Union of Lebanese Democratic Youth
Encyclopedia
Union of Lebanese Democratic Youth (ULDY) also known as UJDL, the French abbreviation of "Union de la Jeunesse Démocratique Libanais".
It is a Lebanese leftist secular democratic youth organization as it defines itself in its documents.
ULDY was legally established in 1970 by leftist -mainly communist- students and young activists, after being active underground since 1945.
ULDY is a member in many regional and international youth organizations, but its main affiliation is to the World Federation of Democratic Youth
(WFDY). ULDY is the vice president of WFDY since March 2007 after a long history of international action. It was the president of WFDY during the late 1980s before and during the collapse of the Soviet Union
.
Many prominent leftist leaders and activists in Lebanon
were affiliated to ULDY during their early political life including Anwar Yassin
and Souha Bechara
, two former resistors and detainees in Israel, Saadallah Mazraani
the Vice General-Secretary of the Lebanese Communist Party
and Hanna Gharib the President of Union of High School Teachers in Lebanon.
- Popular aid to thousands of internally displaced people due to the Israeli aggression against Lebanon during July and August 2006.
- Hosting the Coordinating Council meeting of WFDY in November 2006 in Beirut
with the participation of tens of international leftist and communist organizations and hundreds of attendants from Lebanon.
- Several camps hosting hundreds of participants in Summer of 2007.
- "The Spring March" that toured Lebanon
for 34 consecutive days in the summer of 2008 under the slogan of "All of Lebanon is for us all" and demanding the unity of the Lebanese people across the sectarian division lines drawn by the Lebanese political and social system.
- An open solidarity protest for 24 days near the UN offices in ESCWA building in downtown Beirut
during the Israeli aggression against Gaza
from December 25, 2008 to January 18, 2009. During this period several demonstrations, protests and solidarity events were held in Beirut
and across Lebanon
, mainly towards the Egyptian,U.S. and Canadian embassies in addition to the EU commission and Arab League
representatives, in collaboration with other Lebanese
and Palestinian
leftist youth organizations.
- ULDY organizes a set of youth camps every summer which include Educational, Dialogue, Pioneers, Artistic and Voluntary work camps throughout Lebanon
.
- In the beginning of 2011, ULDY together with some Left
organizations and activists organized a campaign
to support the Arab
revolutions especially during the peak of the revolutions of Egypt
, Tunisia
, Libya
, Yemen
and Bahrain
. The campaign conducted different protests in front of the embassies and consulates of those countries and had a daily protest in front of the Egyptian embassy including the day when the demonstrators tried to enter the embassy.
- ULDY was an effective and leading factor in the campaign to change the sectarian regime in Lebanon
. Five central demonstrations were organized in Beirut
and three others in Saida
, Tripoli
and Byblos
between February 27 and June 26, 2011. The biggest demonstration of the campaign had around 30.000 protestors in the streets of Beirut
on March 20, 2011.
, with another 10 branches under establishment. It also has 4 central departments for young workers, university students, high school students and pioneers
. Membership is accepted through branches so that every member should commit to one of the existing branches. In addition, a member is considered automatically to belong to one of the departments related to his study or work.
The branches are organized through regional committees that have coordinating status within its geographical region. Now ULDY has 5 regional committees that are: Beirut
and suburbs, Mount Lebanon
, Bekaa, North Lebanon
and South Lebanon.
The highest body in ULDY is its congress held every three years to draw the general policies and organization of ULDY and elect its legislative and directive body, the National Council.
The National Council is elected by the congress and convenes regularly every two months to draw short term plans of the organization and watch the sound action and functioning of all other organs of ULDY. The National Council elects a President, Vice President, a General secretary and an Executive Bureau of the organization.
The Executive Bureau convenes every two weeks to pursue the daily action of the organization, apply the plans drawn by the National Council and represent the organization legally and practically between meetings of the National Council.
and the Lebanese Civil War
, ULDY had its 5th National Congress in May 2003. The congress was intended to revive the bodies of the organization and put it back to strong action. This two-year experience set the ground for the 6th National Congress that brought real life to ULDY.
ULDY had its 6th National Congress in May, 2005 and elected Imad Bawab as President and Arabi Andari as General Secretary. It brought all the constituents of the organization to action and put it back on the political map in Lebanon especially after the big activities and new leadership spirit that it had.
In its 7th National Congress in September 2008, ULDY renewed its bodies with many new young activists. 24 out of its 41 National Council
members and 10 out of its 11 Executive Bureau members were renewed, with Imad Bawab remaining president and Hussein Mroue elected as a new General Secretary.
