VIRTUAL COFFEE

22nd NOVEMBER 2023

On November 22, 2023, the first Virtual Coffee was held in our exhibition space in the Metaverse. The topic of the day was the “Compass Manual”, a tool written by the Council of Europe for Human Rights Education for young people. The event began with a presentation in the exhibition space showcasing photos taken by young people from various partner associations in Luxembourg, the city that was awarded Access City 2022. Furthermore, partners gathered in the central hall to kick off the Virtual Coffee. The Human Rights Education Manual was presented during the event. In addition, an activity on the Padlet platform took place, sparking a debate among young participants who shared their opinions on what human rights education means.

EUROPEAN YEAR OF YOUTH,29 th NOVEMBER 2023

“2022 was the European Year of Youth, shining a light on the importance of European youth to build a better future – greener, more inclusive and digital. With plenty of opportunities to learn, share your vision, meet people and engage in activities all over Europe, the European Year of Youth is the moment to move forward with confidence and hope in a post-pandemic perspective”. Through the Metaverse, we have paid special attention to the spirit of the past European Year, providing a space within the vast virtual borders of the Metaverse for different activities and meetings of other Projects related to training, such as “Skills for Online” Project, which focuses on the development of digital skills for adults, or “We Are Compass Followers” Project, which focuses on human rights training for young people, all with the intention of empowering adults and young people across the European Union committed to the common values of all Europeans. On November 29, 2023, the second Virtual Coffee took place in the Metaverse, where young people from 11 European countries gathered to listen to a presentation and discuss the European Year of Youth. The event included activities that led to interesting debates. The 4 objectives of the European Year of Youth were illustrated:

  1. To renew positive perspectives for young people, highlighting the opportunities offered by the environmental and digital transitions.
  2. To support young people, especially those with fewer opportunities, to become active and engaged citizens and agents of change.
  3. Promote opportunities for young people at all levels.
  4. Promote the inclusion of a youth perspective in all relevant policies and issues.
The first activity centered around a question: “Do you believe that platforms like the Metaverse can help promote the skills for young people, empower them, and reach the objectives of the European Year of Youth? How?”. The second activity focused on the question: “Do you think that women have less presence in the field of technology jobs? If yes, how can we address this issue?”.

HUMAN RIGHTS DAY, 11th DECEMBER 2023

On December 10, 2023, the Third Virtual Coffee was celebrated in the Metaverse. The theme of this event was Human Rights Day. The focus of the event was on the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and human rights. Available in more than 500 languages, the UDHR is the most translated document in the world. 10 December 2023 marks the 75th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR). What is the UDHR? It is a milestone document in the history of human rights, adopted by the United Nations General Assembly in Paris on 10 December 1948. How many articles does the UDHR consist of? The UDHR consists of 30 articles that outline fundamental human rights and freedoms to be universally protected. These rights encompass civil, political, economic, social, and cultural rights, providing a comprehensive framework for the protection of human dignity. This document enshrines the inalienable rights that everyone is entitled to as a human being - regardless of race, colour, religion, sex, language, political or other opinion, national or social origin, property, birth or other status. In the decades since the adoption of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) in 1948, human rights have become more recognised and more guaranteed across the globe. However, the promise of the UDHR, of dignity and equality in rights, has been under a sustained assault in recent years. As the world faces challenges new and ongoing – pandemics, conflicts, exploding inequalities, morally bankrupt global financial system, racism, climate change.