Young Londoners to quiz world leaders at City Hall

The Prime Ministers of Canada and New Zealand are visiting City Hall today where they will meet and be quizzed by young Londoners.

The Mayor of London has invited young people from secondary schools in Lewisham, Southwark and Haringey to a ‘town-hall’ style event with the Prime Minister of Canada, Justin Trudeau and the Prime Minister of New Zealand, Jacinda Ardern. The young people will discuss gender equality and issues affecting young people at a workshop run by the Fawcett Society, before they take part in a question and answer session with the two Prime Ministers.

The event is part of the Mayor of London’s #BehindEveryGreatCity campaign, which celebrates 100 years since the first women secured the right to vote in the UK. Both Canada and New Zealand have led the way in universal suffrage and celebrating diversity, and both PM Trudeau and PM Ardern are well known for their work to improve gender equality.

The Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, said: “This year I have redoubled my efforts to fight for gender equality, with the launch of our “Behind Every Great City” campaign. I am thrilled that both Prime Minister Trudeau and Prime Minister Ardern have agreed to come to City Hall for a special town-hall event with young Londoners. I look forward to hearing them discuss the huge strides that have been made towards gender equality, as well as what we can all do to remove the barriers to success which many girls and women still face."

The Prime Minister of Canada, Justin Trudeau, said: “I look forward to joining Mayor Khan, Prime Minister Ardern, and young people from across London to celebrate 100 years since the first women got the right to vote in the UK. This anniversary is a major milestone – but it also throws into sharp relief the work we still need to do to make gender equality a reality. Everyone benefits when women can participate freely, fully, and equally in society – and today’s youngest leaders are bringing us closer than ever to that goal.”

The Prime Minister of New Zealand, Jacinda Ardern, said: “This event will be a great opportunity, alongside Mayor Khan and Prime Minister Trudeau, to hear the thoughts of young people on key social issues such as gender equality. The timing couldn’t be better, with 2018 celebrating 100 years since women in the UK first won the right to vote and 125 years for New Zealand women.”

The event takes place while the UK hosts the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting, when leaders from all the member countries are expected to gather in London and Windsor to reaffirm their common values, address the shared global challenges we face and agree how to work to create a better future for all our citizens, particularly young people. It will be both Justin Trudeau and Jacinda Ardern’s first official engagement during their trip to the UK.

Sam Smethers, Chief Executive of the Fawcett Society, said: “Young people hold the key to eliminating discrimination in our society. As we mark 100 years of first votes for women in the UK is it vital that we focus on the future. Both the Prime Ministers of Canada and New Zealand offer real leadership on what a commitment to gender equality at the top of a Government can look like and the recognition that we all gain from a more equal society.”