This year as part of the symposium, we’re working in cooperation with Afghans for Progressive Thinking to present a special day-long youth advocacy workshop focused on defending the rights of Afghan girls and women.

The workshop aims to equip participants with valuable knowledge, skills, and resources to empower their advocacy efforts and support them to act as young peacebuilders, individually and collectively. It will bring together youth in Canada and in Afghanistan, as well as experts in the field of advocacy and youth mobilization, to identify and develop solutions to the human rights challenges posed by the current situation in Afghanistan. The workshop is aimed at Canada-based youth between the ages of 18 to 30 who are passionate about human rights, have demonstrated interest in carrying out advocacy work related to the rights of Afghan women and girls, and a commitment to further developing their skills to build and sustain effective campaigns and strategies together with other youth.

Participants will have the chance to learn from the UN Special Rapporteur, prominent Afghan women’s rights leaders, representatives from Amnesty International, Canada’s Youth, Peace and Security Coalition and more.

PLEASE NOTE, THIS IS A CLOSED EVENT BY DIRECT INVITATION ONLY.

To ensure a safe space for youth participants, no other guests or attendees will be permitted.

Date & Time

Friday, October 13, 2023

8:30 AM to 4:15 PM

We ask invited guests to kindly arrive by 8:15 AM to check-in.

Please check in at the reception table in the hotel lobby to receive your name tag prior to proceeding to the event.

Location

Mont Royal Room
Hôtel Le Cantlie Suites
1110 Sherbrooke St W, Montreal, Quebec H3A 1G8

Youth Advocacy Workshop Agenda

08:15 – Check-In

Please check in at the reception table in the hotel lobby to receive your name tag prior to proceeding to the event.

08:30 – Welcome

Tea, coffee and informal networking

08:45 – Opening Remarks

Sarah Keeler, Canadian Women for Women in Afghanistan
Ajmal Ramyar, Afghans for Progressive Thinking

09:00 – Participant Introductions

A round of the room for participants to introduce themselves followed by icebreaker activities led by co-facilitators.

09:45 – Q&A with UN Special Rapporteur on Afghanistan, Mr Richard Bennett

This session will allow participants to hear directly from the UN Special Rapporteur on the scope of his role and the opportunities for youth activists to engage directly with his office to advance their advocacy work. This informal discussion will allow them to put questions to Mr Bennett.

10:15 – Break

10:30 – Panel Discussion: Crisis in Afghanistan: Mobilizing Canadians in Support of Human Rights

In this panel, participants will hear from advocacy experts working in a range of areas related to women’s rights and youth activism. They will have the opportunity to learn about how to build effective advocacy, avenues for involvement and collaboration, the needs and priorities of Afghan women and girls, and the current advocacy landscape in Canada.

Panelists:

Hilary Homes, Amnesty International
Khalidha Nasiri, Afghan Youth Engagement and Development Initiative
Katrina LeClerc, Youth, Peace and Security Coalition of Canada
Nargis Nehan, founder of Canadian Feminist Forum for Afghanistan
Sara A., Youth Activist in Afghanistan

12:00 – Lunch and Informal Networking

12:45 – Short Presentation: What is Advocacy?

Ajmal Ramyar, Afghans for Progressive Thinking
Somaya Amiri, Canadian Women for Women in Afghanistan
In this short session, participants will be given an overview of advocacy including a range of definitions, strategies, tracking impact and examples of success.

13:00 – Building Momentum: Small Group Discussion and Workshopping

In this session, participants will work in small groups to identify and propose solutions for the human rights crisis faced by Afghan women and girls and work to develop policy recommendations that can drive their advocacy. Youth inside Afghanistan will be included in this group work virtually.

14:45 – Break

15:00 – Speaking Out: Small Group Presentations and Feedback

In the same small groups, participants will collectively develop advocacy campaigns and work plans which they will pitch to the wider group. Peer assessment and feedback will help the group determine those ideas to be carried forward by the participants, including through publication on CW4WAfghan and APT websites. Youth inside Afghanistan will be included in this group work virtually.

16:00 Closing Remarks

Sarah Keeler, Canadian Women for Women in Afghanistan,
Ajmal Ramyar, Afghans for Progressive Thinking

Youth Advocacy Event on October 13