The International Falcon Movement – Socialist Educational International (IFM-SEI) is an international non-profit organisation based in Belgium that campaigns for children's rights.[1] It is a fraternal organisation of
Socialist International[2] and works closely with
International Union of Socialist Youth (IUSY) and
Young European Socialists (formerly ECOSY). IFM-SEI is a full member of the
European Youth Forum (YFJ) which operates within the
Council of Europe and
European Union area and works closely with both these bodies.[3] In Latin-America it is a full member of the Foro Latin-America de Juventud (
FLAJ). It is also part of the
International Coordination Meeting of Youth Organisations[4] (ICMYO) which consists of worldwide active youth organisations and regional youth platforms coordinating their activities towards the
UN and its agencies.
It has member organisations all over the world and is strongest in Europe and South America. Many of its member organisations work with children and young people of all ages through activities, groups and camping.
IFM-SEI members are children and youth self-organisations, family organisations and other organisations who are working for the benefit of children and young peoples.[5] IFM-SEI organise campaigns, for example against child labour or child pornography, seminars, trainings, camps and other educational activities. Their activities are carried out by member organisation, and international seminars are held regularly in cooperation with other fraternal organisations. A recent activity was the Peace Camp with Israelis and Palestinians.[6] The LGBT event of IFM is called Queer Easter.[7]
The Presidium is made up of the Secretary-General, President, Vice President and one Presidium members from each region (Africa, Latin America, Middle East, Europe and Asia) to make a total of 8 members. Regional Representatives have one seat reserved for a woman and one seat reserved for a person under 30. The last elections were held in May 2023. [8]
Eduardo Flores (Latin America Presidium Member)
Manque Chile
Republics and Camps of the IFM-SEI
There were four children's republics held by the international before
World War II:
1933 First Republic: Oostduinkerke, Belgium
1935 Second Republic: Verneuil-l'Étang, France. 900 children from Austria, Belgium, Czechoslovakia, France, UK and Switzerland.
1937 Third Republic: Brighton, England. Theme:
Solidarity, 2,000 participants from Belgium, Czechoslovakia, France, Britain, Spain and Tunisia.
1939 Fourth Republic: Wandre, in Liège, Belgium. Theme:
Freedom and
Peace, 1,600 participants, from Belgium, France, UK, Switzerland, Tunisia and refugee children from Spain.
Since the end of World War II the IFM-SEI organises international camps as well as encouraging bi- and multi-lateral camps between members. The following is a list of official IFM-SEI camps held since 1945:[9]
2010 Döbriach, Austria and Jedovnice, Czech Republic. Theme: Train 4 Change. 1000 participants.
2016 Reinwarzhofen, Germany. Theme: Welcome to Another World.
2022 Northamptonshire, England. Theme: Common Ground – International Friendship and Solidarity. Originally planned for 2020 it was postponed due to the Covid epidemic.
2023 Nurmes, Finland. Theme:
Yhessä Together, International, doing things together.
Member organisations
Member and candidate organisations are listed here: