A voice for all young people
Parlement des Jeunes is a citizen participation initiative aimed at young people aged 16 to 24, created in the context of the COVID-19 crisis. This period was marked by a strong sense of isolation, unease and exclusion among young people in public debate. In 2020, this situation was summed up in a sentence expressed during a presidential address: ‘It's hard to be 20 in 2020.’
Parlement des Jeunes was born out of this observation: the need to create a space where young people can meet, exchange ideas, debate and formulate proposals on issues that affect their present and their future.
A space for youth participation
Parlement des Jeunes is aimed at young people from different backgrounds. It is based on the principles of diversity, listening and collective deliberation, in the same way as citizens' conventions. Participants are brought together in a panel constituted according to representativeness criteria, inspired by INSEE data, in order to reflect the diversity of young people.
The program combines:
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group discussions,
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exchanges with external speakers,
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workshops,
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and phases for formulating proposals.
The aim is to enable young people to express themselves, compare their points of view and collectively develop courses of action.
The contributions made by young people are shared with institutional, economic and civil society actors. This continuity allows for the emergence of a structured collective voice and enables the evolution of ideas to be tracked over time. It aims to strengthen their ability to understand contemporary issues and to act collectively.
Parlement des Jeunes campus : open to the public
Parlement des Jeunes is part of an initiative that has evolved over the years.
In 2021, the first edition was held at the Théâtre du Châtelet. It took the form of a consultation and expression forum for young people on major transitions, in connection with former upcoming democratic deadlines.
In 2023, Parlement des Jeunes will be structured around a feedback session on the principles of a citizens' convention, allowing young people to publicly share the work they have done in advance on various topics that concern them and are essential for society.
In 2026, Parlement des Jeunes will evolve into a two-day format, combining sessions dedicated to young parliamentarians with sessions open to the public (young and old alike!). The afternoons are accessible through the Parlement des Jeunes Campus, which offers a joint programme bringing together young parliamentarians and external participants in various formats:
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Conferences and discussions with political figures, experts and civil society actors;
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Participatory workshops organised around key issues for youth and citizenship.
