Dolen Cymru, the Wales Lesotho Link, was founded #OnThisDay over 11th-12th March 1985, with events at the Welsh Office and Temple of Peace attended by then High Commissioner O.T. Sefako.
This year has not only marked Dolen’s 40th Anniversary, but the 200th Anniversary (or Bicentennial) of the Basotho nation itself, founded by their first King, Moshoeshoe I in 1824. The 11th March every year is a national holiday known internationally as Moshoeshoe Day.
The world’s first ‘nation to nation’ twinning link emerged from several years of warm community relationships developed through charities such as UNICEF, following the 1979 ‘International Year of the Child’ campaign.
Earlier this week, Dolen Cymru Lesotho and the Welsh Rugby Union welcomed HRH Prince Seeiso of Lesotho to the Principality Stadium, as part of his visit to Cardiff on Thursday 6th of March. Prince Seeiso was taken on a tour of home of Welsh rugby and met with partners, supporters and volunteers of Dolen Cymru Lesotho including:
Lesotho Rugby Academy
St Cenydd Community School
Mencap Cymru
Cardiff Youth Services
British Council International Education Programme
Clwb Rugbi
Theo Cabango, Wing, Cardiff Rugby
Hub Cymru Africa
HRH Prince Seeiso of Lesotho with Colen Cymru Co-Directors Sharon Flint and Cath Moulogo at the Principality Stadium
At the Senedd Plenary on 5th March 2025, ahead of Dolen’s 40th Anniversary, Jane Dodds MS thanked Dolen Cymru Lesotho :
“I want to take this time to celebrate the wonderful work of Dolen Cymru, who are celebrating their fortieth anniversary this year. This organisation does incredible work in connecting communities in Lesotho and Wales. They’ve worked really hard to facilitate sustainable projects, partnerships and relationships that have a positive impact on communities in both Lesotho and in Wales. The Rt Hon Mohlabe Tsekoa wonderfully summarised the ties between the two countries when he said that:
‘The link is a source of hope to the people of Lesotho. It is one of the greatest developments that has come to us on a human level…It is an unprecedented example of how meaningful links can be…given our location and smallness, there is a need to hold another hand, however far away, to help make us feel we are truly part of the world, part of the international community’.
This is a wonderful example of the strong ties that Wales can develop with other countries around the world. These days, when international relations are so fragile, organisations like these are invaluable to us here in Wales. Thank you so much to Dolen Cymru. Diolch.”
“Rwyf am gymryd yr amser hwn i ddathlu gwaith gwych Dolen Cymru, sy’n dathlu eu pen-blwydd yn ddeugain eleni. Mae’r sefydliad hwn yn gwneud gwaith anhygoel yn cysylltu cymunedau yn Lesotho a Chymru. Maent wedi gweithio’n galed iawn i hwyluso prosiectau, partneriaethau a pherthnasoedd cynaliadwy sy’n cael effaith gadarnhaol ar gymunedau yn Lesotho ac yng Nghymru. Gwnaeth y Gwir Anrhydeddus Mohlabe Tsekoa grynhoi y cysylltiadau rhwng y ddwy wlad yn rhyfeddol pan ddywedodd:
Mae’r cysylltiad yn ffynhonnell gobaith i bobl Lesotho. Mae’n un o’r datblygiadau mwyaf sydd wedi dod i’n rhan ar lefel ddynol…mae’n enghraifft ddigynsail o ba mor ystyrlon y gall cysylltiadau fod…o ystyried ein lleoliad a’n bychander, mae angen dal llaw arall, waeth pa mor bell i ffwrdd, i helpu i wneud i ni deimlo ein bod yn wirioneddol yn rhan o’r byd, yn rhan o’r gymuned ryngwladol’.
Dyma enghraifft wych o’r cysylltiadau cryf y gall Cymru eu datblygu â gwledydd eraill ledled y byd.Y dyddiau hyn, pan fo cysylltiadau rhyngwladol mor fregus, mae sefydliadau fel y rhain yn amhrisiadwy i ni yma yng Nghymru. Diolch yn fawr iawn i Dolen Cymru. Diolch.”
International Women’s Day #IWD 2025: Accelerating Action, Inspired by our Past.
By Ffion Fielding
Project Manager, ‘Hawlio Heddwch’: Women’s Peace Petition community project
100 years ago, 390,296 Welsh women signed a petition for peace, and sent it to the women of America. In 2024, we remembered their story, celebrated the centenary, and discussed ways in which we could realise their wishes.
We estimate that around 100,000 people across Wales visited an exhibition, took part in a workshop, or shared the stories of their foremothers as part of the celebrations, in all four corners of Wales.
Looking back on how the project celebrated International Women’s Day in 2024, I remembered that I joined a group of truly inspirational women, who all in one way or another work for peace in our communities in Wales as well as across the world, for what we ended up describing as a ‘peace flash mob’. For me this was one of the pivotal moments of our project. All were inspired by the story of the petition, and wanted to meet up and do . . .something . . .not sure what . . .but SOMETHING to make the world a better place, inspired by the actions of those women all those years ago.
