Burkina Faso Celebrates Human Rights Night 2025 with Advocacy and Recognition

Ouagadougou, December 10, 2025 - The Ministry of Justice and Human Rights, responsible for relations with institutions (MJDHRI), marked Human Rights Night 2025, a flagship event in the country’s International Human Rights Day celebrations. The theme for this year was: “Human Rights: Essential to Our Daily Lives.”

The ceremony, chaired by Secretary General Harouna Kadio, representing the Minister, brought together technical and financial partners, civil society organizations, students, human rights defenders, and Ministry staff.

In her remarks, Zeinab Hamza Diaby, Resident Representative of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR), emphasized that human rights are “a living ideal that we defend every day.”

Secretary General Kadio thanked the Ministry’s partners for their ongoing support and highlighted the theme’s relevance, noting that human rights are “the very essence of our lives,” encompassing daily efforts to ensure dignity, peace, and fulfillment for all citizens. He also acknowledged the sacrifices of the National Armed Forces, Internal Security Forces, and Volunteers for the Defense of the Homeland, whose efforts help restore Burkina Faso’s territorial integrity.

Kadio urged all human rights advocates to go beyond merely denouncing injustices and to become agents of change, fostering peace, social cohesion, and community resilience.

The evening featured a video recap of commemorative activities, testimonials from defenders of human rights, artistic performances, and the presentation of awards for the human rights advocacy competition. Six top universities received promotional items, certificates, and cash prizes, while the two winning teams each received a laptop. The team from Thomas Sankara University was particularly recognized, receiving 75,000 CFA francs alongside other awards.

Human Rights Night 2025 offered a platform for dialogue, celebration, and recognition, reaffirming Burkina Faso’s commitment to promoting and protecting fundamental rights, even amid ongoing security challenges.