OPPORTUNITIES: Call for young bloggers and online activists,take action against discrimination online!

The Council of Europe Youth Department invites all young bloggers and online activists concerned byhuman rights violations, hate speech online, discrimination and racism to apply for the training course taking place between May and December 2012, comprising a residential seminar between 20-27 May 2012 in the European Youth Centre Budapest as a first stage in their involvement in a long term campaign against racism, xenophobia and discrimination.

Young People Combating Hate Speech On-line is a project of the Council of Europe’s youth sector to be run between 2012 and 2014. The project aims to equip young people and youth organisations with the competences necessary to recognise and act against such human rights violations. It is a project against hate speech, racism and discrimination in their online expression. Centred around a training course and online campaigning, the project stands for action and intervention.

Applications must be submitted by 19 April 2012

Further information about the project, the training course and the application process can be found in this document

FUNDING / OPPORTUNITIES: European Youth Foundation seeking applications from eligible organizations for the 2012 grants program (EUROPE)

Each year the EYF allocates about € 3 million to nongovernmental organisations that directly assist young people aged 15 to 30. Since 1972, more than 300,000 young people, mostly from member states, have benefited from EYF supported activities. Each year, the EYF supports some 300 projects involving more than 15,000 young people.

Its purpose is to encourage co-operation among young people in Europe by providing financial support to such European youth activities which serve the promotion of peace, understanding and co-operation in a spirit of respect for the Council of Europe’s fundamental values such as human rights, democracy, tolerance and solidarity.

Call for applications

EYF is currently seeking applications from eligible organizations for its 2012 grants program under several categories.

Who can apply for a grant ?

• International non-governmental youth organisations or networks;
• National, regional or local non-governmental youth organisations or networks;
• Other non-governmental structures involved in youth work.

What activities can be financed by the EYF?

• educational, social, cultural and humanitarian activities of a European character;
• activities aiming at strengthening peace and co-operation in Europe;
• activities designed to promote closer co-operation and better understanding among young people in Europe, particularly by developing the exchange of information;
• activities intended to stimulate mutual aid in Europe and in the developing countries for cultural, educational and social purposes;
• studies, research and documentation on youth matters.
• Participants are between the ages of 15 and 30 and activities are held (as a general rule) in one or more member states of the EYF.

What are the different grant categories?

• Category A: International youth meetings;
• Category B: Youth activities other than meetings (e.g. publications, campaigns, websites, CD-Roms);
• Category C: Administration of international non-governmental youth organisations and networks;
• Category D: Pilot projects or pilot projects on Human Rights Education (Category D-HRE).

Deadlines are different for different categories.

http://www.eyf.coe.int/fej/

The European Youth Foundation (EYF) is a fund established in 1972 by the Council of Europe to provide financial support for European youth activities. It is a division in the Directorate of Youth and Sport.

OPPORTUNITIES / AWARDS: Youth Media Award 2011: 7 March - 1 August

The media is an essential part of our democratic society, a link between governments and those they govern. The media allows us to evaluate, from a number of different perspectives, the institutions and corporations that make up our societies.

Freedom of the media is not a given. Over the last ten years, 1,100 journalists and media staff have been killed in the line of duty, according to the International News Safety Institute. In certain countries, governments still attempt to control the media. The concentration process that allows holding companies to control several media outlets reduces the diversity of information sources. On the other hand, the rise of the internet as a new medium has pushed back the boundaries what can and cannot be said and published.

In 1950, freedom of expression was enshrined in article 10 of the European Convention of Human Rights. Since then, the Council of Europe has adopted a number of conventions and standards dealing with media freedom, copyright issues, access to official documents or communication on the internet. Without the right to freedom of expression, the media would be powerless in its function.

We want you to show us the importance of freedom to your profession. Using photo, radio, video or text, show us your interpretation of Article 10, which states:

“Everyone has the right to freedom of expression. This right shall include freedom to hold opinions and to receive and impart information and ideas without interference by public authority and regardless of frontiers…”

Your entries should illustrate positive and/or negative aspects of media freedom in 21st century Europe. The Award is open from 7 March until 1 August 2011. The winners will be announced shortly after the end of the competiton, and the winners will receive their prize in Strasbourg during the October 2011 session of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe.

To upload your entry, visit the dedicated Youthmedia.eu Award page.

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OPPORTUNITIES: European youth journalists can submit works to competition

Posted on: 23/10/2009 Fellowships and Awards, Young Journalists Deadline: 01/12/2009 Region: Eastern Europe-Central Eurasia

Young journalists, photographers and videographers in Europe between 18 and 27 are invited to compete in the ‘Europe is More Than You Think’ award. Deadline to apply: December 1.

Award categories include written journalism, podcasts, photography and videography. The top eight submissions will be announced in December 2009.

First prize winners in each of the four categories will receive a four-day, all expenses paid visit to Strasbourg, France, to attend and report on the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe, which will take place January 26 to 30, 2010.

The competition is supported by the Council of Europe and the European Youth Press, a network of young media-creators.

For more information, visit http://www.coe.int/t/dc/files/events/2009_youth_media_award/default_en.asp

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NEWS / EVENTS / INTERNET: The Council of Europe begins the second phase of its cybercrime project

Strasbourg, 12.03.2009 - On the occasion of its 4th annual conference on cybercrime, the Council of Europe launched the second phase (March 2009-June 2011) of its Project on Cybercrime, intended to help countries worldwide to implement its Convention - the only legally binding international instrument - and to adopt stricter standards on the protection of children and personal data.

full article

The conclusions of the conference will be made available to the public at: www.coe.int/cybercrime