#IWD 2024 Women gathered on the steps of Amgueddfa Cymru National Museum of Wales, to discuss ‘making history’ inspired through by the Women’s Petition exactly 100 years ago.
So, what about International Women’s Day 2025? What can we do this year?
While I was thinking about ‘what happens next’, I thought I’d dig into the rich collection of documents and reports from the period held in the Temple of Peace, to look for other campaigns that celebrate their centenary in 2025.
The women’s peace petition was only one of several campaigns organised in the 1920s through the League of Nations Union in Wales, and grassroots membership and action continued to grow throughout the decade, to just over 50,000 by 1929.
It’s through these reports that we found out about the 1925 Churches Appeal to the Churches of America. Directly inspired by the success of the women’s peace petition, Professor Charles Webster from Aberystwyth University proposed an appeal that he hoped would bring the churches of Wales and America closer together in their common efforts for peace. All in all, 22 official representatives of Christian denominations in Wales signed the appeal, and this was presented the Federal Council of Churches in America in December 1925, by the Reverend Gwilym Davies.
Also printed in the 1925 report, was the following letter from Carrie Chapman Catt, President of the National American Woman Suffrage Association, who had been heavily involved in the event to celebrate the presentation of the Welsh petition in New York in February 1924.
1925 Response from American Women to Wales by Carrie Chapman Catt, NA Women’s Suffrage Assoc – WLoNU Report
The report that she mentions, from the Conference on the Cause and Cure of War, was on the shelf next to the annual report in the Temple’s Library. This would seem to be a transcription of every word said at the conference, and may take some time to get through in full! Luckily however there is a summary of the report available online, and reading this, the parallels with the questions that we were grappling with a year ago at our ‘peace flash mob’ meeting are astounding. At this conference, representing millions of American women, the focus was not just on understanding how to stop war, but also the conditions within society that got rid of its inevitability.
Delegates from the 1925 ‘Conference on the Causes and Cure of War’ met with US President Calvin Coolidge in Washington.
In 2024, a piece of research commissioned by Academi Heddwch Cymru came to some remarkably similar conclusions. In the ‘Wales a Nation of Peace’ report, there is a description of the set of circumstances needed in order to maintain peaceful society. It seems that there is nothing new under the sun, and yet like our foremothers, we are living in an age when these questions become more pressing by the day.
So, in terms of that question of ‘what happens next?’ . . .this is how some of this work in 2024 has inspired us to take the next steps in celebrating the work of the League of Nations Union in a decade of centenaries, as well as getting to grips with the question of ‘realising’ the hopes of the signatories of the women’s peace petition:
The Welsh Women’s Peace Petition:
Following the phenomenal work of transcribing all the names, completed in just over a year by over 400 volunteers, this year the plan is that little by little, these will be added to a searchable database. You can keep an eye on progress on the website of the National Library of Wales.
We continue to collect stories about those women who signed the petition. We are growing our collection of stories on our page on People’s Collection Wales, and are always on the lookout for more. If you have time, and would like to contribute, guidance is available on the WCIA website.
After successful visits to Aberystwyth, Cardiff and Haverfordwest, the exhibition of the chest, petition and related collections will make its way to Storiel museum, Bangor. Opening on the 12th of April and running until mid-June, there will also be an exciting programme of creative and learning activities – keep an eye on the museum’s website to find out more.
Churches Appeal
With support from Cytûn, Churches together in Wales, we will be further exploring the interfaith nature of this document, as well as researching more into its history. As part of this we will be producing a touring exhibition, and preparing a ‘toolkit’ for conversations about peace, based on the framework of the Wales as a Nation of Peace report. If you would like to find out more about this, please do get in touch.
Accelerating action: ‘realising’ the women’s wishes
On the 5th of June, Aberystwyth University will host a one-day conference, in partnership with Academi Heddwch, looking at the legacy of the centenary of the women’s peace petition. We hope to bring together an audience of those who have been inspired by the petition to find new ways of honouring the wishes of the signatories, building on the momentum that has been created in communities across Wales by this incredible story. In essence, growing the ‘flash mob’ and doing the ‘something’ that we knew was so important back in 2024! More details to follow, and please get in touch if you would like to find out more.
So, it seems that the project hasn’t really come to an end at all, but is rather moving into a new phase. In the current climate, it seems as though the women’s message is more important and yet harder to grasp than ever. But as the Urdd’s message of Peace and Goodwill stated in 2024, ‘Hope is an Action’, and we keep moving forwards, inspired by the actions of 390,296 women, 101 years ago!
The Hidden History behind ‘Daffodil Days for Peace’
Following St David’s Day 1 March 2025, WCIA are delighted to have worked with ITV Wales producer Megan Booth on her short feature exploring the history of the Daffodil.
A little known but fascinating ‘fun fact’ for St David’s Day, is the story of the Daffodil as not only a national symbol for Wales, but one that for nearly 2 decades was also one of the most widespread peace symbols in the aftermath of World War One.
“the national flower of Wales had become the international flower of peace. The purchase and wearing of a daffodil in this way expresses both pride in the nation’s past, and hope for its future.”