It is a Lebanese leftist secular democratic youth organization as it defines itself in its documents.
ULDY was legally established in 1970 by leftist -mainly communist- students and young activists, after being active underground since 1945.
ULDY is a member in many regional and international youth organizations, but its main affiliation is to the World Federation of Democratic Youth
World Federation of Democratic Youth
The World Federation of Democratic Youth is a progressive youth organization, recognized by the United Nations as an international youth non-governmental organization. WFDY describes itself as an "anti-imperialist, left-wing" organisation...
(WFDY). ULDY is the vice president of WFDY since March 2007 after a long history of international action. It was the president of WFDY during the late 1980s before and during the collapse of the Soviet Union
Soviet Union
The Soviet Union , officially the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics , was a constitutionally socialist state that existed in Eurasia between 1922 and 1991....
.
Many prominent leftist leaders and activists in Lebanon
Lebanon
Lebanon , officially the Republic of LebanonRepublic of Lebanon is the most common term used by Lebanese government agencies. The term Lebanese Republic, a literal translation of the official Arabic and French names that is not used in today's world. Arabic is the most common language spoken among...
were affiliated to ULDY during their early political life including Anwar Yassin
Anwar Yassin
Anwar Yassin is a former Lebanese detainee in Israeli prisons. He was a militant in Jammoul, the military front of the Lebanese Communist Party, since his early youth in the mid 1980s...
and Souha Bechara
Souha Bechara
Souha Fawaz Bechara also spelled Souha Bechara or Soha Bechara is a Lebanese woman who, at the age of twenty one, attempted to assassinate General Antoine Lahad of the South Lebanon Army...
, two former resistors and detainees in Israel, Saadallah Mazraani
Saadallah Mazraani
Saadallah Mazraani is the Vice General Secretary of the Lebanese Communist Party since its 8th congress in 1998. He was nominated for parliamentary elections for several times in South Lebanon and scored a considerable amount of votes every time he ran, but never succeeded in wining a...
the Vice General-Secretary of the Lebanese Communist Party
Lebanese Communist Party
The Lebanese Communist Party – LCP or Parti communiste libanais in French, is a communist political party in Lebanon...
and Hanna Gharib the President of Union of High School Teachers in Lebanon.
Recent Activities
After the 6th National Congress, ULDY made several distinguished activities including:- Popular aid to thousands of internally displaced people due to the Israeli aggression against Lebanon during July and August 2006.
- Hosting the Coordinating Council meeting of WFDY in November 2006 in Beirut
Beirut
Beirut is the capital and largest city of Lebanon, with a population ranging from 1 million to more than 2 million . Located on a peninsula at the midpoint of Lebanon's Mediterranean coastline, it serves as the country's largest and main seaport, and also forms the Beirut Metropolitan...
with the participation of tens of international leftist and communist organizations and hundreds of attendants from Lebanon.
- Several camps hosting hundreds of participants in Summer of 2007.
- "The Spring March" that toured Lebanon
Lebanon
Lebanon , officially the Republic of LebanonRepublic of Lebanon is the most common term used by Lebanese government agencies. The term Lebanese Republic, a literal translation of the official Arabic and French names that is not used in today's world. Arabic is the most common language spoken among...
for 34 consecutive days in the summer of 2008 under the slogan of "All of Lebanon is for us all" and demanding the unity of the Lebanese people across the sectarian division lines drawn by the Lebanese political and social system.
- An open solidarity protest for 24 days near the UN offices in ESCWA building in downtown Beirut
Beirut
Beirut is the capital and largest city of Lebanon, with a population ranging from 1 million to more than 2 million . Located on a peninsula at the midpoint of Lebanon's Mediterranean coastline, it serves as the country's largest and main seaport, and also forms the Beirut Metropolitan...
during the Israeli aggression against Gaza
Gaza
Gaza , also referred to as Gaza City, is a Palestinian city in the Gaza Strip, with a population of about 450,000, making it the largest city in the Palestinian territories.Inhabited since at least the 15th century BC,...
from December 25, 2008 to January 18, 2009. During this period several demonstrations, protests and solidarity events were held in Beirut
Beirut
Beirut is the capital and largest city of Lebanon, with a population ranging from 1 million to more than 2 million . Located on a peninsula at the midpoint of Lebanon's Mediterranean coastline, it serves as the country's largest and main seaport, and also forms the Beirut Metropolitan...
and across Lebanon
Lebanon
Lebanon , officially the Republic of LebanonRepublic of Lebanon is the most common term used by Lebanese government agencies. The term Lebanese Republic, a literal translation of the official Arabic and French names that is not used in today's world. Arabic is the most common language spoken among...
