By Marion Viau, Université du Québec à Montréal (UQAM)
From July 2-7, 2007, I had the privilege of attending the Parlement francophone des jeunes (PFJ) (Francophone Youth Parliament) that was held in Libreville, Gabon. The week was extremely full, since it was my first visit to Gabon, and to Africa, and because I spent time getting to know the 60 participants and having endless discussions with them on a wide range of topics. Through conversations and dialogue, I realized that a worldwide Francophone culture in fact exists and unites us, and especially that the PFJ provides a progressive concept about youth: youth are not only the future, they are the current protagonists and they can contribute to the same political issues that global decision-makers tackle.
Every two years, 60 Francophone youth come together for this Parliament during the Assemblée parlementaire de la francophonie (APF) (the Francophone Parliamentary Assembly). The young parliamentarians are separated into four commissions which address current issues which are also addressed by the APF:
- Cooperation and Development Commission: Migration
- Parliamentary Affairs Commission: Youth Enrolment on Electoral Lists
- Political Commission: Youth and the Prevention of Conflicts
- Commission on Education, Communication and Cultural Affairs: HIV/AIDS and Migration
My experience at this PFJ gave me a concrete understanding of parliamentary work, as well as the opportunity to meet committed youth from the developed as well as the developing world. The PFJ is not just a simulation, but a forum for young francophones which validates their point of view and defends their interests. In many African countries, which are strongly represented in the PFJ, young people constitute the majority of the national population. Therefore, when youth are given a voice, the population is given a voice. This adventure is not yet over, since over the next two years each participant will follow their Francophone parliamentary mandate and will oversee the implementation of the various resolutions which were passed.
Marion Viau, Young Francophone Parliamentarian, Canadian section
