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Commonwealth Youth Human Rights & Democracy Network (CYHRDN)

Who we are

The Commonwealth Youth Human Rights and Democracy Network (CYHRDN) provides a platform for collaboration with young people on important national, regional and global human rights issues. It also strengthens the capacity of young people to engage with their communities, policy-makers and wider stakeholders.

This approach reinforces that young people are valuable human resources capable of developing into active citizens and serve as catalysts for change. The network aims to achieve its advocacy and capacity-building objectives through partnerships to contribute to research, policies and programmes. Its priority areas include Disability Rights, Anti-Discrimination and Domestic Violence.

Vision
To actively engage young people in education and advocacy in the area of human rights and democracy.

What we do

Mission
To create a collaborative space for young people to achieve collective human rights and democracy goals through capacity development, the dissemination of knowledge and by supporting young people to engage in human rights and democracy.

The network was launched in June 2016, at the end of a visioning workshop held at Marlborough House in London. It was established with the support of the Youth Division and the Human Rights Unit of the Commonwealth Secretariat.

CYHRDN Membership:

Name and RoleRegion
Tricia Teekah, CoordinatorCaribbean
Esanju Maseka, Project and Events CoordinatorAfrica
Brian Dan, Education and Training CoordinatorAfrica
Joy Napier, Communications CoordinatorCaribbean
Shahreen Tilottoma, Partnership and EngagementAsia
Vibhu Sharma, Disability Rights CoordinatorAsia
Muhamad Shahid Naseem, Policy and Advocacy CoordinatorAsia
Coordinator
Tricia Teekah

Tricia Teekah is the Pan-Commonwealth Coordinator for the Commonwealth Youth Human Rights and Democracy Network. She brings a wealth of experience and knowledge to the Network. Throughout her career, Tricia has advocated for the rights of workers, students and young people. She has led and contributed to creating participatory spaces and initiatives geared to empower young people. She holds a Bachelor’s degree in International Relations from the University of Guyana and a Bachelor of Laws from University of London International Programmes. In recognition of her work and contributions, Tricia received the Council of the University of Guyana Prize in 2012; Commonwealth Youth Recognition Award from the Government of Bahamas in 2015; and recently, she was named Commonwealth Young Person of the Year for the Caribbean and Americas Region.

Project and Events Coordinator
Esanju Maseka

Esanju Maseka is passionate about development oriented activities and has served in various roles as a youth worker. In 2013, she was trained as Human Rights Education trainer through a Commonwealth Human Rights Training of Trainers workshop. She currently serves as a volunteer youth activist with Ignite the Youth Africa, a network focused on promoting youth activism. In this position, her roles have included writing an article on the gender rights debate and contributing to a joint statement shared with the African Union on their theme for last year, 2016: African Year of Human Rights.

Education and Training Coordinator
Brian Dan Migowe

Brian Dan Migowe is a human rights defender and a lawyer by profession based in Kenya currently engaged in social and political campaigns against violation of human rights through proactive participation in constitutional litigation in Kenya. Brian was involved in civic training and community refugee rights advocacy –in particular-focusing on the Somali Muslim migrant community in Nairobi. Brian has also previously worked for the federation of women lawyers in Kenya, a non –profit entity with a UN observer accreditation status advocating against all forms of gender based discrimination. Brian is a graduate of the University of Nairobi law school as well a fellow to the Hesselbein global academy at the University of Pittsburgh.

Communications Coordinator
Joy Napier

Joy Napier is youth leader, educator and entrepreneur. She brings her extensive experience in the areas of Youth empowerment, Human Rights, Migration/Refugee Issues, International development and Caribbean and Latin America politics. She is the founder and Principal of the only alternative education secondary school called Nevis International Secondary School [NISS]. She also holds the position of National Youth Ambassador to CARICOM, representing the concerns and interests of over 20,000 young people. She also brings extensive experience working in social enterprise across Latin America and the Caribbean. Joy is passionate about human rights, gender equality and education. She has a Political Science major and staunch advocate for the protection and promotion of democracy and human rights in the Caribbean.

