ASSEMBLY OF MOLDOVA HELSINKI CITIZENS ASSEMBLY COMBAT HATE IN INTERNET Youth Helsinki Citizens Assembly of Moldova Contact address of organization: PO Box 1479, Chisinau-2043, Moldova yhca_moldova@yahoo.com, yhca@mail.md The Youth Helsinki Citizens’ Assembly of Moldova (YHCA of Moldova) is a non-government national non-profit citizens’ association, which has as its purpose the building of civil society in Moldova. The YHCA of Moldova have been founded in 17.09.98 and officially registered in 19.11.98. It has realized a number of projects aimed at conflict resolution and the establishment of tolerant and co-operative atmosphere between persons of different ethnic origin in Moldova. The YHCA of Moldova craves for promotion of the European democratic ideas and values in the country. The main purpose of the YHCA of Moldova is the promotion of human rights in the country with the involvement of youth. The organization devotes itself to the realization of ideas and principles laid down in the OSCE Helsinki Final Act (1975) and Prague Appeal of Helsinki Citizens’ Assembly (1990) among youth and by means of youth. The key areas of activity are: - ethnic tolerance, rights of national and linguistic minorities, - fight against racism, fascism and antisemitism, - Transnistrian and Gagauzian regional conflicts in Moldova, conflict prevention policies. Main activities of the organisation: 1. Publication of the Moldovan edition of the International Youth magazine “The Collage” in Moldovan/Romanian, Russian and English since 1999. The Department of Youth and Sport of Moldova named “The Collage” as the best youth magazine in Moldova for year 2003. Background information for “The Collage”: Five years ago the Youth Helsinki Citizens’ Assembly began to publish the Moldovan edition of the international youth magazine “The Collage” in three languages: Moldovan/Romanian, English, and Russian with main goal to build civil society in Moldova by means of young adults and to create a new generation of Moldovans with democratic mind and values. “The Collage” became the unique magazine in Moldova covering the topics of ethno-political situation in Moldova, conflict resolution, peacemaking, nationalism, minority rights, and ‘hate speech’ in media. Issue # 1 – Refugees in Moldova and world; Issue # 2 – Ethnic and cultural diversity of Moldova; Issue # 3 – Stereotypes and prejudices; Issue # 4 – Youth of Moldova against racial discrimination and Intolerance; Issue # 5 – Minority and majority; Issue # 6 –7 – Transnistrian conflict resolution; Issue # 8 – What do we know about the Holocaust? Issue # 9 – Nationalism; Issue # 10 – Principles of sustainable development, strategy of Moldova on this issue; Issues #11-12 –Roma rights. 2. Public opinion poll on the ethnic situation in Moldova (June-October 1998) and publication of book “On the way to the harmonization of interethnic relations in Moldova” (in English and Russian); 3. TV broadcast on the rights of refugees (September 25, 1998); 4. Monitoring of media on the issues of inter-ethnic tolerance and enemy images; publication of the brochure with main results of the monitoring (1999, 2000, 2001); 5. Educational seminars for the journalists “Hate speech and press” (2001-2002); 6. Round-tables against Fascism and anti-Semitism (November 9, 1998-2003), media campaigns devoted to 9th of November day, street action on the 9th of November, 1998-2003; Round-tables and seminars against racial discrimination on 21st of March, UN Day against Racial Discrimination (1998-2003); 7. Publication of the book “Anti-Judaism, or Troglodyte World” against antisemitism as an example of consequences of interethnic intolerance, in two languages (Moldovan/Romanian and Russian); 8. Organization of the national essay and picture contest for young people “Youth of Moldova against Racial Discrimination and Intolerance” devoted the International week of anti-racism and the European Conference against Racial Discrimination that will be organized by Council of Europe. (March 2000); organization of the national essay contests “Youth of Moldova for Transdniestrian conflict resolution”, “What do I know about the Holocaust?”, “Roma – victims of the Holocaust”, etc.; 9. Media campaigns devoted to the 50th anniversary of Universal Declaration of Human Rights, Street action on the 10th of December 1998-2002 - the day of human rights; 10. Publication of a set of brochures “The Holocaust in Besarabia”; 11. Publication of the Informational Guide on legislation on minorities protection (together with Ombudsmen Institute in Moldova, UNDP Program “Development of Human Rights and Democracy in Moldova”); 12. Publication of the comic book against discrimination and for intercultural diversity (July 2001); 13. Membership of the European NGO Coordinating Committee of the World Conference against Racial Discrimination, Xenophobia and Intolerance; 14. Realization of the project “Improvement of the situation with Roma Minority in Moldova” (publication of the materials about Roma in Moldova, organization of the seminars on their situation, work with mass-media, etc.).(March 2002-March 2003); 15. Publication of the comic book on the topic of globalization and sustainable development in English, Moldovan/Romanian, and Russian. Currently YHCA of Moldova together with its Polish partner "Never Again" association realises a project on 'civic revolutions and political changes' in Eastern Europe. The project is aimed to stimulate informed debates about the recent civic revolutions in Eastern Europe (Serbia, Georgia, Ukraine) among young people on the Eastern European level. The project develops critical reflection on the recent events and on the future of the region from an anti-racist and anti-nationalist position. It also promotes civic involvement on the basis of respect for human rights and resistance to xenophobia and ethnic nationalism.