Western Mail, 3rd August 1925
It was a symbolism that extended far beyond St David’s Day itself: to the generation who had survived the horrors and losses of the Great War, the annual blooming from dormant bulbs of bright yellow flowers across the valleys and hillsides of Wales each Spring, represented the hope of world peace and understanding for future generations. WLNU activists recognised these could only blossom if those bulbs, ‘seeds of hope’, were planted and nurtured – through widespread community involvement and outreach work.
Adopted by the Welsh League of Nations Union, WCIA’s predecessor body set up in the aftermath of World War One to galvanise public support for peace building, over 1,000 communities across Wales became active in the WLNU’s global activism, with 600 organising annual fundraising ‘Daffodil Days’ that resourced the campaigning activities of the Union.
The WLNU office in 6 Cathedral Road and later 8 Museum Place, Cardiff, would receive bulk orders for daffodil bulbs and cardboard lapel badges that would be despatched by train throughout the Welsh networks of the Great Western Railway and London Midland & Scottish Railways.
Communities Wales-wide who organised ‘Daffodil Days for Peace’ in 1927, from the Annual Report of the Welsh League of Nations Union
As Research Placement Rob Laker explained in his 2019 feature (below): “Transported by train across Wales, thousands of boxes of flowers – of both the cardboard and real variety – would arrive in each village in time to be distributed among the local volunteers involved with the Daffodil Day. Equipped with a wicker basket, a wooden tray, or sometimes even a cardboard box donated by a local confectionary shop, helpers would set out from nearby coordination centres, ready to spend their Saturday selling neatly packed daffodils.
School children in particular – despite being officially ‘barred’ from participating! – were a key component of Daffodil Days. Most organisers relished the chance to bolster their numbers with such a surplus of enthusiastic volunteers. Their cause was made clear by the labels across the front of each of their box – ‘for world peace’ – and their dedication plain for all to see by their presence on even the rainiest of weekends during the Welsh summer.
The choice of using a Welsh national symbol to promote an internationalist body was no accident. It conveyed a very deliberate and potent message: a declaration of Wales’ identity as a modern nation, committed, at its very core, to the pursuit of peace and international cooperation. It was a statement of Welsh public pride in their role at the forefront of internationalism.“
Gwirfoddolwyr Diwrnod y Daffodil Caerdydd – ‘Young Workers for Peace’, Western Mail, 22 Mai 1933.
Within the Temple of Peace, one of the quotes on the walls to the Crypt of Remembrance recalls the words of German sculptor Kathe Kollwitz, which sum up powerfully the ‘raison d’etre’ of the Welsh League of Nations Union throughout the interwar era, and of the generations of Welsh peace activism over the 100 years since:
“Every war already carries within it the war which will answer it. Every war is answered by a new war, until everything, everything is smashed. Pacifism simply is not a matter of calm looking on; it is work, hard work.”
By Dylan Bilyard, Cardiff University School of Journalism
WELSH-ARMENIANS have unveiled a plaque for the Welsh people who have fought to recognise the Armenian genocide of 1915.
Wales’ Armenian Community gathered around the new Peace Garden plaque, Feb 2025
“They believed that the events of 1915 did constitute a genocide and the truth was something worth fighting for,” said Armenian businessman John Torosyan, who lives in Llandaff, Cardiff.
The Armenian genocide was an ethnic cleaning that took place between 1915 and 1922 at the hands of the Ottoman Empire – which became modern-day Turkey.
An estimated one and a half million Armenians – or 60% of all Armenians at the time – were murdered. Turkey still denies the genocide, and many nations, including the UK, have also refused to recognise the event as genocide.
Due to the efforts of the individuals named on the plaque – which is in Wales’ National Garden of Peace – Wales is the only country in the UK where both the church and state have recognised the effort to destroy the Armenian people and culture as a genocide.
The plaque was unveiled as a part of the 110th anniversary of the atrocities and recognises the contributions of five Welsh people.
Among them is the Reverend Dr Canon Patrick Thomas, whose efforts led to the Church in Wales officially recognising the genocide, and the late Lord Dafydd Elis-Thomas – who died on February 7 this year – who was Speaker of the Assembly and campaigned for the state recognition of the genocide.
“The truth has got to be put right or you’re living in a make-believe world,” said Mr Torosyan. “History is who we are, why we are the way we are, and why we are here today. Those who do not remember the past are condemned to repeat it.”
Jessica Morden MP for Newport East, who attended the unveiling, said: “It is absolutely right that we remember what happened and call it what it was. There is a strong affinity between Wales and Armenia. Both are small countries in mountainous regions with big neighbours. I have visited Armenia and loved it.”
The plaque is next to Cardiff’s memorial to the genocide, which was erected controversially in 2007 as the first to do so in the UK, and desecrated just a year later.
The memorial is made of both Welsh slate and sandstone made to resemble Armenian khachkar – a type of rock. It was designed similarly to the Celtic cross, and symbolises “Y Gwir yn erbyn y Byd” – truth against the world. The plaque is written in Welsh, English and Armenian.
“In Turkey, we dare not speak our language, just like the Welsh didn’t,” Mr Torosyan added. Mr Torosyan and his wife Ani have not returned to their home country of Turkey since 1966, when they were harassed by armed soldiers. They have been in Wales since, fostering a community of 60 people and 12 children.
