Rights groups urge Benin political candidates to prioritize human rights News
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Rights groups urge Benin political candidates to prioritize human rights

Amnesty International, together with 13 civil society organizations, called on candidates in Benin’s upcoming legislative and presidential elections on Thursday to prioritize human rights protection within their political programs.

The rights organization noted that the deteriorating human rights situation in Benin demands political action in order to align with international human rights standards. It also outlined key human rights priorities that incoming authorities need to address, which include the rights to freedom of expression, access to justice, gender equality, disabled people’s rights, and the protection of displaced people.

Amnesty International’s Benin executive director Dieudonné Dagbéto pointed out that the civic space has been shrinking in the country due to restrictive measures imposed by authorities, such as the suspension of media outlets and the arrest of dissident voices. According to Amnesty International, these restrictions were facilitated by the inadequate and vague provisions of the Digital Code, which criminalize the spread of false information. Rights groups have previously criticized the Digital Code and urged authorities to amend it, describing it as a threat to the practice of journalism.

The right to peaceful assembly is also restricted in Benin, as the criminal code prohibits any form of gathering that could disturb public peace. In addition, the right to strike is limited to 10 days per year for all employees and is banned for healthcare workers, which seriously undermines the right to protest.

Furthermore, the organization emphasized the need to promote the rights of people with disabilities and to provide them with essential services, such as healthcare, education, and the recruitment of qualified professionals for children with intellectual disabilities. Lastly, it highlighted the high number of forcibly displaced people in Benin and urged authorities to provide them with humanitarian assistance and rehousing solutions. On this issue, Amnesty has previously found that Beninese authorities’ ambition to promote tourism and development projects resulted in the demolition of entire villages and the eviction of thousands of people, many of whom were left without compensation or alternative housing.

Benin is scheduled to hold parliamentary and municipal elections on January 11, an event considered highly significant following the thwarted military coup on December 7. The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) has previously declared a state of emergency in response to a series of attempted coups across West African countries, including Benin, and warned of potential impacts on regional security and stability. Amnesty International has previously reported that the human rights situation in Benin remains fragile, citing restrictions on freedom of expression and peaceful assembly, excessive use of force by security forces, and arbitrary detentions. The UN also urged authorities to strengthen protections for children’s rights after identifying multiple cases of child abuse.

THIS DAY @ LAW

Standard Oil incorporated

On January 10, 1870, John Davison Rockefeller incorporated Standard Oil. Rockefeller's corporation would grow to achieve a virtual monopoly over oil production in the United States. Standard Oil's dominance lasted until the corporation was split into 34 separate companies in 1911 after the Supreme Court found the company in violation of the Sherman Anti-Trust Act. The rise of Standard Oil made Rockefeller America's first billionaire and eventually the richest man in the world. Read the text of Standard Oil Co. of New Jersey vs. United States, 221 U.S. 1 (1910).