Claiming human rights - in Benin

The Republic of Benin is a member of the United Nations and the African Union. It has ratified many UN Human Rights Conventions (compare list on the right) and thus has made binding international commitments to adhere to the standards laid down in these universal human rights documents.

Benin is a French-speaking country in West Africa. Its short southern coastline leads to the Atlantic Ocean. With an area of 112,622 square km it is a middle-sized country. On a global scale, its population density is medium. The capital of the country, which became independent on 1 August 1960 from France, is Porto-Novo. The largest city and seat of government is Cotonou. Benin is a member of the regional economic communities ECOWAS and CEN-SAD.

With a Human Development Index of 0.49 Benin ranks 161^st of 182 countries ranked in the UNDP Human Development Report of 2009. Life expectancy of the 8.7 million inhabitants at birth is 62 years, population growth is 3.2 percent per year. GNI is 690 US-$ per capita. External debt is 15.8 percent of gross national income. Primary school enrolment is 80.2 percent.

In as far as Benin has ratified the Optional Protocols for UN Human Rights Conventions or has accepted the Competence of the corresponding UN Treaty Bodies (compare list on the right), the inhabitants of Benin and their representatives are able to invoke their human rights through these bodies.

All inhabitants of Benin may turn to the UN Human Rights Committee through procedure 1503, to the Special Rapporteurs for violations of specific human rights or to ECOSOC for women's rights violations.

Since Benn is a member state of UNESCO, its citizens may use the UNESCO procedure for human rights violations in UNESCO's fields of mandate.

Employers' or workers' and certain other organizations (not individuals) of Benin may file complaints through the ILO procedure in the cases of those conventions which Benin has ratified.

Since Benin is an AU member, its citizens and NGOs may file complaints to the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights.

They may also file complaints according to the EU guidelines (on Human Rights Defenders, Death Penalty and Torture) to Embassies of EU Member States and the Delegations of the European Commission.

In cases of human rights violations by multinational enterprises, they may also invoke the National Contact Point in an OECD member state.

Benin has joined the International Criminal Court, it may thus be called upon in case of severe crimes.