4TH EDITION OF THE NATIONAL YOUTH PARLIAMENT – 21 & 22 AUGUST

You may be seated. Hon. Members, I am pleased to announce that we will be hosting the Fourth Edition of the National Youth Parliament on 21 and 22 August 2025, here in the Chamber of the National Assembly. Youth Parliaments have developed worldwide, providing young people with a platform to discuss issues of national and international importance. There are several models. In Mauritius, our youngsters are invited to engage in parliamentary simulations and thus they can deepen their understanding of democratic processes and express their views freely on matters which are of concern to them. They can exercise fully their rights and liberties as proclaimed in the International Convention on the Rights of the Child and also in our Constitution. In keeping with this spirit, this fourth edition of the National Youth Parliament will bring together 76 young individuals, aged between 14 and 23, to role-play as Members and officers of the National Assembly. Intensive training and preparatory sessions, starting on Monday, 04 August 2025 will enable them to communicate with efficiency, and learn how to develop their leadership skills while having a deeper understanding of parliamentary history, legislative procedures, and the rules and decorum that guide the proceedings of this August Assembly. Hon. Members, during the event, the participants will engage in debates centred on the Sustainable Development Goals, and other themes, and they will discover how they also have a role to play to promote « peace, justice and liberty». This is an excellent opportunity for our youth to draw our attention on issues which as adults we may not see in the same way. It may be an eye opener for some of us. In any case, as civic education is not yet a reality in all schools in Mauritius, this is a unique occasion for our youth. Hon. Members, I, therefore, seize this opportunity to invite you all to attend and provide valuable encouragement to the participants through your presence over the two-day event on 21 and 22 August. I thank you for your attention.