The Regional Director for Youth stressed in Horta "the interest that young Azoreans demonstrate in promoting democracy and taking part in public life as well as their willingness to participate and influence the options of society."
 
Lúcio Rodrigues spoke at the Legislative Assembly, where the Youth Parliament is taking place. He emphasised the commitment of young "members of parliament" and their teachers for "having responded so enthusiastically to the challenge this year," recalling the debate on the theme "Gender Equality."
 
The Regional Director challenges young people in general to reflect on the theme, expressing the belief that the current generation will "strive for a society in which gender difference will no longer be a topic discussed at home, at work, in politics, in culture or even in sport."
 
In the context of politics, Lúcio Rodrigues acknowledged that this "reality is still dominated by men, despite the fact that women are increasingly assuming leadership positions at regional, national and even international level."
 
Lúcio Rodrigues highlighted "important topic and the set of challenges that policy makers are facing," which concerns the "creation of conditions for young people to be better able to assert themselves as solidary, responsible and active citizens in plural societies."
 
The Youth Parliament is an initiative of the National Assembly organised in the Region in partnership between the Legislative Assembly and the Government of the Azores, through the Regional Directorates for Youth and Education.
 
The Government of the Azores has been actively involved in this project for almost two decades, since the 1998/99 school year.
 
This year, the regional session of the Youth Parliament involved the participation of 143 students from 37 basic education, secondary and vocational training schools.
 
The winners of this regional meeting will represent the Azores in the national session, which will take place at the National Assembly.
 
The regional session of the "Euroschool" contest also took place in Horta last Monday; São Roque do Pico Basic Education and Secondary was the winning school. Students Carlota Ávila and Inês Ponte will represent the Azores in the national session of this contest.