WFDY

WFDY
source
Name	World Federation of Democratic Youth
Formation	1945
Location	Budapest, Hungary
Region served	Worldwide
Membership	Over 150 member organizations
Language	Multi-lingual
Leader title	President
Leader name	Aline Souza dos Santos
Main organ	Council
Parent organization	United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization

WFDY is a global youth organization that was founded in 1945 in London, United Kingdom, with the aim of promoting peace, democracy, and social justice among young people worldwide, in collaboration with organizations such as the United Nations, International Labour Organization, and UNICEF. The organization has its roots in the World Youth Conference held in 1945, which was attended by representatives from over 30 countries, including Soviet Union, United States, China, and France. WFDY has been involved in various international events, such as the World Festival of Youth and Students, which has been held in cities like Moscow, Berlin, Havana, and Pretoria, and has been supported by leaders like Fidel Castro, Nelson Mandela, and Mikhail Gorbachev. The organization has also worked closely with other youth organizations, such as the European Youth Forum, African Youth Forum, and Asian Youth Council.

● History of

WFDY The history of WFDY dates back to the post-World War II era, when there was a need for a global youth organization that could promote peace, democracy, and social justice, in the spirit of the Atlantic Charter and the United Nations Charter. The organization was founded by young people from over 30 countries, including Poland, Czechoslovakia, Romania, and Bulgaria, with the support of leaders like Joseph Stalin, Winston Churchill, and Franklin D. Roosevelt. WFDY has been involved in various international events and campaigns, such as the Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament, the Anti-Apartheid Movement, and the Solidarity Movement with Lech Walesa and Vaclav Havel. The organization has also worked closely with other international organizations, such as the Red Cross, Amnesty International, and Greenpeace, to promote human rights, environmental protection, and social justice, in the context of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the Rio Declaration.

● Organization and Structure

WFDY has a complex organization and structure, with a council, a secretariat, and various committees and commissions, similar to those of the United Nations General Assembly and the European Parliament. The organization is headed by a president, who is elected by the council, and has a secretariat that is responsible for the day-to-day activities of the organization, in collaboration with the United Nations Secretariat and the European Commission. WFDY has member organizations from over 150 countries, including Brazil, India, South Africa, and Egypt, and has worked closely with other international organizations, such as the International Monetary Fund, the World Bank, and the World Trade Organization. The organization has also established partnerships with various regional organizations, such as the African Union, the European Union, and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, to promote regional cooperation and integration, in the spirit of the Treaty of Rome and the Maastricht Treaty.

● Membership and Activities

WFDY has a diverse membership, with organizations from all over the world, including Cuba, Venezuela, Syria, and Iran. The organization has been involved in various activities, such as promoting peace, democracy, and social justice, and has worked closely with other international organizations, such as the United Nations Development Programme, the United Nations Children's Fund, and the World Health Organization. WFDY has also organized various events and campaigns, such as the World Festival of Youth and Students, the International Youth Day, and the Global Youth Forum, with the support of leaders like Ban Ki-moon, Kofi Annan, and Boutros Boutros-Ghali. The organization has also established partnerships with various civil society organizations, such as the Non-Aligned Movement, the Group of 77, and the European Youth Forum, to promote social justice and human rights, in the context of the Millennium Development Goals and the Sustainable Development Goals.

● World Festivals of Youth and Students

The World Festival of Youth and Students is a major event organized by WFDY, which brings together young people from all over the world to promote peace, democracy, and social justice, in the spirit of the Helsinki Accords and the Charter of Paris. The festival has been held in various cities, including Moscow, Berlin, Havana, and Pretoria, and has been attended by thousands of young people from over 100 countries, including Russia, China, United States, and Germany. The festival has also been supported by leaders like Fidel Castro, Nelson Mandela, and Mikhail Gorbachev, and has featured performances by artists like Bob Marley, John Lennon, and Michael Jackson. WFDY has also organized other events, such as the International Youth Camp, the Global Youth Forum, and the World Youth Conference, with the support of organizations like the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, the International Labour Organization, and the World Bank.

● Goals and Objectives

The goals and objectives of WFDY are to promote peace, democracy, and social justice among young people worldwide, in collaboration with organizations like the United Nations, European Union, and African Union. The organization aims to achieve these goals through various activities, such as organizing events and campaigns, providing training and education, and promoting international cooperation and solidarity, in the spirit of the United Nations Charter and the European Convention on Human Rights. WFDY has also worked closely with other international organizations, such as the Red Cross, Amnesty International, and Greenpeace, to promote human rights, environmental protection, and social justice, in the context of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the Rio Declaration. The organization has also established partnerships with various regional organizations, such as the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation, and the Arab League, to promote regional cooperation and integration, in the spirit of the Treaty of Rome and the Maastricht Treaty.

● Criticisms and Controversies

WFDY has faced various criticisms and controversies over the years, including allegations of being too closely tied to the Soviet Union and other communist governments, such as China, Cuba, and North Korea. The organization has also been criticized for its stance on various international issues, such as the Cold War, the Vietnam War, and the Arab-Israeli conflict, and has been accused of promoting anti-imperialism and anti-capitalism, in the context of the Bretton Woods system and the Washington Consensus. However, WFDY has also been praised for its efforts to promote peace, democracy, and social justice, and has worked closely with other international organizations, such as the United Nations, European Union, and African Union, to achieve these goals, in the spirit of the United Nations Charter and the European Convention on Human Rights. The organization has also established partnerships with various civil society organizations, such as the Non-Aligned Movement, the Group of 77, and the European Youth Forum, to promote social justice and human rights, in the context of the Millennium Development Goals and the Sustainable Development Goals.