5 August 2024 – The National Assembly of Lao PDR hosted the First Consultative Meeting of Young Parliamentarians of the ASEAN Inter-Parliamentary Assembly (AIPA) via videoconference. The meeting was attended by 19 Members of Parliament and 11 officials from all AIPA Member States, together with three observers from Myanmar and representatives from the ASEAN Foundation, Senior Official Meeting on Youth (SOMY), and Lao Youth Union. Malaysia was represented by Hon. Dr. Mohammed Taufiq Bin Johari and Hon. Young Syefura Binti Othman, and a researcher.
The main objective of the meeting was to explore and deliberate how the youth can contribute in creating a safe, robust, and inclusive ASEAN Community. This includes fostering peace, equipping them to overcome challenges and enhancing their involvement in decision-making processes. Additionally, the meeting provided the opportunity for the member states of AIPA to engage and subsequently develop the agenda for the Young Parliamentarians of AIPA (YPA)’s Standing Committee at the upcoming 45th AIPA General Assembly in October 2024.
The meeting, themed “Empowering Youth in Building a Secure, Resilient, and Inclusive ASEAN Community,” commenced with an opening remark by H.E. Ar. Siti Rozaimeriyanty Dato Haji Abdul Rahman, the Secretary General of AIPA, followed by a welcoming address from H.E. Mdm. Sounthone Xayachack, Vice President in the National Assembly of Lao PDR.
The meeting proceeded with a plenary session where delegates from AIPA member states presented their respective national initiatives and best practices aimed at enhancing youth participation and leadership. It recognized the potential of young people as future leaders and highlighted their significant roles in fostering a secure, resilient, and inclusive ASEAN community. The session also identified ongoing challenges, such as limited access to education and healthcare, along with insufficient involvement in decision-making. In response, several recommendations were proposed to address these issues. All concerns and recommendations will be reviewed and incorporated into the draft resolution on empowering youth in building a secure, resilient, and inclusive ASEAN Community, which will be presented at the upcoming 45th AIPA General Assembly during the YPA meeting. The meeting concluded with Hon. Phonesane Vilaymeng, Chair of YPA.
