The Ministry of Justice in Burkina Faso has launched the 4th edition of a human rights debate competition for university students. The competition, which was launched on October 31, 2026, aims to raise awareness about human rights and promote a culture of responsibility among young people. Ten universities from Ouagadougou and Bobo-Dioulasso will participate in the competition, which will be held in three phases.
The competition will evaluate teams on both form and substance. Teams will be assessed on their presentation, eloquence, and ability to mobilize sources of law, as well as the relevance of their arguments and the logic of their legal reasoning. The competition is organized in partnership with the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) and aims to stimulate reflection, engagement, and a culture of human rights among students.
The competition focuses on gender-based violence (GBV), a major societal issue in Burkina Faso. According to Agnès Bayili/Bassono, Director of Education for Human Rights and Partnership, the initiative aims to position students as key actors in the fight against GBV. The competition is part of the international campaign of 16 days of activism against GBV, which takes place every year from November 25 to December 10.
The final phase of the competition will coincide with the 78th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. Four teams will be selected for the final round, which will provide students with an opportunity to deepen their knowledge, refine their analytical skills, and better understand the issues related to the prevention and fight against GBV.
Bruno Bayé, project manager at UNFPA, invited participants to consider the competition as a learning opportunity that will allow them to deepen their legal knowledge and become true ambassadors of the fight against GBV. The competition aims to offer students a platform to engage with the issue of GBV and promote a culture of human rights and responsibility.
The Ministry of Justice and UNFPA hope that the competition will inspire students to become active actors in the prevention and fight against GBV, as well as in the transformation of mentalities. The competition is expected to promote a culture of citizenship and responsibility among young people and position them as key actors in the fight against GBV.
The competition will provide students with a unique opportunity to engage with human rights issues, develop their skills, and become leaders in the fight against GBV. The initiative is part of a broader effort to promote human rights and prevent GBV in Burkina Faso.
Key points
- The competition aims to raise awareness about gender-based violence and promote a culture of human rights and responsibility among university students.
- The competition is part of the international campaign of 16 days of activism against GBV.
- The final phase of the competition will coincide with the 78th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.