Partnership and Engagement
Shahreen Tilottoma

Shahreen is an enrolled Advocate in the District and Sessions Court in Bangladesh and a member of Dhaka Bar Association, Dhaka Taxes Bar Association and Youth for Human Rights Bangladesh Chapter. Shahreen has been actively involved in human rights advocacy and campaign and youth activism within her country as well as in at the international level. She has served as the Regional Youth Caucus Member in Commonwealth Youth Programme Asia Region as Country Youth Representative. Shahreen also holds a LL.B. Honours Degree and Master of Development Studies (MDS), including a LL.M (Master of Laws) from Southeast University in Bangladesh. She brings extensive experience from the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) at the Youth Strategic Priority in ActionAid International Bangladesh. She is now a recognized national young leader for youth empowerment, human rights and related advocacy in Bangladesh.

Disability Rights Coordinator
Vibhu Sharma

Vibhu advocates for persons with disabilities, particularly, the visually impaired, in creating equal opportunities for inclusive education and social and peer inclusion. She has presented papers in several important international conferences organized by WBU and ICEVI, and is currently the Co-Chair of the Global Partnership for Children with Disabilities (GPCWD – Youth Council). She is currently working on the Global Needs Assessment and Mapping project of the Leadership and Mentoring Taskforce of the GPCWD, aimed at identifying leadership and mentoring opportunities for youth with disabilities. Vibhu is proud that students with visual impairment benefit from her success convincing the Central Board of Secondary Education to conduct India’s high school exams for these students on computers with screen-reader as against the traditional practice of readers and amanuenses. Vibhu believes in giving equal opportunity and necessary accommodations and that persons with visual impairment have the potential to perform at par with their sighted peers in every sphere

Policy and Advocacy Coordinator
Muhamad Shahid Naseem

Shahid is from Multan – the city of saints and well known city of Punjab- Pakistan. He has extensive experience in social sector from volunteerism to education and trainings programs. Shahid has a law degree with extensive experience from volunteering to leading youth initiatives and projects. He has been involved with constitutional drafting for Centre for Justice Human Rights -CJHR. during his presidency term at the CJHR. He is a youth activist and attorney at law, involved in legal practice at the District Bar Association Multan.

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How to join

If you are interested in helping set up Commonwealth networks focused on health or peace-building, please contact the Secretariat’s Youth Division for information about ways to contribute.

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Who we are

The Commonwealth Youth Human Rights and Democracy Network (CYHRDN) provides a platform for collaboration with young people on important national, regional and global human rights issues. It also strengthens the capacity of young people to engage with their communities, policy-makers and wider stakeholders.

This approach reinforces that young people are valuable human resources capable of developing into active citizens and serve as catalysts for change. The network aims to achieve its advocacy and capacity-building objectives through partnerships to contribute to research, policies and programmes. Its priority areas include Disability Rights, Anti-Discrimination and Domestic Violence.

Vision
To actively engage young people in education and advocacy in the area of human rights and democracy.

What we do

Mission
To create a collaborative space for young people to achieve collective human rights and democracy goals through capacity development, the dissemination of knowledge and by supporting young people to engage in human rights and democracy.

The network was launched in June 2016, at the end of a visioning workshop held at Marlborough House in London. It was established with the support of the Youth Division and the Human Rights Unit of the Commonwealth Secretariat.

CYHRDN Membership:

Name and RoleRegion
Tricia Teekah, CoordinatorCaribbean
Esanju Maseka, Project and Events CoordinatorAfrica
Brian Dan, Education and Training CoordinatorAfrica
Joy Napier, Communications CoordinatorCaribbean
Shahreen Tilottoma, Partnership and EngagementAsia
Vibhu Sharma, Disability Rights CoordinatorAsia
Muhamad Shahid Naseem, Policy and Advocacy CoordinatorAsia

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