André-Clément Decouflé
Department of Employment and Labour
FRANCE

Description:

The ethic of citizenship is founded on two values:

- the equal treatment of people, regardless of their ethnic (or supposed ethnic) origin: this equality is challenged by the existence of discriminatory practices, which must be combatted daily or the project to build an integrated city is meaningless;

- the synergy of personal and community commitments to this project, which presupposes equal rights and responsibilities, and begins with learning to be a citizen.

Citizenship is not a given of social organization: it is an occupation that must be learned each day, respected and taught to others. It is expressed through the daily practice of sociability, i.e. a person's ability to live in a society, outside the basic cell (family, peer groups, etc.), and civility, i.e. personal conduct that respects the accepted behaviours of a social group.