“We consider our community fully integrated but holding a semblance of identity.”
John Torosyan
They run a community centre and Armenian language school for the children. They have also fought to have the genocide recognised by the UK government, but “don’t think it ever will”.
Despite the efforts of many individuals within Welsh government, including ex-First Minister Carwyn Jones who paid homage to the Armenians on Holocaust Remembrance Day, and Lord Elis-Thomas whose National Assembly granted the land for the memorial and allowed the word genocide to be used, it is unable to fully recognise the genocide because “foreign policy is a matter for the UK government”.
The UK government has said that it is unable to classify the tragedy as a genocide because it predates the UN Convention on Genocide. However, it classes the holocaust, which also predates the convention, as a genocide. Many other countries, including the US and Germany, do recognise the Armenian genocide. The term genocide was even created to refer to the ethnic cleansing of Armenians.
Mr Torosyan said these efforts are especially important now, with relations between Armenia and Azerbaijan worsening. Azerbaijan has this month submitted a lawsuit against Armenia for their use of land once belonging to Azerbaijan, where violence against Armenians continues today.
Though praising the Welsh government’s “incremental steps,” he calls on it to condemn the ongoing violence and urge the UK government to do more in support of Armenians.
Lord Mayor Helen Lloyd Jones and ambassador His Excellency Varuzhan Nersesyan also attended.
The event ended with a lecture by maestro Sipan Olah on how the genocide changed Armenian music and a performance of Armenian music by the Klingen Choir.
10 year anniversary of Well-being of Future Generations (Wales) Act 2015 – report by Ethan Norman
2025 marks the 10th year since the introduction of the Wellbeing for Future Generations (Wales) Act. This revolutionary piece of legislation requires public bodies across Wales to implement sustainability within their actions and consider the impact of their decisions on both the current, and future, generations of Wales.
To mark the 10th year anniversary, and to coincide with the release of the Future Generations Report 2025, Ethan Norman, a Law & Politics student at Cardiff University on placement with us, created a policy report on the Act for WCIA to:
Help explain what it is;
Explain the work of the Act;
Demonstrate where it can be improved; and
Show where it has already succeeded.
The policy report also includes recommendations that are used as a way to demonstrate how the Act can be improved.
Overall, Ethan found the Act to be successful in promoting sustainability in public bodies, although there are areas that must be improved to ensure its continued success. The most pressing issue of the Act is its lack of accountability and enforceability on Welsh public bodies. To improve, there must be changes to the policy instruments of the Act to be more effective.
This morning in Cardiff, religious and political leaders came together to observe Holocaust Memorial Day. This commemoration of Wales honours the millions who perished in the Holocaust and subsequent genocides worldwide.
The Lord Mayor, The Rt Hon Cllr Helen Lloyd Jones
The theme for Holocaust Memorial Day this year is ‘For a Better Future’ and coincides with the 80th anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz-Birkenau, and the 30th anniversary of the genocide in Bosnia.
During the Wales National Holocaust Memorial Day Ceremony held at the Temple of Peace in Cardiff this morning, Cllr Huw Thomas, the Leader of Cardiff Council, Cardiff’s Lord Mayor Cllr Helen Lloyd Jones, and Wales First Minister Eluned Morgan joined the Rev Canon Stewart Lisk, the Honorary Chaplain to Cardiff Council, to honour the victims and survivors of all genocides.
Leader of Cardiff Council, Cllr Huw Thomas
In reflecting on the commemoration, Huw Thomas Cardiff Council Leader, said: “Today we gathered at the Temple of Peace in unity and in solidarity, reaffirming our commitment to resist discrimination and hate in all forms. In marking the 80th anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz-Birkenau and the 30th anniversary of the genocide in Bosnia, we ensure that the voices of the survivors continue to be heard and the lessons to be learned from their experiences are never lost nor forgotten.”
In a statement of commitment, The Lord Mayor, The Rt Hon Cllr Helen Lloyd Jones, said: “We believe the Holocaust must have a permanent place in our nation’s collective memory. We must make sure that future generations understand the causes of the Holocaust and reflect upon its consequences. We vow to remember the victims of Nazi persecution and of all genocide.”
Eluned Morgan, Wales First Minister
First Minister Eluned Morgan said: “On Holocaust Memorial Day, it’s important we show our unwavering commitment to those who died that we must ensure these horrific acts never happen again.
“It was an honour to read from the diary of Anne Frank, whose legacy continues to spread a message of tolerance to people of all ages, in Wales and around the world.”
Eva Clarke, Holocaust Survivor Eva Clarke, born in Mauthausen concentration camp
Others attending the service of commemoration were Holocaust Survivor Eva Clarke, born in Mauthausen concentration camp and whose 15 relatives died in Auschwitz-Birkenau, Safet Vukalić, a Bosnian Muslim from Prijedor who survived genocide and ethnic cleansing, Abi Carter, Co-Chair of Remembering Srebrenica Charity, Isaac Blake, a member of the Romani Cultural and Arts Company, along with representatives of the South Wales Jewish Representative Council, Pride Cymru, the Welsh Refugee Council and Disability Sport Wales.
