Youth Engagement through Parliamentary Networks

On 23 September, the National Assembly of Benin, the Belgian House of Representatives, and the French National Assembly joined Inter Pares for a thematic exchange on youth engagement. The session explored how parliamentary networks connect young people with democratic processes, advance civic education, and promote inclusion, participation, and active citizenship.

It also highlighted shared goals across Benin, Belgium, and France: 

• Promote civic education and strengthen democratic literacy
• Empower young people to share their voices and perspectives
• Encourage active citizenship and a sense of responsibility
• Bridge youth and parliaments through meaningful, real-world experience

Participants shared different national models, demonstrating how diverse approaches can complement each other in empowering youth and fostering  meaningful connections between parliaments and citizens.  These different models included:

• Benin: The Youth Parliament, a formal simulation of parliamentary procedure, with ordinary sessions twice a year.
• Belgium: A flexible portfolio of visits, workshops, and youth parliaments, and guided visits to parliament reaching 34,000 young visitors annually.
• France: The Children’s Parliament, a school-year project where classes draft and debate bills, with some inspiring real laws.