CMNT_TITLE

Forced Labour Convention, 1930 (No. 29) - Benin (RATIFICATION: 1960)

Other comments on C029

Observation

Direct Request

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Articles 1(1), 2(1) and 25 of the Convention. Trafficking in persons. In its previous comments, the Committee stressed the need to broaden the scope of the measures adopted to combat trafficking in persons, both at the legislative level and in the areas of awareness raising and the protection of victims. In its report, the Government reiterates that trafficking mainly concerns children and that all attempts are being made to eradicate it. From the legislative standpoint, the Government refers to the adoption of Act No. 2011-26 of 9 January 2012 concerning the prevention and elimination of violence against women and states that a bill on combating trafficking in persons is being drafted with support from the European Union. Finally, the Government provides statistics on violence against women for the 2011–13 period, which specifically list cases of trafficking in children and forced marriages.

The Committee takes note of this information. It notes that the Act of 2012 concerning the prevention and elimination of violence against women criminalizes and penalizes forced prostitution. Given that the legislative framework for combating trafficking is still incomplete, the Committee hopes that the Government will take the necessary measures to adopt the bill against trafficking in persons in the very near future and that its scope will extend to all the victims and all forms of trafficking, irrespective of whether it is for sexual or labour exploitation. The Committee hopes that the Government will take this opportunity to strengthen the institutional framework for combating trafficking, by incorporating these efforts into a strategy that comprises a number of components, namely prevention, capacity building and the coordination of the competent authorities in this area (labour inspectorate, police, public prosecutor and judiciary), as well as protection for the victims. Finally, the Committee requests the Government to provide information on any court proceedings initiated with respect to trafficking and, when applicable, any penalties imposed.