COTONOU, Benin - The United States Government is assisting the Benin Human Rights Commission (BHRC) to educate young Beninese civil society leaders on civic engagement and human rights through a series of seven workshops in Benin.
Through the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), the United States is supporting workshops in Cotonou, Abomey-Calavi, Porto-Novo, Parakou, and Bohicon to:
Train youth leaders on the relationship between citizenship and democracy;
Enable the youth participants to develop methods and practices for active and responsible citizenship;
Promote youth-driven advocacy for social, economic, and cultural rights; and
Collect information from the youth participants, to support the development of a youth outreach strategy for the BHRC.
With the BHRC, the United States is promoting human rights through civic education, an approach prescribed by Article 40 of Benin’s constitution. In turn, the United States is advancing young people’s leadership, learning, and participation in human rights activities in Benin. By educating Benin’s rapidly growing youth population and engaging its future leaders, the United States is helping the BHRC fulfill its mandate of human rights promotion and protection.
“You are not travelling alone towards the realization of human rights for all, including for young people throughout Benin. You have the support of those who fought for human rights and democracy in Benin. And know that we are taking steps with you along the way,” said U.S. Ambassador Patricia Mahoney during the first workshop at the Benin Royal Hotel in Cotonou on February 4.
The United States is promoting human rights and democratic governance to advance a more free, peaceful, and prosperous world. These workshops are part of USAID’s Youth, Civic Education, and Human Rights activity with the BHRC, and are an important component of American support to advance human rights in Benin.