Along with its annual theme of "promoting democracy for development while respecting human rights and consolidating peace", the IAJP/CO was keen to discuss the challenges of civic engagement with representatives of Benin's largest demographic group: young people.
The discussions centred on two presentations. The first, by Professor Dodji Amouzouvi, a sociologist, on "The State and motivating young people to become involved citizens", presented the advantages of involving everyone in public affairs and raising awareness of the role that everyone must play as an entity making up the State.
The second paper, presented by Professor Albert Honlonkoun, Director of the Ecole nationale d'économie appliquée et de management (ENEAM), focused on "patriotism and patriotic duties: restoring young people's confidence in productive civic engagement".
The subject was how to get young people involved, and what motivates them upstream.
The workshop was officially opened by His Grace Mgr Aristide Gonsallo, Bishop of Porto-Novo, with words of encouragement for young people from Father Eric Aguenounon, Director of IAJP/CO, Théodore Golli, KAS programme officer and Maxime da Cruz, representative of the Rector of UAC.
