United Nations Development Programme (UNDP)’s Resident Representative to the Maldives Adnan Cheema has said the Practice Parliament for Youth is important for developing young people’s capacity to contribute to the country’s future.
He made the remarks in an interview following the closing ceremony of the sixth Youth Practice Parliament conducted jointly by the Parliament and UNDP to strengthen young people’s participation in national decision-making.
This is the 14th Practice Parliament programme overall and the sixth specifically targeted at youth. The programme, which ran from 1 to 8 August with 38 participants, focused on democracy, the political system, civic education, and citizens’ rights and responsibilities.
Speaking about the programme, Cheema noted that participants gained skills such as communication, critical thinking, expressing opinions and understanding policy issues as a result of the programme. They also gained practical exposure to parliamentary procedures, lawmaking, government accountability, budget review and committee work, he said. He added that experiencing the role of an MP gives young people a valuable opportunity to understand the role of a parliamentarian.
The programme aims to encourage youth participation in political activities and could increase interest among young people in contesting political positions in the future. Participants described the programme as a valuable experience and highlighted its role in empowering youth and encouraging civic participation.