The Regional Director for Education challenged in Horta young Azoreans to get “actively” involved in finding “better solutions” for the problems that society faces today. 

Rodrigo Reis spoke at the Legislative Assembly during the Regional Session for Basic Education students held under the Youth Parliament initiative. On the occasion, he stressed that, among these problems, the focus lies on domestic and dating violence, the central theme of this session. 

“Domestic and dating violence affects the entire Portuguese and Azorean societies, and, therefore, should deserve the attention of all of us in the fight against this scourge,” stressed the government official. 

In this regard, he stated that “all the work and effort” in the search for measures to accomplish this goal "is an essential part of raising awareness for the importance of respecting individual rights and freedoms, always in the perspective of building citizenship for all.” 

At this Youth Parliament session, also attended by the Regional Director for Youth, Lúcio Rodrigues, the Regional Director for Education highlighted the "importance" of this activity promoted by the National Assembly, which is organised in the Azores with the partnership of the Regional Assembly and the Regional Government. 

For Rodrigo Reis, the Youth Parliament "is undoubtedly one of the activities that most contributes to instilling among young people the spirit of Democracy and the full awareness of their rights and duties as future citizens who will participate in the construction of their country. 

About one hundred and fifty basic education and secondary school students from all islands of the archipelago are at the Azorean Parliament to participate in the Regional Session of the Youth Parliament programme, which celebrates its 25th edition this year. 

Today and Tuesday, these young people will have the opportunity to learn about the parliamentary process as well as all the rules observed in a democratic debate.

During the works, the students as members of the Parliament will approve the Draft Recommendations to be submitted to the National Session and elect the members who will represent them in that session, which is scheduled for May 4 and 5 at the National Assembly.