The ICD, IDD, Impact Sahel and CJPD/Est consortium organized, on Thursday, May 25, 2023, in Bogandé, a public conference on the theme: “Democratic awakening: Promoting civic engagement in schools”, to stimulate the democratic awakening of schoolchildren.
The ICD, IDD, Impact Sahel and CJPD/Est consortium in partnership with the Independent National Electoral Commission (CENI) wants to contribute to the democratic awakening of young schoolchildren.
It is in this sense that he organized on Thursday, May 25, 2023 in Bogandé, a public conference, marked by a presentation on the theme, exchanges and sharing of experiences and good practices for the benefit of a hundred schoolchildren.
According to the speaker, Michel Haro, president of the Burkinabe Movement for Human and Peoples’ Rights (MBDHP), democracy designates a form of state organization.
For him, it can be conceived as a way of life or a form of socialization and interaction between citizens.
Mr. Haro listed some principles of democracy including participation, social control, economic freedom, equality, independence of powers.
Added to this is freedom in connection with the formation of political parties, the organization of elections and freedom of expression.
“There are three types of democracy, namely direct democracy, the so-called indirect and the so-called semi-direct,” he said.
Speaking of indices of democracy, the speaker retained among others, the separation of powers, the sovereignty of the people, the election of representatives and the coexistence of several political parties.
For Michel Haro, the advantage of democracy lies in safeguarding integrity and human rights.
He added that democracy protects its citizens from one-leader regimes, thus preventing autocracy.
“The main obstacles to democracy are mass ignorance, poverty and lack of social development,” Haro said.
The exchanges and sharing of experiences allowed the participants to better understand the subject.
In view of the importance of the theme, they pleaded for other awareness-raising actions in order to reach the majority of pupils, most of whom are already on vacation.
Source: Burkina Information Agency