BOBO-DIOULASSO — The Association for Religious Tolerance and Intercommunity Dialogue (ATR/DI) conducted a training session on civics, citizenship, advocacy, and human rights for its members in Bobo-Dioulasso on Friday and Saturday.

According to Burkina Information Agency, president of ATR/DI, the training aimed to equip the focal points and regional unit members of the association to effectively promote citizenship and social cohesion. Sourwema stated that the newly trained members would support and enhance the capabilities of traditional, customary, and religious leaders in fostering social cohesion within their communities.

The sessions included discussions led by Drissa Modeste Sessouma, the general secretary and permanent secretary of ATR/DI, who focused on the concepts of civility and eco-citizenship. He explained eco-citizenship as behaviors that contribute to environmental protection and sustainable development, and emphasized the importance of active participation in community life as a civic duty for all community members.

Additionally, the training featured a lecture on human rights during security crises by Olivier Kabré, the regional delegate of the National Human Rights Commission (CNDH). Kabré outlined the three generations of rights: civil and political; economic, social, and cultural; and solidarity rights. He discussed the legal nuances of human rights restrictions during crises, underscoring that such measures, while restrictive, are necessary for state functioning and must be legally justified, aim for legitimate goals, and be necessary in a democratic society.

This initiative is part of ATR/DI's broader project titled 'Education for Citizenship and Social Cohesion,' targeting traditional, customary, and religious actors across Burkina Faso’s thirteen regions. The project is a component of the 'Civic Space' initiative, orchestrated by a consortium of civil society organizations led by the Geneva Center for Security Sector Governance (DCAF).