The Réseau des Femmes Leaders pour le Développement (RFLD), CIVICUS and its partners have submitted submissions to the UN Universal Periodic Review (UPR) on Benin ahead of the 42nd session of the UPR in January-February 2023. The submissions examine the state of civil society in each country, including the promotion and protection of the rights to freedom of association, assembly and expression, and the environment of human rights defenders.
The communication from the Coalition des Défenseurs des Droits Humains-Bénin (CDDH-Bénin), the West African Human Rights Defenders Network (WAHRDN/ROADDH), the Réseau des Femmes Leaders pour le Développement (RFLD) and CIVICUS, highlights the adoption of restrictive legislation, notably the Penal Code and the Digital Code, whose provisions are used against human rights defenders (HRDs) and journalists.
In addition, the communication also draws attention to the growing restrictions and violations of the freedom of peaceful assembly, which include blanket bans on demonstrations, the militarization of law enforcement and the excessive use of force, including live ammunition, against demonstrators, as well as the increase in legal sanctions. restrictions on the right to demonstrate.
