The Commonwealth Parliamentary Association (CPA) has launched an exciting initiative today that will visit schools and universities across the
Commonwealth to help to increase young people's awareness of parliament and democracy. The new CPA Roadshows aim to strengthen Commonwealth
Parliamentarians engagement with young people.

The CPA Roadshows were launched today by the Chairperson of the CPA Executive Committee, Hon. Dr Shirin Sharmin Chaudhury MP, Speaker of the
Parliament of Bangladesh, who hosted a group of over 150 young people from five different schools and colleges on a visit to the Parliament of
Bangladesh in Dhaka.

The Chairperson of the CPA Executive Committee, Hon. Dr Shirin Sharmin Chaudhury MP said: I am delighted to launch the CPA Roadshows on behalf of
the CPA today. Young people are the future of the Commonwealth and the CPA is working to give young people a platform to raise a range of issues that
impact their lives. The CPA has a unique network of Parliamentarians from over 180 Commonwealth Parliaments and the CPA Roadshows will engage young
people in democracy.

The CPA Roadshows will provide an opportunity for young people to discuss the issues of concern about their society and democracy, to meet local
Members of Parliament and Parliamentary staff and to find out about the work of the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association (CPA) and the wider
Commonwealth. As the CPA approaches its 105th year, this initiative shows the enduring relevance of the CPA to introduce innovative new initiatives to
strengthen democratic accountability and good governance.

During a recent survey of UK school children by the Commonwealth Exchange, only 23% of young people could correctly select three Commonwealth nations
and nearly 50% said they had not learnt about the Commonwealth in school. (2015 survey report ŒSaved by the Bell¹ by the Commonwealth Exchange). The
CPA Roadshows will help to address the lack of awareness of young people about the Commonwealth.

With the Commonwealth's 53 member countries having a combined population of more than 2 billion, of which more than 60% are under 30 years of age, the
CPA Roadshows will aim to engage with young people and education establishments to promote democracy.

The CPA Roadshows will embark on visits to schools, colleges and universities across the nine regions of the Commonwealth Parliamentary
Association and any teachers interested in hosting a visit should contact their local CPA Branch or the CPA Secretariat for more information or email
hq.sec@cpahq.org.