The Coalition on the Rights and Responsibilities of Youth (CRY) is a youth-led membership organisation working in the Pakistani Province of Khyber Pukhtunkhwa. CRY has 500 young members who, through peer education and community-based activities, are working to combat extremism and promote peace, tolerance and humanism.
To share its experience cross-regionally and to amplify the effect of the organisation’s work, it is a member of international networks such as United Network of Young Peacebuilders, International Humanistic and Ethical Youth Alliance, and Peace Revival Association of Youth.
CRY believes in the promotion of peace through initiatives led by young people. Extremist and militant organisations in Pakistan are recruiting young people, but CRY believes in the power of young people as peacebuilders and therefore conducts peace education programmes with those who are most vulnerable to the influence of militant organisations. CRY is using peer education as a tool to prevent young people from engaging in militancy by promoting values of tolerance, non-violence, humanism and equity among young people. CRY also promotes supportive and trusting relationships among young people from different ethnic backgrounds for creating harmony and peace in the society.
Activities
Young People
CRY aims to promote and protect the rights and responsibilities of young people, to strengthen the capacity of young people as agents of change in their communities, and to enable young people to effectively work for sustainable development, peace and democracy.
The objectives of the organisation are to organise young people, especially young women, in groups and to strengthen their leadership capacity, thus enabling them to work as agents of change and development, to equip young people with necessary skills for social, cultural, economic, and political empowerment, and to promote the values of non-violence, tolerance and humanism for a peaceful society.
Small Arms
CRY has been advocating at provincial and national level for the eradication of small arms from the country with the support of Amnesty International.
CRY is on twitter: @crypk
