Benin halfway through implementing UPR recommendations
Benin underwent its fourth Universal Periodic Review (UPR) on January 26, 2023. On that occasion, 99 States made 258 recommendations to Benin, of which 234 were accepted (a 90.70% acceptance rate). Benin is currently in the implementation phase of the recommendations from this fourth UPR cycle.
Considering the UPR as a process whose success lies in a multi-stakeholder national commitment, UPR Info has committed to supporting all national actors to ensure effective ownership of the review outcomes, and especially the concrete implementation of the recommendations made.
As we approach the end of the second year since the adoption of the UPR report, best practices require that Benin and other stakeholders submit mid-term reports before the end of this year. In this context, from March 31 to April 4, UPR Info, in partnership with Changement Social Bénin (CSB), organized capacity-building workshops for civil society, the CBDH, and government representatives to share best practices for drafting mid-term reports. The workshop on drafting mid-term reports was organized as three separate events. Over 22 civil society representatives and 9 representatives from the CBDH participated in the workshop held from March 31 to April 1, 2025.
In 2024, UPR Info supported the Government of Benin, the Beninese Human Rights Commission (CBDH), and civil society in taking ownership of the recommendations from the fourth UPR cycle. A particular focus was placed on the importance of developing follow-up strategies for the implementation of these recommendations.
More than 14 officials representing 11 government ministries participated in the session from April 1 to 2, 2025. During these workshops, both groups reviewed the functioning of the UPR mechanism and the roles of stakeholders within it. Participants analyzed the structure and content of mid-term reports, with a particular focus on best practices in report writing and the identification of appropriate indicators.
Group work also allowed for the drafting of report proposals, taking into account each actor’s specific areas of intervention.
On April 4, a presentation of the results of the follow-up on the implementation of recommendations and the civil society roadmap was held for diplomatic missions based in Cotonou. Over 13 diplomatic missions and UN agencies engaged in dialogue with civil society regarding monitoring data related to recommendations on education (preschool and primary), detention conditions, and gender-based violence, as well as the civil society roadmap to support implementation.
Civil society, the CBDH, and government representatives had the opportunity to come together to assess the progress made in implementing the recommendations at the mid-point of the fourth cycle and at the beginning of a new UPR cycle. They proposed improvement actions to be taken.
“We are very satisfied with these workshops. The exercise is very new to us, but now we are well equipped to better draft the reports, ” Mr. Abdel Aziz AKAMBI from the CBDH stated.
These workshops served as a valuable opportunity to strengthen stakeholder engagement and ensure that mid-term report drafting is carried out under optimal conditions. Thanks to this initiative, civil society, the CBDH, and government representatives are now better equipped to rigorously monitor the implementation of recommendations and ensure their tangible impact.