VIEW FROM THE CPA SECRETARY-GENERAL
CPA Roadshows: A Young View from Bermuda Eric Englebrecht, aged 14 years old, took part in a CPA Roadshow event for young people in Bermuda and has also participated in the Bermuda Youth Parliament. He gave this account of his experience: I just moved to Bermuda a bit more than a month ago and had the great honor to take part in the youth’s parliament in Bermuda. I think it’s a great opportunity for young children to take part in activities like this, because they can learn a lot how the democratic system works and how it is being a politician and what a politician really does. In the first session we talked about the Commonwealth. The Commonwealth is as an international political organization, but it’s more like a family.
Above: 14 year old, Eric Englebrecht (pictured front centre) and other participants in the Bermuda Youth Parliament are pictured meeting the CPA Secretary-General, Mr Akbar Khan and Hon. Randolph Horton, JP, MP, Speaker of the House of Assembly of Bermuda, during a CPA Roadshow visit to Bermuda.
In the Commonwealth, there are nations all over the world, different races, different religions, different cultures. This is great when it comes to problem solving as every nation has a really different past so they think in a different way and have a different approach, but they hold the values of the Commonwealth which are international peace, gender equality and human rights, so every nation can be a part of the solution and help the country in need to solve their problem in the best way possible. The Commonwealth helps to develop healthcare and education and what is really important in our society to form a better world. It is also important to outline that one of the major goals of the Commonwealth is a well-functioning democracy where the smallest county, religion and race can get the same amount of attention as the bigger ones. I do hope as young and encouraged students, we can be also beneficial to the organisation.
the CPA Executive Committee, Hon. Dr Shirin Sharmin Chaudhury MP, Speaker of the Parliament of Bangladesh in Bangladesh on 2 March 2016 to great enthusiasm from the 150 student participants from five different schools and colleges in Dhaka. The Chairperson of the CPA Executive Committee, Hon. Dr Shirin Sharmin Chaudhury MP said: “I am delighted to launch the CPA Roadshows on behalf of the CPA. Young people are the future of the Commonwealth and the CPA is working to give young people a platform to raise a range of issues that impact their lives. The CPA has a unique network of Parliamentarians from over 180 Commonwealth Parliaments and the CPA Roadshows will engage young people in democracy.” To date, there have been 29 CPA Roadshows which have been held in the following CPA Branches: Bangladesh, Montserrat, Guyana, Pakistan, Jersey, Mauritius, Queensland, Guernsey, United Kingdom, New Zealand, Tonga, Northern Ireland, Bermuda and Zambia - six of the CPA’s nine regions with more CPA Roadshows planned in other regions in 2017. The CPA Roadshows have reached nearly 8,000 young people who have heard about the Commonwealth’s 3Ds – Diversity, Development and Democracy – the work of the CPA and importantly, engaged with their local Parliamentarians who have attended many CPA Roadshows. My take-away from speaking to Commonwealth youth of various ages, during the CPA Roadshows and other CPA youth programmes, is that far from being disinterested and disengaged in politics as is often portrayed, young people are increasingly active on political issues relevant to their lives. This evolving picture speaks to the need for Parliamentarians and Parliaments to depart from a ‘status quo’ approach to politics and to
work harder to capture the energy, imagination and views of young people about political issues of importance to them; and, to channel their political interests within the political process. Young people need to hear from politicians that they share their interests and concerns about key issues, for example, employment, climate change, equality, education, and, affordable housing that affect them and future generations; and by doing so for politicians to demonstrate they are concerned with young people’s views. In this way, we will move forward to achieve the goals of an inclusive Commonwealth for future generations and create a more dynamic and vibrant democracy for all. I hope that you read with interest the examples of youth engagement programmes from Commonwealth Parliaments in this issue of The Parliamentarian. 62nd Commonwealth Parliamentary Conference I look forward to meeting with CPA Members and delegates at the 62nd Commonwealth Parliamentary Conference, which will be hosted by the CPA Headquarters Secretariat in London, United Kingdom from 11 to 17 December 2016. Mr Akbar Khan 7th Secretary-General Commonwealth Parliamentary Association (CPA)
The Parliamentarian | 2016: Issue Four | 283