3. How does the Deputy Minister engage with young people in Wales in relation to equality and human rights matters? OQ56030

During these difficult times, I've engaged as widely as possible on the work we are undertaking to strengthen and advance equality and human rights in Wales. This has included online meetings with young people to hear their lived experiences and what changes they want to see, but, particularly, I would say, recently, in terms of reaching out to young people, to help inform our new Wales race equality action plan. 

Deputy Minister, that's really good to hear, and can I draw attention to our local Bridgend Youth Council, which has got some excellent representatives, including the recently elected youth mayor Megan Stone, and the deputy youth mayor Tino Kaseke, whose three main priorities for this term this year are youth mental health awareness and supporting schools, ending racism and injustice through education, and supporting LGBTQ+ rights? And, of course, there are also the equalities officers, Cameron Richards and Megan Lambert. So, clearly there's a read-across with your responsibilities as Deputy Minister. So, can I ask how do you engage with these young people on the equalities and human rights issues, which are important to them, and, specifically, whether she can engage with members of the Bridgend Youth Council on these shared priorities? 

I thank Huw Irranca-Davies for that important question, because the pandemic has led to an unprecedented level of engagement with all our stakeholders, including reaching out to young people, but also to many of our equality fora and groups. I mentioned the race equality action plan, and that has enabled me to meet with many young people through the Ethnic Youth Support Team, Race Council Cymru and the wonderful Privilege Cafe. I think we need to link members of the Bridgend Youth Council to many of those fora to enable them to have their say.

I have met with young people from Bridgend recently, and they are formidable in terms of their commitment, particularly around those issues relating to equality and LGBTQI+ rights. So, I hope that they will also be able to inform the research and consultation that we're undertaking with the race equality action plan, but also on the LGBT+ action plan, and the work that we're doing in strengthening equality and advancing human rights in Wales, where we are, obviously, moving forward with not just research, but looking at legislative models, which I would hope they could engage with. But I would very much like to meet with the Bridgend Youth Council. 

Laura Anne Jones.

Sorry, I haven't got—. 

Okay, okay. Fine. 

Question 4, Paul Davies.