Coordinating Committee for International Voluntary Service - CCIVS

⚠️ Content warning: sexual violence

For years, Palestinian human rights organisations have documented sexual violence against Palestinian detainees held in Israeli custody, describing it as a systemic pattern. A recent New York Times opinion piece adds to that body of reporting.

According to Euro-Med Human Rights Monitor, more than 9,000 Palestinians are currently held, the majority without access to the International Committee of the Red Cross. Many, including minors, report ongoing torture and ill-treatment. Some families have asked lawyers to stop visiting, because detainees are reportedly mistreated before and after legal meetings.

As a network built on solidarity and human rights, CCIVS stands with all those under occupation and facing systemic violence. We call for the protection of those detained, for accountability, and for an end to the complicity of our governments.

📖 Read the reporting: https://www.nytimes.com/2026/05/11/opinion/israel-palestinians-sexual-violence.html?unlocked_article_code=1.hlA.kfgZ.ZMP5yQa7u9k7&smid=url-share

🔗 Take action and check out what you can do:
• Join the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) movement: bdsmovement.net/Guide-to-BDS-Boycott
• Support Palestinian human rights organisations such as Addameer, who continue their work under serious constraints: addameer.ps
• Follow the data: btselem.org/statistics/detainees_and_prisoners | un.org/unispal/document-subject/prisoners-and-detainees

🕊️ A look back at the 19th International NGO Forum at UNESCO
On 21 May 2026, CCIVS joined the 19th International NGO Forum at UNESCO Headquarters in Paris, under the theme "Advancing a Culture of Peace in Africa: From Roots to Resilience."

Our Director Vicky Lovelock and CCIVS Youth Committee member Victonell Wanjohi took part in Session 2, "Reimagining Education Systems as Engines of Peace," alongside UNESCO, Peace and Sports, the Women's International League for Peace and Freedom (WILPF), COSYDEP, FMPS, and others.

Vicky brought the room back to 1920, when volunteers from countries just emerging from war came together to rebuild a devastated village in eastern France. That early "technique of peace" is the root of the international voluntary service movement, and with UNESCO's support in 1948, it became the network we know today as CCIVS. She pointed to research across more than 80 countries showing that volunteers develop communication skills, cultural openness, and resilience, with the biggest gains often among young people facing the most barriers.

✨ Her closing reflection sums it up: "Climate justice is peacebuilding, participation is resilience, and volunteering is education."

📖 Read the full reflection: https://ccivs.org/ccivs-at-the-19th-international-ngo-forum-at-unesco/

🎥 Watch the session: https://www.youtube.com/live/NMm_T1znmas



Ngo-Unesco Liaison Committee Peace and Sport

ReAct Now – Empowering Youth for Climate & Human Rights Action

The ReAct Now project, led by organizations from 5 different countries, (Coordinating Committee for International Voluntary Service - CCIVS) aims to empower young people to become agents of change for a more just, sustainable world.
Through capacity building and international cooperation, the project connects climate justice with human rights.

💬 The first workshop, led by Javier Larios, took place during a pre-departure weekend at Vir’Volt, one of the French delegations of SJ.
It brought together young French participants preparing to volunteer abroad and international volunteers already on-site.

Using a “moving debate” format, they shared diverse perspectives on consumption habits and climate inequality around the world — encouraging deeper reflection and global awareness. 💭

🎙️ Meriem Ghazlane:
“I really enjoyed the workshop on human rights and climate change. Having the opportunity to share and exchange views with other volunteers is always enriching.”

🎙️ Daryna from Ukraine:
“It was very valuable to listen to different thoughts and opinions. Sometimes we forget that we’re on the same planet and that ecological issues are common to us all. We need to stay aware — it was powerful to think more globally.” 💚

This is just the beginning — stay tuned as we keep building youth-led action for global justice! 🌟

Happy International Day for Biological Diversity 💚

This United Nations day reminds us of the essential role biodiversity plays in sustaining life on Earth. The 2026 theme, "Acting locally for global impact", highlights how local actions and community engagement can contribute to global change.

At Alliance and Coordinating Committee for International Voluntary Service - CCIVS, we continue to raise awareness and promote climate justice through our joint campaign, "Volunteering Resilience for Climate Justice".

🌍 Protect biodiversity
🤝 Promote climate justice
🌱 Act locally for global impact


UN Volunteers

From South Africa, meet Keen Joseph Pedze, a mentor with SAVWA and one of the community builders making LIVE-Ex meaningful on the ground. 🌱

Through the project, Keen and his community started small gardens at Early Childhood Development centres, organised clean-up campaigns, and ran online mentoring sessions that brought young people together around climate awareness. What they discovered along the way is something every educator knows to be true: young people learn best when they are doing, not just listening.
In his own words:

"Planting gardens and working together in clean-up campaigns made participants feel more connected to their communities. The programme also showed us the importance of creating safe spaces where children can learn, share ideas, and take action."

This is . Read more at ccivs.org/live-ex 💚



Co-funded by the Erasmus+ Programme of the European Union

We're live from UNESCO Headquarters in Paris! 🔴

Our Director Vicky Lovelock and Victonell Wanjohi are now on the panel "Reimagining Education Systems as Engines of Peace," part of the 19th International NGO Forum, "Advancing a Culture of Peace in Africa: From Roots to Resilience."

Watch with us ➡️ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NMm_T1znmas



Ngo-Unesco Liaison Committee

UNESCO Africa Week 2026 - Conférence Session 8 (Live) Forum des ONG — « Les fondements de la paix : systèmes, jeunesse et...