The head of SDPs womens wing, Ms Chee Siok Chin, will attend a conference in Rome from 30 September 5 October 2002.

Entitled Democracy and Development the conference, organized by the International Federation of Liberal Youth (IFLRY), is aimed at bringing together youth from across the world to discuss issues related to political and economic development.

As globalisation brings the world closer together, it is important that political development keep pace without which growth will become unsustainable. This topic is particularly relevant to Singapore, Ms Chee said, as we are in a situation where we have made economic gains without political development.

The YD will discuss Singapores case at the conference where Ms Chee will highlight to the participants problems that democracy faces in this country. It will be an important occasion to learn how other countries, faced with a similar situation, cope with and even overcome the difficulties of democratization.