Ms Gianna Stanley and Mr Puneet Sabhnani will represent Gibraltar at the 13th Commonwealth Youth Parliament in Sydney, Australia later this year.
This event will see young people from all corners of the Commonwealth gather to discuss and debate important matters of mutual interest.
The Commonwealth Youth Parliament is designed to introduce young people to the role and purpose of parliament and democratic institutions. Delegates are provided with the opportunity to experience parliamentary practice and engage with their peers from all over the Commonwealth.
It is expected that the programme will include learning and development sessions, committee meetings, caucus discussions and chamber debates.
Indeed, the format in the past has seen those present divided into groups and taking on the role of government and opposition, debating legislation, discussing matters and voting on proposed laws and amendments to them. It allows participants to cut their teeth in parliamentary procedures at an international level under the umbrella of the Commonwealth.
It will be recalled that some 60% of the population of the Commonwealth is made up of young people under the age of 30.
The theme of the 13th Commonwealth Youth Parliament will be “Democracy in the Age of Artificial Intelligence”, which is a very current subject. This will provide the basis for a meaningful discussion of the pros and cons of artificial intelligence in a rapidly changing world because the event will explore how emerging technologies are reshaping democratic governance and civic participation.
Gibraltar has in the recent past sent young delegates to such meetings in Jersey (2018), India (2019), Trinidad and Tobago (2022) and the last one in New Zealand (2024). This is in line with the policy of the Government both to strengthen our relationship with the Commonwealth and to provide opportunities for young people in the international political arena.
The event will on this occasion be hosted by the Parliament of New South Wales from 26 -31 July.
