Candidates urged to prioritize human rights commitments

As Benin prepares for legislative, municipal, and presidential elections in 2026, a coalition of 14 civil society organizations, including Amnesty International, is urging candidates to prioritize human rights. The groups have released a manifesto outlining key human rights priorities for the incoming government.

The shrinking civic space in Benin, marked by attacks on independent media and arbitrary detentions, is a significant concern. Other pressing issues include discrimination against women and marginalized groups, forced evictions, and challenges in accessing fair trials and justice.

Protect freedom of expression, association, and peaceful assembly

Benin’s Digital Code, which criminalizes the publication of false information and harassment through electronic communications, has led to the suspension of several newspapers and websites. The organizations recommend revising this code to align with international human rights standards, as previously discussed during the Universal Periodic Review.

Restrictions on the right to protest also require attention. The criminal code currently prohibits “any unarmed gathering that could disturb public peace,” allowing for vague grounds to ban peaceful demonstrations. Security forces have reportedly dispersed peaceful protests with excessive force and arbitrarily arrested individuals, necessitating prompt and impartial investigations into such incidents and the release of those arbitrarily detained. Justice remains elusive for the relatives of those allegedly killed by security forces during protests in 2019, and the 2019 amnesty law should be revised to ensure their access to justice and remedy.

More humane prison conditions

Despite ongoing efforts by authorities, Benin’s prisons continue to suffer from overcrowding. To address this, pretrial detention should be a last resort, judicial proceedings should be expedited, and alternatives to imprisonment for minor offenses should be enforced. Improving prisoners’ access to drinking water, sanitation, healthcare, and investigating allegations of torture and ill-treatment are also crucial.

Better access to justice

Arbitrary detentions of opposition political figures persist, as confirmed by the United Nations Working Group on Arbitrary Detention. The organizations call for an end to these detentions and the release of all individuals held without legal grounds. Effective implementation of legal aid and the restoration of the African Court on Human and Peoples’ Rights’ ability to receive complaints directly from individuals and NGOs are also recommended.

Women remain underrepresented in political decision-making roles, and urgent measures are needed to achieve gender equality. The Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities has deemed access to health and education services for persons with disabilities to be insufficient, prompting calls for teacher training in sign language and the creation of support centers for children with intellectual disabilities.

The conflict in the Central Sahel has resulted in significant displacement, with over 27,000 internally displaced persons and 30,540 refugees and asylum seekers in Benin as of November 2025. These individuals, often deprived of land and livestock, face challenges accessing basic services, requiring the incoming authorities to respect international obligations and coordinate humanitarian assistance.

Strengthening access to economic, social, and cultural rights

Development projects have led to thousands of forced evictions, often without fair compensation. Elected authorities must ensure fair compensation and adequate rehousing solutions for victims. In 2023, patients were illegally detained in the Mènontin district hospital for non-payment of medical fees, highlighting the need for effective access to maternity care and essential health services.

Restrictions on the right to strike, limiting it to 10 days per year for most employees and banning it entirely in the health sector, should be revised to guarantee the right to strike and apply restrictions only to essential services.

“Our recommendations are not exhaustive, but they provide a roadmap for strengthening respect for human rights. We call on all political parties and candidates to commit to this,” said Dieudonné Dagbéto.

Signatories:

Amnesty International
Association des Blogueurs du Bénin
Association des Jeunes Juristes du Bénin
Association des Jeunes Juristes Diplomates et Politistes du Bénin (AJJuDIP Bénin)
Centre de formation en mécanisme de protection des droits humains
Coalition des défenseurs des droits humains (CDDH) Bénin
Commission béninoise des droits de l’Homme
Human Rights Priority
Internet society (ISOC) – Bénin
Social Watch Bénin (SWB)
Union des Scolaires et Étudiants du Bénin
Union nationale des médias en ligne (UNAMEL)
Voix et actions citoyennes
Wanep – Bénin