Neutrality and population growth to be debated at Malta's Youth Parliament
25th edition of Malta's National Youth Parliament to be held in September
Neutrality and population growth will be debated at the 25th edition of Malta's National Youth Parliament in September.
The National Youth Council (KNŻ) has opened applications for its National Youth Parliament, which will sit on 18 and 19 September at parliament buildings.
Participants, aged 13 to 35, will step into the shoes of a Member of Parliament by debating and voting on current issues.
The topics are the neutrality clause in the constitution, balancing population growth, infrastructure and the environment.
This edition will include an extra day for participants to debate and lobby their resolutions before bringing them to the parliamentary session.
Sephora Vella, who has participated in the event for the last decade, said it had shaped her "in ways I never imagined". She meets "inspiring young people with different perspectives" every year and leaves "having learned something new about the world and about myself".
Lead organiser Francesca Giudice initially joined as a participant five years ago and now serves as the National Officer for KNŻ.
"That experience became the foundation of my journey in youth activism and civil society," she said.
The programme is perhaps best known for the 'vote 16' initiative. The proposal to lower the voting age to 16-year-olds was first debated in the youth parliament before later being adopted by the national parliament and becoming law.
Alumni have since gone on to become members of parliament, parliamentary secretaries, lawyers and journalists.
Approved resolutions will be presented to the president of Malta, the prime minister and the leader of the opposition.