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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 161st 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.

Signature:   Ratification: 1992 (accession) Reservations: no/non Signature optional protocol:   Ratification optional protocol: 1992 (accession) Reservations: no/non Last State report: 2004 Last concluding observations: 2004  
Signature:   Ratification: 1992 (accession) Reservations: no/non Last State report: 2007 Last concluding observations: 2008  
Signature: 1967 Ratification: 2001 Reservations: no/non Competence CERD acknowledged: no/non Last State report:   Last concluding observations:    
Signature: 1981 Ratification: 1992 Reservations: no/non Signature optional protocol: 2000 Ratification optional protocol:   Reservations:   Last State report: 2002 Last concluding observations: 2005  
Signature:   Ratification: 1992 (accession) Reservations:   Article 22 competence acknowledged: no/non Last State report: 2002 Last concluding observations: 2008  
Signature: 1990 Ratification: 1990 Reservations: no/non Last State report: 2005 Last concluding observations: 2006  
Signature: 2005 Ratification:   Reservations:   Last State report:   Last concluding observations:    
Signature: 2010 Ratification:   Reservations:   Last State report:   Last concluding observations:    
Signature: 2008 Ratification:   Reservations: no/non Signature optional protocol: 2008 Ratification optional protocol:   Reservations: non/non Last State report:   Last concluding observations:    
Ratification Banjul Charter: 1986 Ratification Protocol African Court:   Ratification Children's Charter: 1997 Ratification Maputo Protocol: 2005 Last State report: 2009  
International Criminal Court joined: yes/oui 
Country Rapporteur: no/non 
National Human Rights Institute: yes/oui 

Last change: 28.01.10 - 11:55