Holocaust Memorial Day is commemorated every year on January 27, the day Auschwitz Concentration Camp was liberated in 1945. As part of marking the occasion, Cardiff Castle, Castell Coch, the Senedd, and the Welsh Government building in Cathays Park will light up in purple tonight.
Members of the public are invited to light a candle and place it safely in their window at 8pm this evening to take part in Light the Darkness, a national moment for Holocaust Memorial Day.
A recording of Wales National Holocaust Memorial Day Ceremony 2025 will be made available on Cardiff Council’s YouTube channel over the coming weeks.
Standing in Solidarity against social media attacks on Welsh Refugee Council & school children
In response to social media attacks directed at Welsh Refugee Council, WCIA extend our solidarity to the WRC.We fully sign up to and support the statement from WCVA, reproduced below.
We are deeply concerned and disheartened to witness the recent attacks directed at the Welsh Refugee Council (WRC) on social media. As a valued member of our sector in Wales, WRC plays a crucial role in supporting some of the most vulnerable individuals in our society, providing vital services and advocacy for refugees and asylum seekers across Wales. The negative narrative being spread online is not only unfair but also entirely unfounded.
Misinformation campaigns like this undermine the tireless efforts of organisations like WRC, which work every day to build compassion, understanding, and support within our communities. We know firsthand the extraordinary impact of their work in helping individuals rebuild their lives, fostering inclusion, and contributing to a stronger and more equitable Wales.
We stand firmly with the Welsh Refugee Council and unequivocally support their mission and the dedicated team of staff and volunteers behind it. We urge everyone to seek truth, challenge misinformation, and celebrate the positive contributions of organisations like WRC that embody the values of kindness and humanity of Wales.
WELSH REFUGEE COUNCIL’S STATEMENT
‘We are concerned by the circulation of misinformation by individuals in positions of influence. We urge everyone to seek the facts before sharing or endorsing inaccurate content, including altered images and misleading claims. Spreading such material can escalate threats and unwarranted attention toward our organisation and staff.
‘In 2023, a video from a school, welcoming refugees was released. It was never intended as an advert to encourage migration and was uploaded by the school to social media to show the positivity of pupils.
‘The Welsh Refugee Council would like to clarify that we did not create or commission the school video currently being circulated. While we were not involved in its production, we shared it as a positive example of young people championing messages of compassion and inclusion. In 2023, the video was subsequently taken down, following a hostile backlash, to protect the school.
‘We take any false or defamatory statements seriously and are working closely with the Police and relevant authorities to address this matter.
‘The Welsh Refugee Council remains unwavering in our mission to support sanctuary seekers and refugees, fostering understanding and promoting inclusion. We are deeply grateful to the individuals and communities who continue to support our work and stand with us in building a more inclusive society.’
If you have been affected by this incident, please get in touch with WCVA via news@wcva.cymru.
Keeping younger people safe online? Australia Introduces World-First Ban on Social Media for Under-16s
In today’s digital age, more people than ever are joining social media, becoming exposed to a plethora of news and information, and connecting with people and ideas all over the world. However, this isn’t limited to adults, as those ‘joining’ the internet are seemingly getting younger and younger. But is this necessarily a bad thing? Some social media platforms are becoming even less regulated. Because digital literacy is largely missing from global curriculums, the opportunities for seeing harmful and inappropriate content have skyrocketed and consequences of this exposure are becoming more severe. This is what the Australian government wants to prevent: young people being exposed to content that is unsuitable for their age.
On the 29th November, both houses of Australia’s parliament, the House of Representatives and the Senate, passed the Online Safety Amendment Bill, amending the social media minimum age, banning under-16s from social media. Importantly, they have agreed that if the tech companies do not comply, they could face fines of up to AU$50m (c. £25.7m). The legislation won’t come into force for another year, but that hasn’t stopped it from causing a lot of debate around the world.
One of the biggest advocates for the bill is the ‘36 months’ initiative. They have been pushing for the minimum age for social media usage to be increased to 16 and have received over 125,000 signatures on their petition. The initiative emphasises the psychological consequences of social media including addiction and the process of “rewiring young brains within a critical window of psychological development, causing an epidemic of mental illness”. They also acknowledge the economic drive behind social media and why this might be stunting any action taken by tech giants and governments. For example in 2022 in the United States, social media platforms earned almost $11 billion in advertising revenue from under 18-year-olds, making young people an invaluable resource to them.
Furthermore, the rise of ‘fake news’ and the influence it could have on young people’s ideas is also causing concern around the world and is an issue that the ban could help tackle. This goes hand in hand with the power of social media algorithms, the technology that watches our behaviour, analysing who and what we interact with online. Algorithms are more likely to favour controversial posts because more people interact with them, and a big proportion of these posts relate to political discourse. This can be problematic when social media platforms do not remove the content that is proven to be ‘fake’. Consequently, this creates a negative online environment driven by provocative content, encouraging uncertainty, speculation, and hostility which has the potential to reach billions of people.
On the other hand, banning social media for under-16s has the potential to isolate those who rely on the internet for social interactions or those who connect with family and friends around the world. Similarly, it could limit young people’s ability to access help or services in times of crisis, potentially exacerbating the consequences of the issues they are already faced with.
