Maltese Parliamentary Delegation Participates in 54th Commonwealth BIMR Conference in Wales

A Maltese Parliamentary delegation, led by Carmelo Abela and including members Graziella Attard Previ and Ian Vassallo, participated in the 54th Commonwealth Parliamentary Association (CPA) British Islands and Mediterranean Region (BIMR) Conference held in Cardiff, Wales from 17 to 19 June 2024.

The conference theme, “Addressing the Needs of a Modern Parliament,” covered critical topics such as youth engagement, LGBT representation, mental health in politics, and the integration of artificial intelligence in legislative work.

MP Ian Vassallo took part in sessions highlighting youth participation in democracy, referencing initiatives like Young Parliamentarians, the National Youth Parliament, and EkoSkola. He emphasized Malta’s recent move to lower the voting age to 16, allowing broader youth involvement in governance.

Graziella Attard Previ was a panelist in the discussion on LGBT voices in Parliament, advocating for stronger local and international alliances in the fight for LGBT+ rights. She urged parliaments to be safe spaces for activism, noting that 35 of 56 Commonwealth countries still criminalise same-sex relations. Carmelo Abela added that legislation must be followed by genuine governmental commitment and societal education.

Both Abela and Vassallo also contributed to discussions on mental health and wellbeing, calling for stronger support systems for MPs and their families. They proposed induction programs that include mental health awareness and strategies for handling public scrutiny, underlining the need to end stigma and promote a culture of support.

In the final workshop on the use of AI in modern parliaments, Carmelo Abela stressed that while Malta’s Parliament still has work to do in adopting AI, the transition must begin now. He called for investment in infrastructure, training, and internal capacity to make AI a tool for greater efficiency, transparency, and legislative quality.

During the CPA BIMR Annual General Meeting, Sarah Dickson, Regional Secretary of the CPA UK and BIMR Secretariat, updated members on upcoming events and administrative matters. The AGM also saw the election of Sasha Kazantseva-Miller of Guernsey as the new Commonwealth Women Parliamentarian regional representative for the 2025–2028 term.

📸 Photo Credit: HoR