Children’s rights in Benin: International convention in Benin?
Adopted on 20 November 1989 by the United Nations, the Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC) is one of the most universally ratified international legal instruments. Benin has acceded to this text, thus committing itself to guaranteeing every child the fundamental right to life, education, protection and participation. However, more than thirty years after this ratification, the situation of Beninese children reveals a deep gap between the commitments made and the daily reality. Early marriages, child labour, various forms of violence, as well as unequal access to school and health care testify to the numerous persistent shortcomings in the concrete implementation of the CRC in Benin.
On the legal front, Benin has made significant progress. In addition to ratifying the Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC), the country has incorporated its principles into several national texts, notably the Children’s Code adopted in 2015. This text brings together in a single document all the provisions relating to the rights and protection of the child, from birth to majority. Other instruments such as the law on the prohibition of child trafficking, that on the prohibition of female genital mutilation or even the criminal provisions against sexual violence against minors have come to strengthen the system. The government has also set up structures such as social protection one-stop shops and others for protecting children’s rights.
Still vulnerable children…
Despite these legal and structural advances, the real situation of children in Benin remains worrying. In markets, workshops, quarries or fields, it is not uncommon to see children working in harsh and sometimes dangerous conditions. Child labour, although prohibited, persists due to poverty, ignorance and lack of effective control.
In Cotonou, Arnaud, 13 years old, has been working since the age of 10 as an apprentice welder in a makeshift workshop. « I wanted to go to school, but my parents couldn’t afford it. Now, I earn a little money to help my family,” he confides in the national language.
Early marriages are still a common occurrence…..
Child marriage is another scourge. In some regions of Benin, early unions are still tolerated in the name of tradition or poverty. Although the law sets the minimum age for marriage at 18 years, this rule is often circumvented. Fatoumata, a resident of Pahou and married at 15 years old, tells how powerless her husband had his only daughter marry an old man from the village.
«My husband told me that it was better this way. She will have to stop school and take care of her new home. She wanted to become a nurse». These marriages jeopardize the health, safety and future of girls. They promote early pregnancies, school dropouts and economic dependence.
The crucial role of NGOs and partners…
Faced with these realities, several civil society organizations and international partners work daily to promote and protect the rights of the child. NGOs such as Plan International and Terre des Hommes conduct awareness campaigns, train community actors, support vulnerable families and take care of child victims. The Ministry of Social Affairs and Microfinance also collaborates with UNICEF to strengthen the national child protection system, improve juvenile justice, and promote children’s participation in public life.
The persistent challenges…
Several obstacles hinder the effective implementation of the Convention, such as the lack of human and financial resources, with many social services that are underfunded and struggle to cover the entire territory. It is also noted the lack of awareness because some communities still ignore children’s rights or consider them as contrary to their traditions.
To this is also added the low coordination between structures, particularly protection services, justice, education or health do not always collaborate effectively. And above all, widespread poverty because it pushes many families to sacrifice the rights of their children for their immediate survival.
A glimmer of hope…
Despite everything, positive signals are emerging. Beninese society is gradually becoming aware of the need to ensure a dignified and protected childhood. More and more children express themselves in children’s parliaments or community radios. The government recently increased budgetary allocations for child welfare and adopted a new action plan to eradicate early marriages.
Benin has laid the foundations for a genuine policy to protect children’s rights. But between the law and the ground, a gap persists. Bridging this gap will require more than texts. It will require action, strong political will, a profound cultural change and the mobilization of all. Because guaranteeing the rights of children means investing in the future of all of Benin.