CAT/OP/BEN/3
I. Introduction
1.
The Subcommittee on Prevention of Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or
Degrading Treatment or Punishment undertook its second visit to Benin from 11 to 15
January 2016 in accordance with articles 11 and 13 (4) of the Optional Protocol to the
Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or
Punishment.
2.
The delegation was made up of the following members of the Subcommittee: Mr.
Victor Madrigal-Borloz (head of delegation), Mr. Gnambi Garba Kodjo, Mr. Paul Lam
Shang Leen, Ms. Radhia Nasraoui and Ms. Catherine Paulet.
3.
The Subcommittee members were assisted by four staff members of the Office of
the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, including two security officers.
4.
The Subcommittee visited several types of place of deprivation of liberty. 1
5.
The Subcommittee met and held discussions with the relevant Beninese authorities,
the Human Rights Advisory Council, civil society organizations and the bar association of
Cotonou, as well as with representatives of the United Nations Development Programme.
The Subcommittee wishes to thank them for the valuable information they provided.
6.
The purpose of the visit was to follow up on the implementation of the
recommendations made by the Subcommittee after its first regular visit to the country, from
17 to 26 May 2008.2 The visit enabled the Subcommittee to observe the progress made
towards implementing the recommendations contained in the previous report and the efforts
still to be made by the State party.
7.
On 15 January 2016, at the conclusion of the visit, the Subcommittee presented its
confidential preliminary observations orally to the Beninese authorities. They were able to
provide initial replies to some of the Subcommittee’s concerns.
8.
The present report uses the generic term “ill-treatment” to refer to any form of cruel,
inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment.
9.
In view of the limited progress achieved, the observations and recommendations
made in the Subcommittee’s previous report are still fully valid and applicable. That report
therefore remains in force.
10.
The present report will remain confidential until such time as the Beninese
authorities decide to make it public, as stipulated in article 16 (2) of the Optional Protocol.
The Subcommittee wishes to draw the State party’s attention to the possibility of applying
for funding from the Special Fund established pursuant to article 26 of the Optional
Protocol, for specific projects to implement the recommendations contained in the present
report, on condition that the report has been made public.
11.
The Subcommittee recommends that Benin consider publishing this report in
accordance with article 16 (2) of the Optional Protocol.
II. Facilitation of the visit and cooperation
12.
The Subcommittee wishes to express its gratitude to the Beninese authorities for
their excellent cooperation and their facilitation of the visit. It wishes, in particular, to thank
the Government of Benin for granting it unrestricted access to places of detention in
conformity with the Optional Protocol and designating as the liaison officer and
intermediary for the Subcommittee Mr. Boris Tokpanou, whose diligence helped facilitate
the on-site visit. It also thanks the Permanent Mission of Benin to the United Nations Office
at Geneva, with which the Subcommittee had a constructive dialogue.
1
2
GE.18-16165
See list in annex II.
See CAT/OP/BEN/1.
3