Draft:Young Scots for Independence



= Young Scots for Independence = The Young Scots for Independence (YSI), formerly known as the SNP Youth, is the official youth wing of the Scottish National Party (SNP) composed of SNP members aged between 16 and 30..

The YSI maintains autonomy from the SNP and as such is entitled to formulate its own policies and run its own campaigns.

The YSI is represented on the SNP National Executive Committee by the National Convener and is entitled to send delegates to party conferences and National Council's.

Objectives
The organisation aims are set out within it's constitution, this list is correct as of November 2023:

(a) Independence for Scotland, within the EU, with an elected head of state; that is, the restoration of Scottish national sovereignty by the restoration of full powers to the Scottish Parliament so that its authority is limited only by the sovereign power of the Scottish people to bind it with a written constitution and by such agreements as it may freely enter into with other nations, states or international organisations to further international co-operation, world peace and the protection of the environment;

(b) To affirm Scotland’s commitment to being a responsible and engaged global actor as a full member of the United Nations and NATO

(c) Protection of the Scottish NHS and the right to access a universal health care system, free at the point of use.

(d) The universal right to free education at all stages, including no tuition fees for further and higher education.

(e) Adherence and incorporation of all EU and UN conventions on human rights into Scots law and the written constitution of an independent Scotland;

i. International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination

ii. International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights

iii. International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights

iv. Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women

v. Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment

vi. Convention on the Rights of the Child

vii. International Convention on the Protection of the Rights of All Migrant Workers and Members of Their Families

viii. International Convention for the Protection of All Persons from Enforced Disappearance

ix. Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities

(f) The protection against discrimination for women and all minority groups to be incorporated into a written constitution of an independent Scotland.

(g) Full commitment to and the protection of LGBTQI+ equality, including same-sex marriage, to be incorporated into a written constitution of an independent Scotland.

(h) Full commitment and the protection of trans rights to be incorporated into a written constitution of an independent Scotland, including equal status for non-binary people

(i) The protection and incorporation of abortion rights into the constitution of an independent Scotland.

(j) The protection and incorporation of workers' rights into the constitution of an independent Scotland.

(k) The removal and prohibition of nuclear weapons based in Scotland and a commitment that an Independent Scotland become a signatory to all UN Treaties concerning the prohibition, testing and control of nuclear weapons.

(l) Taking action to tackle the climate emergency and reach net zero within Scotland and worldwide. This means committing to the Just Transition, particularly in the North East of Scotland, continuing our commitment to the disproportionately affected Global South and remaining co-chairs of the under 2 degrees coalition.

(m) The furtherance of all Scottish interests.

(n) To promote, cooperate and assist the Scottish National Party in its endeavours to realise independence for Scotland and further Scottish interests.

(o) To support young SNP candidates across Scotland at National and local levels.

(p) To promote young people's political representation and interests in Scotland.

(q) The encouragement of active membership of young people in Scottish and global politics.

History
The organisation was set up in the 1970s to campaign for Scottish Independence under the name of the Young Scottish Nationalists (YSN) before changing its name in 1996 to the Young Scots for Independence. For a period it was also known as the SNP Youth.

When the SNP debated NATO membership in 2012, the YSI prominently came out in opposition to supporting NATO on the basis of opposition to Nuclear weapons later changing it's position to be pro-NATO in 2022

The organisation took a short hiatus during the 2014 Scottish Independence Referendum campaign working on projects such as Generation Yes. It subsequently relaunched and underwent significant reorganisation in 2015.

Many prominent members of the SNP have been involved with the YSI, including the current party leader and First Minister of Scotland Humza Yousaf and the Deputy First Minister Shona Robison. Other notable former members include Nicola Sturgeon MSP, John Swinney MSP, Fiona Hyslop MSP, Jamie Hepburn MSP, Alison Thewliss MP and David Linden MP.

National Executive Committee
The National Executive Committee shall be responsible for the running and administration of the Organisation and has responsibility for:


 * The strategic management and political organisation of the Organisation;
 * Ensuring decisions of conference are implemented;
 * Oversight and interpretation of policy between meetings of National Conference;
 * Organising and directing national campaigns;
 * Ownership of the Organisation’s assets and management of the Organisation’s financial affairs;
 * Any other functions as delegated to it by the YSI National Conference.

The National Executive Committee is comprised of the following office bearers with the outline responsibilities of each role;


 * National Convener
 * National Vice-Convener
 * National Secretary
 * National Treasurer
 * National Organiser
 * National Events and Fundraising Officer
 * National Political Education Officer
 * National Communications Officer
 * National Women’s Officer
 * National Equalities Officer
 * International Officer
 * Regional Representatives

The current National Executive Committee of the YSI is as follows:

YSI National Conference
National Conference of the YSI is the supreme governing body of the Organisation and shall be responsible for (in particular):


 * determining the Organisation’s policy;
 * receiving written reports from members of the National Executive Committee and holding the National Executive Committee to account; and
 * annually electing the National Executive Committee, as provided for in Clause 8 of this Constitution.

Regional Caucuses
To ensure members from across Scotland can play an active part in the organisation the YSI has a regional level sharing the same boundaries as the Scottish Parliament regions for the election of 56 list MSPs. These are:


 * Central Scotland
 * Glasgow
 * Highlands
 * Islands
 * Lothian
 * Mid-Scotland & Fife
 * North East Scotland
 * South of Scotland
 * West of Scotland
 * Rural Members
 * International Members

Regional Associations are governed by the constitution of the organisation, the Scottish National Party and the organisations ‘Regional Caucus Rules’ which allow the regions to operate under their own structures and Regional Executive Committee elected by the members of the respective regions.

Policy & Equality Caucuses
The YSI has the following policy caucuses:


 * Agriculture, Fisheries & Rural Affairs Policy Caucus
 * Arts, Broadcasting, Culture, sport & Tourism Policy Caucus
 * Benefits & Social Security Policy Caucus
 * Housing, Communities & Local Government Policy Caucus
 * Immigration, Defence & Foreign Affairs Policy Caucus
 * Economy, Employment and Fair Work Policy Caucus
 * Education & Lifelong Learning Policy Caucus
 * Environment, Energy & Transport Policy Caucus
 * Health & Social Care Policy Caucus
 * Taxation & Public Service Reform Policy Caucus

The YSI also has the following equality caucuses:


 * LGBTQIA+ Equality Caucus
 * BAME Equality Caucus
 * Disabled Members Equality Caucus
 * Women’s Equality Caucus
 * Trans and Non-binary Equality Caucus

All YSI Caucuses can bring forward policy resolutions to the organisations Conferences.