Youth participation to fight discrimination

The International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination is marked every year on 21 March with activities led by the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights in Geneva, New York and at the field-presences.

The CARICOM youth ambassadors for Suriname organize a walk against racism and discrimination for the 5th time in 2007.

The initiator Sergio Belfor former CARICOM youth ambassador (CYA) for Suriname participated in the anti – racism tour in Canada in 2000. The large set-up of the activity made impression on him, so he decided to try and have a similar project in Suriname. In 2001 the CYA’s for Suriname organized the first Anti – discrimination activity. That year the organized a sign and essay game coupled to a mini demonstration to show the work that the different youth send in.

In 2002 the organized a walk on the 21 march. More than 1500 youth participated. The CYA’s invited youth from several schools and youth organizations to participate. Because of the success they decided to try and make this activity an annual annually returning event.

So we had this walk again in 2003 and in 2004 the CYA Vallerie Lalji decided together with her youth officers corps to ad something to the activity. For this reason they have revealed a monument to remind especially the Surinamese community and everybody that sees it that we maybe look different but we are all the same, humans.

In 2005 the new CYA’s Yldiz Beighle and Harris Monorath continue this activity. And in 2006 they gave an award. The criteria for award winner International day against every form of Discrimination and racism are:
1. Outstanding work in the field of awareness/ advocacy against every sort /form of discrimination and racism. (Justify this with feasible works (literature) or activities of nominee.
2. Work done in the field of HIV/AIDS for children /youth for over 2 years.
3. Participated / contributed in community/national programme interventions related to some sort of anti stigma and discrimination activities. ( think of specific groups in society such as children/youth with disabilities( or in the interior), Children/youth in conflict with the law , activities for the girl/boy child in disadvantaged positions)
In 2006 Ms. Juanita Altenberg was awarded. She is the chair of the Stichting Maxi Linder Associatie (SMLA). That is a NGO which comes up for commercial sex workers. They advocate for them and they also provide them with information and care and support. Ms. Altenberg organization is also working with the children of these people who are facing the consequences.
This year we have two new CYA’s, Feranto Dongor (a.k.a Feranto Cadogan) and Stephany Kasketie.
The anti – discrimination activity will be held for the 5th time this year. The set will be the same as last year. After Wednesday I will inform you over the person who got the award this year and how many people participated. The theme is CARCOM unite for children and the sub - theme is Youth participation to fight discrimination.