The Australian Human Rights Commission has also indicated that the ban could infringe human rights, notably the ‘freedom of expression and access to information’, ‘the right to education and development’, and ‘the right to culture, leisure, and play’. They also acknowledge that “a blanket ban will not be effective”, explaining that the use of VPNs or inputting an incorrect age, will allow individuals to bypass the law. If it is required to upload identification to prove a user’s age, the question of privacy comes into play.
To gain a more personal insight into the new legislation, I asked four young Australians and their parents what they think about the ban and how it might impact them and others on a daily basis:
Sophie, age 13:
“I think it’s a rushed and unplanned idea [seeing] as it was decided so suddenly and as far as I know, there was no input from the people who will be affected. I use social media every day to communicate with friends and as a source of entertainment. I’m pretty annoyed at the ban because it [will] cut me off from most of my friends. I think it is unreasonable and a total ban is extreme, but something probably should be done to up the age restrictions.”
Sam, age 16:
“Although social media has its downsides, it also has massive positive elements that help me in day-to-day life. I love social media; it allows me to talk to my friends and see what people across the world are doing. If social media had been banned before I turned 16, I would have been sad and disappointed that others had ruined something that I enjoy using so much. I don’t often post on social media, but I enjoy having an insight into people’s lives and many of my opinions are based on what I see on social media.”
Luke, age 19:
“[The ban] is definitely something I would have liked, especially if it was implemented before I started using [social media]. However, if it were implemented whilst I was using it, I would likely be against it because I would feel like I was missing out. I would also probably not understand what would actually be getting banned, as even right now, I don’t understand and neither do the politicians. Social media plays a big role socially and professionally and I would probably try to find a way around [the ban] as it seems like it will be poorly implemented.”
Ellie, age 20:
“With the power of hindsight, I think the social media ban is going to be really beneficial if it is enforced correctly. Growing up and having the pressures and expectations that [social media] imposes definitely changes how you look and act, especially in Australian high schools. It is the norm to have a social media platform, but it can be very damaging and cause so many issues, especially when going through your most foundational years.”
Jayne, parent:
“I think [the ban] will have an overall positive impact and at the very least it will help to raise awareness of the negative aspects of social media such as bullying, addictiveness, and ‘buy now’ culture. However, I can’t see how the ban will be enforced especially when kids find a way around it. The general consensus [amongst parents] is that social media platforms need to take more responsibility for the content shared on social media by, for example, making it easier to report inappropriate content. Instead of an outright ban, it might be better to put regulations in place to educate users on the ‘healthy’ use of social media and educate parents on ensuring kids’ devices are monitored.”
David, parent:
“I think it will be a positive change for kids that have not yet been exposed to social media. For those already reliant, it will take a few years to reap any benefit. I also believe that a large proportion of adults have no idea how much social media is in their kids’ lives.”
It is clear that the social media ban is an incredibly contentious issue, with those being most affected or close to being affected feeling the greatest sense of injustice. However, until the government disclose how they will implement the ban and which platforms will be regulated, it is going to continue to cause a lot of discussion.
In a speech to parliament, Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese declared that leaders around the world are “looking at what we are doing and applauding”. And although a similar action is yet to be taken in Wales or the United Kingdom more widely, the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation, and Technology, Peter Kyle, says a possible ban is still “on the table”. In the meantime, a Private Members’ Bill, the Protection of Children (Digital Safety and Data Protection) Bill, has been presented to Parliament. This wants to protect children’s access to digital services and content, but it is not yet clear what form it may take.
Faith in Action: Welsh Churches Campaign for Peace, 1925-2025
The season of peace and goodwill, Christmas is traditionally a time when minds turn to praying for an end to conflicts world wide, and seeking ways to offer practical support to those suffering in the wake of war; 106 years after the world collectively uttered ‘never again’ with the WW1 armistice of 1918, in 2024 Christmas still witnesses tragedy in Palestine and Israel, Ukraine, and many other lower profile conflicts not of the making of those caught up in them. As we are all called towards ‘New Year’s Resolutions’, the need to put faith into action is never stronger.
In a world now dominated by 24-hour news, we can draw inspiration from stories of peace makers past – and as we enter the New Year of 2025, WCIA alongside partners Wales-wide will be marking the centenary of a campaign that sought to quite literally put faith into action, by bringing together in 1925 the Churches of Wales in what is thought to have been the first ecumenical (interfaith) campaign of the 20th century – the Welsh Churches Peace Appeal to America.
What was the 1925 Churches Peace Appeal?
Inspired by the Welsh Women’s Peace Petition of the previous year, 1923-24, the 1925 Churches campaign was the brainchild of Welsh League of Nations Union Director, the Rev Gwilym Davies, along with Prof Charles Webster of Aberystwyth University. Seeking to persuade the then-isolationist USA to join the League of Nations (predecessor to today’s UN), they identified an opportunity to influence the churches of America , through an appeal to their Federal Council meeting in Detroit over December 1925. With just 2-3 months to organise, a community campaign on the scale of the 1923-24 women’s peace appeal was not feasible – so they approached church leaders of each denomination then widespread in Wales, to sign a shared interfaith decalaration.
