Youth parliaments

11 July 2023

Speakers: Honourable Emma Theofelus (Parliament of Namibia); Professor Cristina Leston-Bandeira (University of Leeds, Chair of IPEN); staff from the IPU

Chair: Derek Dignam (Head of Communications, Houses of the Oireachtas, Ireland and IPEN Executive Team)

This Public Engagement Hub seminar will focus on Youth Parliaments.

Youth Parliaments are one of the main public engagement tools used by parliaments across the world. Their formats and models vary considerably. Whilst they introduce parliamentary politics to many young people, it is also not always clear whether they enhance youth engagement with parliament and politics.

The seminar will hear from specific practices and explore different models of Youth Parliaments, to reflect on their effectiveness.

Speakers will include staff from the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU),  Professor Cristina Leston-Bandeira (University of Leeds & Chair of IPEN) and a third contributor to be confirmed (who will present a Youth Parliament specific case study). The seminar will be chaired by Derek Dignam (Head of Communications, Houses of the Oireachtas & IPEN Executive Team).

The seminar will take place on Zoom and is open to anyone with an interest in public engagement with parliaments. Further details including how to register will be announced soon.

It will will be presented in English. Translation will be available from/to French and Spanish.

This seminar is jointly organised by the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) and the International Parliament Engagement Network (IPEN). The event is part of a series of webinars hosted by the Public Engagement Hub.

Find out more and register here.