, mainly towards the Egyptian,U.S. and Canadian embassies in addition to the EU commission and Arab League
Arab League
The Arab League , officially called the League of Arab States , is a regional organisation of Arab states in North and Northeast Africa, and Southwest Asia . It was formed in Cairo on 22 March 1945 with six members: Egypt, Iraq, Transjordan , Lebanon, Saudi Arabia, and Syria. Yemen joined as a...
representatives, in collaboration with other Lebanese
Lebanon
Lebanon , officially the Republic of LebanonRepublic of Lebanon is the most common term used by Lebanese government agencies. The term Lebanese Republic, a literal translation of the official Arabic and French names that is not used in today's world. Arabic is the most common language spoken among...
and Palestinian
Palestinian nationalism
Palestinian nationalism is the national movement of the Palestinian people. It has roots in Pan-Arabism and other movements rejecting colonialism and calling for national independence. More recently, Palestinian Nationalism is expressed through the Israeli–Palestinian conflict...
leftist youth organizations.
- ULDY organizes a set of youth camps every summer which include Educational, Dialogue, Pioneers, Artistic and Voluntary work camps throughout Lebanon
Lebanon
Lebanon , officially the Republic of LebanonRepublic of Lebanon is the most common term used by Lebanese government agencies. The term Lebanese Republic, a literal translation of the official Arabic and French names that is not used in today's world. Arabic is the most common language spoken among...
.
- In the beginning of 2011, ULDY together with some Left
Left
Left may refer to:* Left * Left , 2006* Left * Left-wing politics, the political trend or ideology...
organizations and activists organized a campaign
Campaign
Campaign may refer to:*Advertising campaign*Military campaign*Political campaign*Advocacy or Advocacy group, relating 'campaigning' on an issue -Gaming:...
to support the Arab
Arab
Arab people, also known as Arabs , are a panethnicity primarily living in the Arab world, which is located in Western Asia and North Africa. They are identified as such on one or more of genealogical, linguistic, or cultural grounds, with tribal affiliations, and intra-tribal relationships playing...
revolutions especially during the peak of the revolutions of Egypt
Egypt
Egypt , officially the Arab Republic of Egypt, Arabic: , is a country mainly in North Africa, with the Sinai Peninsula forming a land bridge in Southwest Asia. Egypt is thus a transcontinental country, and a major power in Africa, the Mediterranean Basin, the Middle East and the Muslim world...
, Tunisia
Tunisia
Tunisia , officially the Tunisian RepublicThe long name of Tunisia in other languages used in the country is: , is the northernmost country in Africa. It is a Maghreb country and is bordered by Algeria to the west, Libya to the southeast, and the Mediterranean Sea to the north and east. Its area...
, Libya
Libya
Libya is an African country in the Maghreb region of North Africa bordered by the Mediterranean Sea to the north, Egypt to the east, Sudan to the southeast, Chad and Niger to the south, and Algeria and Tunisia to the west....
, Yemen
Yemen
The Republic of Yemen , commonly known as Yemen , is a country located in the Middle East, occupying the southwestern to southern end of the Arabian Peninsula. It is bordered by Saudi Arabia to the north, the Red Sea to the west, and Oman to the east....
and Bahrain
Bahrain
' , officially the Kingdom of Bahrain , is a small island state near the western shores of the Persian Gulf. It is ruled by the Al Khalifa royal family. The population in 2010 stood at 1,214,705, including 235,108 non-nationals. Formerly an emirate, Bahrain was declared a kingdom in 2002.Bahrain is...
. The campaign conducted different protests in front of the embassies and consulates of those countries and had a daily protest in front of the Egyptian embassy including the day when the demonstrators tried to enter the embassy.
- ULDY was an effective and leading factor in the campaign to change the sectarian regime in Lebanon
2011 Lebanese protests
The 2011 Lebanese protests have been seen as influenced by the Arab Spring. The main protests focused on calls for political reform especially against confessionalism in Lebanon.- Political system :...
. Five central demonstrations were organized in Beirut
Beirut
Beirut is the capital and largest city of Lebanon, with a population ranging from 1 million to more than 2 million . Located on a peninsula at the midpoint of Lebanon's Mediterranean coastline, it serves as the country's largest and main seaport, and also forms the Beirut Metropolitan...
and three others in Saida
Saida
-Places:* Saida, a village in Barkote Block, Deogarh District of Orissa, India* Saida, a village in Mandi Bahauddin District of he Punjab province of Pakistan* Saïda, Algeria, a city in Algeria* Saïda Province, a province of Algeria-Other uses:...
