At a time when online harassment is escalating worldwide and young people are increasingly vulnerable to its impacts, the 22nd National Youth Parliament of Trinidad and Tobago convened on 24 November, 2025 to debate a motion on Mitigating the Effects of Cyberbullying.
Thirty-six youth parliamentarians gathered at the Parliament of Trinidad and Tobago for a five-hour debate infused with rigorous research, personal testimony and evidence-based policymaking proposals, underscoring that cyberbullying is not just an online nuisance but a serious human rights issue.
A highlight of the event was the presentation of the UN Partnership Award for Distinguished Youth Parliamentarian, awarded to Samisha Maharaj of UWI St. Augustine, for using her presentation to underscore the six Sustainable Development Goals which are directly aligned to efforts to prevent and address cyberbullying.
Caption: UN Resident Coordinator a.i, Joni Musabayana, presents the United Nations Partnership Award for Distinguished Youth Parliamentarian to Samisha Maharaj of the University of the West Indies.
Photo: ยฉ Parliament of Trinidad and Tobago
"Youth Parliamentarians: stand tall in knowing you have made laudable strides in your journey as youth leaders," said UN Resident Coordinator ad interim, Joni Musabayana. Today, you demonstrated discipline, empathy, courage and a commitment to the common good."
Participants highlighted how cyberbullying erodes mental health, damages trust and social relationships and undermines the human right to dignity and safety. The Youth Parliamentarians also emphasized that the problem extends beyond screens, following young people into their homes, classrooms and communities.
Youth parliamentarians stressed that responding to cyberbullying is not enough; prevention must be prioritized. Their recommendations included:
Digital citizenship education
Empathy-building initiatives
Mental health support systems
Parent and teacher engagement
Youth-driven peer initiatives
The United Nations in Trinidad and Tobago partnered with the Parliament for the second consecutive year, providing financial support and five sessions of capacity development for the Youth Parliamentarians. This partnership is firmly anchored in the UN Youth 2030 Strategy, which affirms that young people must not only be included in national decision-making but be empowered to shape it.
Caption: The 36 National Youth Parliamentarians pose for a group after the closing ceremony on November 24, 2025.
Photo: ยฉ Parliament of Trinidad and Tobago
Several UN agencies supported the Youth Parliamentarians' debate preparation:
UNODC contextualized cyberbullying within digital crime and referenced the newly adopted UN Convention against Cybercrime (October 2025).
UNICEF shared global and regional data on adolescent mental health impacts and facilitated youth polling through the U-Report platform.
UN Women and UNFPA examined gender dimensions of online abuse, including image-based violence and coercive online behavior.
UNESCO guided discussions on AI-driven content moderation and youth inclusion in policymaking
This multi-agency collaboration ensured that youth parliamentarians were equipped with frameworks, data, and tools to strengthen their analysis.
Written by
Faine Richards
RCO
Development Coordination Officer (Programme Communications and Advocacy)
UN entities involved in this initiative
UN Women
United Nations Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women
UNFPA
United Nations Population Fund
UNICEF
United Nations Childrenโs Fund
UNODC
United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime
Goals we are supporting through this initiative
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