European and International Affairs.
We are proudly a pro-European party believing the European Union, as John Hume said, "is the best example of conflict resolution in the history of the world", bringing former enemies together to forge a new vision for the continent from the fierce antagonism of the second world war. It is on this model our own peace process in Northern Ireland draws is rooted.
We engage and cooperate in our European umbrella organisations, the Party of European Socialists (PES) and the Young European Socialists (YES), with our Socialist, Social Democratic, Labour and Democratic sister organisations to map out a progressive and stronger Europe.
Internationally the SDLP affiliates with Socialist International and the International Union of Socialist Youth (IUSY). It is also our aim to see the SDLP become a full member of the Progressive Alliance. As a party of peace our international politics is based around peacebuilding in divided societies and areas suffering from conflict. We stand in solidarity with all communities facing persecution and oppression.
Our European Affairs Policies.
SDLP Youth is campaigning for:
Northern Ireland to rejoin the European Union.
progressive and social democratic politics and commits to the values of the Party of European Socialists, and its youth organisation of Young European Socialists.
the European principles of peace, internal free trade, security, freedom of movement and social justice.
opposition to the details of TTIP, which would threaten our National Health Service, threaten our safety standards and undermine our democracy.
Condemnation of the Russian government for their aggression against Ukraine and for their discrimination against Russian members of the LGBT+ community.
full support for refugees and asylum seekers entering into Ireland, providing assistance with finances, job seeking, cultural integration and counselling, and provide for more assistance for the Balkan countries for the processing and accommodation of refugees in the wider context of preparation for the expected accession of Serbia and Kosovo to the European Union.
solidarity with LGBTQI persons in Hungary and its support for activists, organisations, grassroot movements and politicians who are standing in opposition to the continued dilution of the rights and dignity of LGBTQI citizens in Hungary, and against a homophobic, transphobic, and discriminatory Government agenda.
condemnation of far-right populist movements in Europe and also of anti-immigration, anti-refugee, and anti-minorities policies which undermine human rights, equality, and dignity.
the release of detained protestors arrested in the aftermath of the Belorussian elections in August 2020, a peaceful and democratic transition of power in Belarus and for the EU to continue supporting free and fair elections in Belarus.
solidarity with Polish women and pregnant people, the strikers who are seeking to protest the jugement of the Polish Constitutional Court deeming the provision of abortion services in cases of FFA as unconstitutional and demands the restoration of human rights, and supports our PES sister party, the Democratic Left Alliance in its efforts to ensure human rights, equality, and the rule of law in Poland.
Our International Affairs Policies.
SDLP Youth is campaigning for:
for all states to sign and ratify the Convention on Cluster Munitions.
condemnation of the racist and inflammatory language used by leading figures around the world, such as Marine Le Pen and Donald Trump.
relentless opposition to the evil terrorist caliphates, Daesh and Boko Haram, including, but not limited to, an arms embargo to be implemented in the surrounding region, support for moderate freedom fighters, new efforts to tackle illegal oil trafficking, diplomatic support for an African and Arabic coalition to destroy these caliphates, and aid relief for these regions.
solidarity with the Palestinian people, including the expulsion of the Israeli ambassador to Ireland, supporting the Palestinian Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions campaign, placing a two-way embargo on arm sales and purchases from Israel, supporting the Occupied Territories Bill, supporting the calls from Palestinian civil society to have the UN investigate Israeli Apartheid, supporting Human Rights Watch recommendations and imposition of targeted sanctions on individuals and entities involved in Israel’s crimes of apartheid and persecution and the withdrawal of use of Shannon Airport from the US military transporting arms and support to the Israeli military.