, Tripoli
Tripoli
Tripoli is the capital and largest city in Libya. It is also known as Western Tripoli , to distinguish it from Tripoli, Lebanon. It is affectionately called The Mermaid of the Mediterranean , describing its turquoise waters and its whitewashed buildings. Tripoli is a Greek name that means "Three...
and Byblos
Byblos
Byblos is the Greek name of the Phoenician city Gebal . It is a Mediterranean city in the Mount Lebanon Governorate of present-day Lebanon under the current Arabic name of Jubayl and was also referred to as Gibelet during the Crusades...
between February 27 and June 26, 2011. The biggest demonstration of the campaign had around 30.000 protestors in the streets of Beirut
Beirut
Beirut is the capital and largest city of Lebanon, with a population ranging from 1 million to more than 2 million . Located on a peninsula at the midpoint of Lebanon's Mediterranean coastline, it serves as the country's largest and main seaport, and also forms the Beirut Metropolitan...
on March 20, 2011.
Organization
ULDY has currently 26 branches around LebanonLebanon
Lebanon , officially the Republic of LebanonRepublic of Lebanon is the most common term used by Lebanese government agencies. The term Lebanese Republic, a literal translation of the official Arabic and French names that is not used in today's world. Arabic is the most common language spoken among...
, with another 10 branches under establishment. It also has 4 central departments for young workers, university students, high school students and pioneers
Pioneer movement
A pioneer movement is an organization for children operated by a communist party. Typically children enter into the organization in elementary school and continue until adolescence. The adolescents then typically joined the Young Communist League...
. Membership is accepted through branches so that every member should commit to one of the existing branches. In addition, a member is considered automatically to belong to one of the departments related to his study or work.
The branches are organized through regional committees that have coordinating status within its geographical region. Now ULDY has 5 regional committees that are: Beirut
Beirut
Beirut is the capital and largest city of Lebanon, with a population ranging from 1 million to more than 2 million . Located on a peninsula at the midpoint of Lebanon's Mediterranean coastline, it serves as the country's largest and main seaport, and also forms the Beirut Metropolitan...
and suburbs, Mount Lebanon
Mount Lebanon
Mount Lebanon , as a geographic designation, is a Lebanese mountain range, averaging above 2,200 meters in height and receiving a substantial amount of precipitation, including snow, which averages around four meters deep. It extends across the whole country along about , parallel to the...
, Bekaa, North Lebanon
North Lebanon
North Lebanon may refer to:*North Lebanon Township, Pennsylvania*North Governorate, Lebanon...
and South Lebanon.
The highest body in ULDY is its congress held every three years to draw the general policies and organization of ULDY and elect its legislative and directive body, the National Council.
The National Council is elected by the congress and convenes regularly every two months to draw short term plans of the organization and watch the sound action and functioning of all other organs of ULDY. The National Council elects a President, Vice President, a General secretary and an Executive Bureau of the organization.
The Executive Bureau convenes every two weeks to pursue the daily action of the organization, apply the plans drawn by the National Council and represent the organization legally and practically between meetings of the National Council.
Recent Congresses
After several years of not having regular congresses due to many political and organizational problems, especially after the collapse of the Soviet UnionSoviet Union
The Soviet Union , officially the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics , was a constitutionally socialist state that existed in Eurasia between 1922 and 1991....
and the Lebanese Civil War
Lebanese Civil War
The Lebanese Civil War was a multifaceted civil war in Lebanon. The war lasted from 1975 to 1990 and resulted in an estimated 150,000 to 230,000 civilian fatalities. Another one million people were wounded, and today approximately 350,000 people remain displaced. There was also a mass exodus of...
, ULDY had its 5th National Congress in May 2003. The congress was intended to revive the bodies of the organization and put it back to strong action. This two-year experience set the ground for the 6th National Congress that brought real life to ULDY.
ULDY had its 6th National Congress in May, 2005 and elected Imad Bawab as President and Arabi Andari as General Secretary. It brought all the constituents of the organization to action and put it back on the political map in Lebanon especially after the big activities and new leadership spirit that it had.
In its 7th National Congress in September 2008, ULDY renewed its bodies with many new young activists. 24 out of its 41 National Council
National Council
-Conservation:* National Council for Science and the Environment, a US-based non-profit organization which has a mission to improve the scientific basis for environmental decisionmaking...
members and 10 out of its 11 Executive Bureau members were renewed, with Imad Bawab remaining president and Hussein Mroue elected as a new General Secretary.