CIBITOKE, June 19th (ABP) – The Solidarity for the Promotion of Human Rights (SPDH) organized a capacity building workshop on civic education, non-violent communication and democratic principles governing the electoral period from June 12 to 13, 2024, in the capital of Cibitoke province (northwest Burundi).
The objective of that training activity, organized for administrative officials, representatives of the branches of the Independent National Electoral Commission (CENI), representatives of religious denominations and civil society leaders, was to prevent human rights violations and the instrumentalization of youth during the electoral period.
For the coordinator of the project “Preventing human rights violations and the instrumentalization of youth during the electoral period for the consolidation of democratic values and good governance”, Mrs. Elysée Ndayiragije, elections should not disrupt the good coexistence of the population. They come in their time and pass, while those who live together must preserve their good neighborliness which is profitable to them all, she said. She called on the participants to respect human rights for good coexistence.
According to the SPDH consultant, Me Jérémie Rubabaza, people do not have to have the same ideas. For the proper conduct of the electoral process, he specified that it is necessary to try to convince through dialogue rather than to constrain through threat and force.
According to one of the participants, Mrs. Dorothée Ntahimpera, who is a member of the UPRONA party, social cohesion remains a priority before, during and after the elections. She also pointed out that respect for human rights is the main pillar of sustainable development.
As for Jonathan Hamza Niyongabo, another participant, a training that encourages people to good coexistence and non-violent communication, organized on the eve of the elections, is timely. He called on all Burundians aged 18 and over to participate in the upcoming elections and to political tolerance.
The representative of the Seventh-day Adventist Church, Daniel Niyirera, added that mistrust benefits no one. He invited everyone to mutual respect and to complement each other because, as he said, unity is strength.