| Click here for a summary of Benin’s review at the first cycle and/or the third cycle. |
14th UPR session
Date of review: 25th October 2012
Date of report adoption: 14 March 2013
Working Group report: A/HRC/22/9
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SUMMARY SOGIESC issues during Benin’s 2nd UPR review |
- Review the High Commissioner’s report on sexual orientation and gender identity, and consider implementing the recommendations.
II. Excerpts from input reports
National report
III. Follow-up on the previous review
K. Human rights, sexual orientation and gender identity (recommendation 6)
92. Benin has not accepted this recommendation.
Compilation of UN information
No references to sexual orientation or gender identity
Summary of stakeholder information
No references to sexual orientation or gender identity
III. References to SOGI during the Working Group review
I. Summary of the proceedings of the review process
B. Interactive dialogue and responses by the State under review
87. The United States of America applauded legislative efforts on domestic violence, corruption and torture and the establishment of human rights institutions. It remained concerned about violence by security services, harsh prison conditions and long pre-trial detention periods, restrictions on the right to strike and slowness in addressing the worst forms of child labour. It asked Benin on what services or educational programmes were available to ensure the safety and well-being of LGBT citizens. It made recommendations.
95. Belgium asked what measures Benin had adopted to include the abolition of the death penalty in its domestic legislation and whether abolition of the death penalty would be enshrined in the Constitution. It also asked if the LGBT citizens enjoy legal protection on the grounds of their sexual identity and orientation and how the authorities would react if there were to be any prosecution on the ground of homosexuality. Belgium made recommendations.
IV. Conclusions and/or recommendations
110. The recommendations below did not enjoy the support of Benin.
110.1. Bring legislation in conformity with its commitments to equality and non-discrimination by reviewing Article 88 of the Penal Code and by decriminalizing homosexual relations between consenting adults (Canada);
110.2. Formally abolish any punishment on the grounds of sexual orientation or gender identity (Germany);
110.3. Intensify efforts to address discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation or gender identity and investigate and prosecute crimes against lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) community members (Norway);
110.4. Study the possibility to increase the measures to eliminate all discriminatory treatment based on sexual orientation or gender identity (Argentina);
110.5. Decriminalise sexual relations between consenting, same-sex individuals and establish educational programmes and appropriate policies for police that promote the personal security of all Benin citizens regardless of sexual orientation (United States of America);
V. Adoption of the Report
The report of the working group was adopted at the 22nd regular session of the Human Rights Council in March 2013.
Presentation by the State under review
[…] S’agissant des cinq recommandations objets de rejet, elles sont relatives à la dépénalisation des relations homosexuelles entre adultes consentants. Je voudrais rappeler à l’attention du Conseil, que la délégation Béninoise a fait observer lors du dialogue interactif que le phénomène reste marginal au Bénin et qu’aucune juridiction béninoise n’a encore poursuivi ni réprimé pour de tels faits.
En l’état actuel du droit positif béninois et compte tenu de certains facteurs endogènes, il serait difficile d’envisager dans l’immédiat la dépénalisation de ces faits. Toutefois la question est d’actualité et sera traitée avec toute l’attention requise.
Statements by States and other stakeholders
There were no other references to sexual orientation or gender identity during the adoption of the working group report.
VI. Further information
UPR Documentation
For first cycle reports of Benin, please see here
National report 1: A | C | E | F | R | S
Compilation of UN information 2: A | C | E | F | R | S
Summary of stakeholders’ information 3: A | C | E | F | R | S
Questions submitted in advance : E
Addendum 1 : E
Addendum 2 : E
Outcome of the review
Report of the working group: A | C | E | F | R | S
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