Looking for people with knowledge of youth issues, activism and human rights

International Youth Advisory Board, Amnesty International

Looking for people with knowledge of youth issues, activism and human rights
to join the Amnesty International Youth Advisory Board.......

Exciting opportunity for you to join our new Youth Advisory Board

Do you want to make a difference and be the voice for human rights for your
generation? A unique opportunity has come up for you to become a member of
Amnesty International's first international Youth Advisory Board. Members of
the board get a chance to work alongside Amnesty International's leadership
team and be responsible for supporting and developing youth work
internationally.

Find out details below.

Amnesty International Youth Advisory Board 2008-2010
Young people feeling empowered, inspired and defended - for a world where
everybody enjoys human rights - that's the Amnesty International Youth
Strategy adopted in 2005

What is Amnesty International's International Youth Advisory Board (IYAB)?

Amnesty International (AI) decided to create an international youth advisory
body at the International Council Meeting (ICM) in August 2007. The purpose
of the Advisory Body is to provide advice and guidance to Amnesty
International's International Executive Committee (IEC) – who provide
guidance and leadership for the Amnesty International movement worldwide.
The IYAB is an IEC sub-committee, and as such participating on this body
would be a high-level international responsibility.

The purpose of the IYAB is to:

Provide advice and guidance to the IEC, and with the cooperation of the IEC,
to others in AI, on implementing the International Youth Strategy (IYS).
This strategy was adopted in 2005 and guides the youth work of each AI
country section and develops youth work across the movement;
Encourage AI's active cooperation with other relevant organisations and
movements regarding youth work;
At the request of the Secretary-General (SG - AI's international leader and
Chief Executive of the International Secretariat – IS - which carries out
the majority of our research and campaigning work based in the UK), support
the IS in strengthening coordination of youth work internationally.
The IYAB will be made up of:

4-5 AI volunteer youth activists and/or Youth Coordinators and;
up to 2 external (not currently involved in AI) youth activists, or
advisors.
Each member must commit to this role for 2 years, attend two face-to-face
meetings per year, plus monthly conference calls/online meetings and other
work between meetings as agreed.

The IEC is committed to working closely with the young people selected for
the IYAB, and will be taking their recommendations seriously. In line with
current and past practice, the IEC will appoint the committee chair to
ensure that there is a close and constructive working relationship between
the IYAB and the IEC.

What will I get out of it?

Between 2008 and 2010, young IYAB members will develop skills, knowledge and
an intimate understanding of Amnesty International and our human rights
work. You will collaborate with other IYAB members from AI country sections
across the world and have the responsibility for and the privilege of acting
on behalf of young people throughout the world. You will also be working
alongside AI's international leadership team at global AI meetings
face-to-face and online. Participation in this will be life-changing and
open doors for you within the international human rights arena.

Who are we looking for?
Desirable characteristics:

Experience working with youth, and demonstrated leadership in activism,
participation, and engagement
Experience or knowledge of human rights activism
An ability to bring diverse perspectives to the group and the ability to
move beyond national experience in order to advise the movement
The ability to solicit many different points of view and create coherent
advice
The ability to build a workplan with timelines, and achieve results
Knowledge of the movement, and a commitment to learn more
The ability to identify and request support and resources required for the
work
Confidence to advise the movement at the highest levels

To be selected, you need to be:

aged 18 or over
able to commit to the position for a full two-year term, and to carry the
workload throughout the full term
able to commit to attend two face-to-face meetings per year, plus monthly
conference calls, online meetings or video conferences
available between meetings, and prepared to access the Internet, post and
read messages from other IYAB members, and work on any IYAB projects they've
agreed to undertake.
In addition to above, if you are applying as an AI volunteer youth activist,
you must have:

been active with Amnesty International at a national or international level
for a minimum of two years, and
acted in a leadership position with Amnesty International for at least one
year.
IYAB is open to all nationalities, Indigenous and ethnic groups. It is open
to young people with any level of education and who live in rural or urban
areas. We encourage nominations from Indigenous young people.

Contact Caroline Shepherd 02 8396 7611
Caroline_Shepherd@amnesty.org.au

action.amnesty.org.au/page/iyab