In cooperation with the Youth Education Committee NGO, the National Assembly of the Republic of Serbia realised yet another in a series of National Assembly session simulations for high-school students from sixteen Serbian towns and municipalities.

In the opening segment of the session simulation the high schoolers were welcomed by National Assembly Deputy Speaker Judita Popovic who explained the basic functions of the National Assembly and parliamentary democracy in general. The Deputy Speaker said that the parliament reflects the citizens’ will and situation in the country and should, therefore, be open to the citizens. The parliament plays a role in the adoption of laws, control of the manner in which they are implemented and creation of state policy. The adoption of the Law on the National Assembly and new Rules of Procedure marked a considerable step forward in the National Assembly’s work and efficiency, added the National Assembly Deputy Speaker. She also stressed the importance of youth involvement in the parliament’s work.

The high schoolers were greeted by the Director of the Youth Education Committee’s human rights department Ivan Grahek who spoke of the importance of the functioning of the legal process and familiarising high-school students with the National Assembly’s mode of operation and sessions. He also said that the Youth Education Committee was established as a civic response to formal education and is a significant project for the youth and their organisation.

American Embassy representative Ryan Rowlands addressed the high schoolers stressing the importance of democracy and active youth participation in the development of a healthy democratic culture. Serbia and the US enjoy excellent cooperation realised via various programmes, and volunteering in state institutions, among other things, raises youth awareness on the state of democracy in the society, stressed Rowlands.

In the ensuing session simulation the high-school students from Dimitrovgrad, Bosilegrad, Presevo, Bujanovac, Novi Pazar, Sjenica, Priboj, Prijepolje, Nova Varos, Tutin, Sremski Karlovci, Backi Petrovac, Zrenjanin, Kikinda, Sombor and Senta were divided into “parliamentary groups” to debate a bill on the prevention of alcoholism among the youth. The programme includes the youth of both sexes, of different religions and nationalities, from 30 Serbian schools.

The National Assembly has been successfully implementing the session simulation project for more than four years which has, since 2008, been recommended as an extracurricular activity in civic education classes. The simulation process has so far been realised by more than 1000 high-school students from various parts of Serbia.