and after that in all the temporary work agencies (around ten of them) in her neighborhood. “I was offered a job at Cleandienst. Before I started they told me it was a permanent job but when I started it was only temporary work. I had a few jobs, always short term, not permanent work. They always require experience but how can I get any experience if I cannot work?” Sarah - Flanders YCW - Belgium

Each year around the world, the International Women's Day (IWD) is celebrated on March 8. Hundreds of events occur not just on this day but throughout March to mark the economic, political and social achievements of women.

Organizations, governments and women's groups around the world choose different themes each year that reflect global and local gender issues.

In the IYCW we are also carrying out a campaign for gender equality as a part of our Social Protection campaign. Gender is one of the main aspects we focus on in our campaign. In the IYCW there are many actions happening in relation to this campaign.