MOSAIC - The training kit for Euro-Mediterranean youth work

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At the end of the debate, ask everyone, including the speakers, to make a final decision
and stand by whichever sign best represents their own position. Ask them to look
around and make a note of where most people are standing, then invite everyone
back to the circle for the debriefing.
Debriefing and evaluation
Participants may want to go on discussing the issue of the debate. Allow anyone who
wants to the opportunity to do so, but try to keep this brief, so that the whole group
can debrief the activity as a whole.
What are your impressions of the debate? What did you like or dislike about the
process?
Did you find the discussion useful and did it change anyone’s opinion on the issue?
Which arguments did you find most convincing and why?
How much were you influenced by the arguments themselves, and how much
did other factors play a part? (For example, the group you were in first, the people
who were speaking, the rhetorical skills of the speakers)
Was it difficult to select one position at the end? What made the choice difficult
or easy?
What relation does this issue have with human rights? Did the debate help you
to understand human rights issues any differently?
Do you think that regional factors played any part in the way people voted
at the end? Is this issue viewed any differently in different parts of the Euro-
Mediterranean region?
Do you think that young people view this issue any differently from other members
of the population? If so, what might be the reasons for this?
Would you like to have had more information on anything discussed in this
debate? (Here you could draw up a list of issues that participants would like to
pursue further.)
Tips for the facilitator
You could get the group to decide which of the motions they would find most interesting
to discuss, or make the choice beforehand. Write up the motion, when the decision
has been made, so that everyone can see it.
Make sure that everyone understands the amount of time there will be available
for speeches and that the Chair will take a strict view of speakers who exceed
their time limit! Emphasise to the groups that they should help the speakers
prepare the speeches since they will be putting the group’s position in the debate.
They could start by making a list of all the arguments they want to make and then
dividing them between the two speakers.
You may wish to give groups copies of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights
(UDHR) or at least of the relevant rights for the debate.
Check that the two ‘opposition’ groups understand that they need to propose
amendments to the motion. You may want to ask them to let the Chair know
these before the start of the debate, and write them up so that they are visible
For and against the motion