Amy Virdi, who has been convenor of the James Cook University campus group for Amnesty International Australia for three years looks at how students are leading the way in activism.

Passion for the cause and a degree of idealism are the hallmarks of the youth movement within Amnesty International Australia.

Youth activism differs from general human rights activism not in underlying philosophy but in a degree of idealism that is the strength of the youth movement and provides a vision and a belief that all is not lost.

I am wary using the term 'idealism' as some may equate it with being impractical or even utopian, yet it is a degree of idealism and the optimism that goes with it that allows us to believe that truth and justice will triumph over the innumerable counteracting forces in today's desensitised and troubled world.

While youth activists are usually 16 to 24, the concept of age is often superseded by conviction and a common commitment to contribute in a meaningful way to those who may not have a voice or whose right to exercise their freedom may be curtailed.

Youth activism is alive and well in Australia, with university group members often being some of the most vocal and effective advocates for human rights.

That is not to say there aren't challenges to youth activism, just as there are at all levels - apathy and disillusionment among them - but for those who want to know about and understand the key human rights issues the world is facing and who want to make a contribution to doing something about them, there is no better way to do so than to become a member of the Amnesty International family - a family that believes in what is right and what is just.

The journey to becoming an Amnesty International activist will inevitably be different for each of us but I challenge anyone who has made that journey to look inside themselves and dispute that their involvement has not fundamentally altered their outlook on life and how people should be treated, and how we interact with others.

Along the journey we inevitably come to share the unabating and fervent belief that all people are entitled to the same rights irrespective of their race, gender, age, religion, caste or beliefs.

It is this passion for the promotion and protection of the human rights of all people that weaves the fibre that binds all Amnesty International activists, youth or otherwise, so tightly together. Race, gender, geography and circumstance become secondary to the core values that bind us worldwide.

Opportunities

Youth activism offers us many opportunities, the greatest of which, in my view, is the awakening of a social conscience at a young age. This will forever change your perspective on issues that others may see only in black and white.

You will develop the ability to understand and relate to situations and people; to debate and articulate the need for an awakening to the gross injustices that occur around us; and to empathise with and support those less fortunate than ourselves.

I have been fortunate to experience all these aspects of youth activism from the first letter I wrote in Year 11, and still feel the power of what I am involved in each time I respond to an Urgent Action.

If there is one message I wish to convey to other activists as Amnesty International Australia grows in size and recognition, it is to ensure we do not forget the fundamental principles on which our movement was born and continue to demand accountability from the governments of nations where human rights are being denied.

This includes our own government with regard to the deplorable manner in which refugees and asylum seekers have been treated and the lack of action on Australian Guantanamo Bay detainee David Hicks, who has been confined for five years in completely unacceptable conditions without charge or trial.

Inspiration and mentoring are some of the privileges of being a youth activist, with support and encouragement from experienced activists helping shape one's outlook and approach. I have been extremely fortunate to have inspiring mentors at school and at university, sometimes older, sometimes my own age with wisdom and experience far greater than mine. I thank them sincerely for their support.

Becoming an activist has given me innumerable opportunities to engage with other people through speaking at local events, recruiting members to our campus group, or simply engaging in debate and discussion.

The egalitarian nature of youth activism within Amnesty International Australia and the lack of hierarchical structure allow all group members to feel welcome and supported.

A highlight of activism for me included coordinating the refugee tutoring program our campus group established (where we successfully recruited 26 tutors for refugee students who experienced difficulties with English and other school subjects), a concept taken up in other states.

Another extremely rewarding experience was representing Amnesty International Australia at Queensland's first ever Youth Jury conducted by the Legal, Constitutional and Administrative Review Committee of the Queensland Parliament.

The Youth Jury was designed as an inquiry into young people's engagement in democracy in Queensland with a focus on the topic Group action - joining a group that has a role to play in influencing government.

I have been involved with youth activism at a national level through the first two Amnesty International Australia Youth Summits in 2005 and 2006 but my most memorable experience was attending the 2005 International Council Meeting and International Youth Assembly of Amnesty International held in Mexico.

It was in Mexico that I truly realised the role we as activists in Amnesty International play; the ideals we strive to uphold and the manner in which policy is formed and instituted. I witnessed how youth activism operates at an international level, in different contexts and with different national issues.

This experience was both educational and rewarding and has defined my outlook and perceptions of our organisation. I formed friendships and shared camaraderie with like-minded students from around the world and experienced the truly international nature of Amnesty International, all of us speaking the common language of human rights.

Every experience and opportunity afforded me has reinforced and invigorated my commitment to Amnesty International and the protection of human rights. I invite you to join us in the fight for what is right.

To get involved in your local area contact your nearest Action Centre.