MINSK, 13 May (BelTA) – The first session of the Forum of Young Parliamentarians of the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) took place within the framework of the IPU's 142nd Assembly on 13 May, the press service of the House of Representatives of the National Assembly of Belarus told BelTA.
The forum was opened by IPU Secretary General Martin Chungong. In his speech he mentioned that weak representation of young people in parliaments remains a big problem.
During the session President of the Board of the Forum of Young Parliamentarians Melvin Bouva (Suriname) presented results of the 7th Global Conference of Young Parliamentarians of the Inter-Parliamentary Union. The conference took place on 28-29 March 2021 using videoconference technologies.
The conference was dedicated to recovery after COVID-19 taking into account interests of the youth. Discussions took place after Melvin Bouva made the speech. Participants of the forum shared what measures were being taken in their countries to support young people amid the pandemic, what issues were left unresolved, and what possible solutions were offered.
Elections to the Board of the Forum of Young Parliamentarians took place at the end of the first day of the forum. Maria Vasilevich, a member of the Human Rights, National Relations, and Mass Media Commission of the House of Representatives of the National Assembly of Belarus, was elected member of the Board of the Forum of Young Parliamentarians.
The Board represents the Forum of Young Parliamentarians and ensures its work. The Board prepares invitations for convening the forum taking into account consultations with the IPU secretary general. The Board consists of two representatives from each geopolitical group of the Inter-Parliamentary Union, one man and one woman. There are a total of 12 people sitting on the Board.
A session of the Board of the Forum of Young Parliamentarians of the Inter-Parliamentary Union will take place on 14 May. A new president of the Board is supposed to be elected during the session.