What’s the Plan for 2025?
Over recent months, WCIA have been working with Cytun (Churches Together in Wales), Academi Heddwch and others to develop plans to celebrate and explore the centenary of the Churches Peace Appeal – and importantly, to explore issues of peace today among communities Wales-wide. Looking forward this will include:
A touring ‘popup exhibition‘ will be developed over Spring 2025 and made available from April onwards for displays and events through local churches and community groups.
Learning resources for schools will be developed, to be available for the 2025-26 school year.
26 September – 2 October 2025, St David’s Cathedral will stage a public exhibition commemorating the 1925 Churches Peace Appeal, the centenary of an Orthodox Patriarchs pilgrimage to St David’s (pictured below), and the 1700th Anniversary of the Nicene Creed (the defining statement fo Christianity agreed in 325AD).
During October, Libraries Week across Wales will provide an opportunity for faith libraries to hold events marking the Churches Peace Petition.
10 December 2025, the centenary of the Churches Peace Petition’s presentation in Detroit, USA will be marked by an event TBC.
Image from the September 1925 Orthodox Patriarch’s pilgrimage to St David’s, which will be commemorated as part of the Peace Appeal Centenary exhibition at St David’s Cathedral over 26 September – 2 October 2025. Image – St David’s Cathedral Library Archive
Women’s Peace Stories, then and now: Voices of Eifionydd
As part of the Women’s Peace Petition centenary celebrations, this booklet – Lleisiau’r Llofnodion (‘the voice of the signatures’) – brings together 11 hidden histories brought to life by direct descendants of women who signed the original petition, facilitated and collected by Llinos Griffin.
Celebrating Pride in Lesotho’s 200th Year: Wales and World-wide Allies join in Solidarity
The Lesotho Pride March 2024 advances through the centre of Maseru, with rainbow flags and umbrellas to the fore. Cath Mouogo / Dolen Cymru
On Saturday 9th November, one of the highest Prides in the world brought a carnival of colour and cheer to the centre of Maseru, capital of Southern Africa’s ‘mountain kingdom of Lesotho’. Popularly called the ‘kingdom in the sky’ due to its high altitude, Basotho Pride organisers brought queens and allies alike together in a call for higher attitudes towards inclusivity, visibility and progress – especially significant this year as Lesotho celebrates its Bicentennial, the 200th Anniversary of the nation’s founding.
Organised by People’s Matrix, Lesotho’s leading LGBTQI+ network – who bring together members and community groups from across the country’s ten districts – Lesotho Pride 2024 staged a 24-hour programme of fun, solidarity and celebration, kicked off with a “Peace March” set off early morning from the Maseru Club, adjacent to the United Nations HQ for Lesotho, and marching through the capital’s central Kingsway. Participants united under the banner of “embracing all our unique identities, continuing the fight for equality and love for all.” Marking Lesotho200, the march included many young people showcasing traditional Basotho costumes, remarked on by one marcher as a big moment emotionally: “it’s so important seeing LGBTIQ identity integrated into Lesotho’s traditions, it really humanises and brings Pride into our national story.”
Basotho marchers were joined by allies from Wales, building on longstanding friendships kindled between the twinned countries through Dolen Cymru Lesotho, the Wales Lesotho Link. In a show of solidarity staff, trustees and volunteers marched in shirts worn at Cardiff’s ‘Pride Cymru’ in June earlier this year. The world’s only formal ‘nation to nation’ twinning also celebrates its 40th Anniversary this year; exchanges over the decades have included many human rights initiatives, including LGBTQI+ campaigners. It is hoped to grow more new partnerships between LGBTQI+ organisations and communities as part of the shared 40th and 200th anniversaries (for the twinning link, and the Lesotho nation).
Joanna Jonas, Dolen ChairWelsh flags join the march in MaseruCath Moulogo, Dolen Cymru
Traditionally a peace-loving culture, Basotho LGBTQI+ people and communities nevertheless face a range of challenges. Giselle Ratalane from People’s Matrix gave a flavour of campaigns and everyday concerns for ordinary citizens ‘behind the banners’ of this year’s Pride march in Maseru:
Giselle Ratalane, People’s Matrix Coordinator
“Averting poverty, having job security is a major driver. You can be qualified but not be hired, as there’s presently no legislation protecting LGBTQ people from that kind of discrimination. If you are hired, the labour code updated this year does now have protections covering sexual orientation and gender identity – a recent achievement – but of course that helps mainly if you’re already in work.
Disenfranchisement in schools, where some teachers can make things unbearable for queer students to participate in learning, can lead to dropping out. And there are some jobs that we gravitate towards as a community, often not by choice but survival – such as sex work – that are sometimes dehumanised by society. A member of the transgender community was recently murdered whilst doing sex work, over a disagreement; taking someone’s life, shows there is a way to go in challenging hate crime and discrimination. There is also a need to recognise gender identities, as many hate crimes go unrecorded.”
HIV AIDS and health care are also widespread challenges for which People’s Matrix and their partners offer support, organising regular community clinics and enabling individuals to navigate access to health care. Giselle flagged up the importance of building alliances across the Basotho LGBTQ community and working together – as exemplified by this year’s Maseru Pride, for which 3 organisations pooled their energies and resources to make it a success.
Asked how international allies can help support and show solidarity with Lesotho’s LGBTQ+ movement, Giselle remarked: “come along to next year’s Pride 2025! But on a day-to-day basis, donating money towards the voluntary work going on in Lesotho, will enable us to reach and involve more communities. We’re very grateful for any contributions, via our website www.thematrix.org.LS“
Cath Moulogo, attending with Dolen said, “Lesotho is a small nation with a big heart – much like Wales! – which is why we’re so proud to join in solidarity to celebrate such a fantastic Lesotho Pride. It’s been privilege to join them for their 200th birthday and to lend our voice to calls for further progress on Lesotho LGBTQI+ rights into the future.”
Joanna Jonas, Chair of Dolen Cymru Lesotho Link – who lives in Maseru herself, and participated in the Pride march – said “Lesotho Pride 2024 stood as a beacon of courage and resilience, reminding us that the journey toward human rights for all is global and solidarity knows no borders, hence I am proud and moved to have joined the march and celebrated, in solidarity, LGBTQIA+ rights in Lesotho alongside my colleague from Wales. Together we are building a world where love and identity are celebrated and not condemned.”
For anyone who would like to be involved with Dolen Cymru Lesotho in the UK, please contact swyddfa@dolencymru.org
Written by Craig Owen, Taith Exchange Volunteer with Dolen Cymru, Nov 2024
Safeguarding nature during times of conflict
6 November marks the 23rd annual International Day for Preventing the Exploitation of the Environment in War and Armed Conflict. Declared by the United Nations General Assembly in 2001, this day was created to remember the environmental consequences of war, whether that be on wildlife, plants, or even water and food sources.
The natural environment is fundamental to sustaining human life, yet it is still such a frequent victim of war. Although international humanitarian law forbids intentional attacks against the natural environment (unless it has become a military objective), the International Committee of the Red Cross states that 80% of conflicts take place in biodiversity hotspots. Therefore, a multitude of consequences for the environment can occur, including deforestation and a loss of biodiversity.
This year, an important example to highlight is Gaza. In June, the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) Executive Director reported that:
“Not only are the people of Gaza dealing with untold suffering from the ongoing war, the significant and growing environmental damage in Gaza risks locking its people into a painful, long recovery. While many questions remain regarding the exact type and quantity of contaminants affecting the environment in Gaza, people are already living with the consequences of conflict-related damage to environmental management systems and pollution today. Water and sanitation have collapsed. Critical infrastructure continues to be decimated. Coastal areas, soil and ecosystems have been severely impacted. All of this is deeply harming people’s health, food security and Gaza’s resilience.”
The UNEP’s report goes on to describe the environmental costs of the conflict which include but are not limited to: all five wastewater treatment plants being destroyed, contaminating beaches, coastal waters, soil, and freshwater; the destruction of solar panels leaking lead into soil and water; the generation of 39 million tonnes of debris since the start of the conflict and the burning of fuels, lowering air quality across the region. The authors of the report have made it clear that the recovery and future protection of the environment is crucial in the rebuilding of Gaza and the whole State of Palestine. Furthermore, their strategies for remediation will be discussed with Palestinian civil society and researchers amongst many others.
International humanitarian law also forbids the intentional use of the natural environment as a weapon in conflicts. A notable example of this was in 1991 when Saddam Hussein’s forces set fire to over 700 oil wells in Kuwait and 11 million barrels of oil were poured into the Persian Gulf. The smoke caused by the burning could be seen up to 800km away and the pooling of oil caused unprecedented damage to the soil quality and causing the deaths of birds and other wildlife. This disaster has been argued to have been “one of the world’s worst environmental catastrophes” with it still having a multitude of effects on Kuwait even over 30 years later despite the efforts of local communities.
International Day for Preventing the Exploitation of the Environment in War and Armed Conflict serves as an important reminder of how critical the natural environment is for humans and wildlife alike on a day-to-day basis. In Wales, we are privileged to be able to live in a society free from violent conflict and warfare, however, there are always opportunities to create good changes for the environment. The UNEP links the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) 12: Responsible Consumption and Production and 13: Climate Action to the International Day for Preventing the Exploitation of the Environment in War and Armed Conflict. Small but consistent changes to our lifestyles and mentalities can have an immense impact on our natural environment and overall society. Climate Cymru also have the environment at the heart of their mission and provide lots of resources to help us develop our environmental consciousness in Wales and the United Kingdom more widely.
If you would like the opportunity to hear first-hand from those involved in protecting climate and biodiversity in the midst of conflict, Climate Cymru are hosting the event ‘The Place of Climate Justice in Adapting to Our Changing Climate’ on 13 November 2024 during Wales Climate Week. To learn more about this event and register click here. Or The Welsh Centre for International Affairs (WCIA) & Academi Heddwch Cymru are proud to host a conversation with Professor Mazin Qumsiyeh, Palestinian scientist, author and Director of the Palestine Institute for Biodiversity and Sustainability on Friday 15 November. To learn more about this event and register click here.
Further resources & Links:
Wales for Peace in Israel and Palestine: Call for Ceasefire
