CEDAW: Women in Benin facing violations of human rights due to forced eviction

Two civil society groups, Organisation Non Gouvernementale d’Appui au Militantisme et à l’Autonomisation d’un Monde Rural Responsable et Engagé (AMARRE-Bénin) and Coopérative des Artisans-Maraichers-Pêcheurs de Ouidah (AMAPECH) have submitted a parallel report on Benin – with the support of FIAN International – to the Committee on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW).

Forced evictions in Kouvènanfidé village, to make way for a holiday resort and coastal road, have resulted in multiple violations of human rights including the right to food and nutrition, right to land, right to water, right to adequate housing, right to health, right to education, right to work, right to a clean, healthy and sustainable environment, right to cultural life and the right to obtain justice and redress in a timely manner. Although all community members have been affected, this parallel report focused on women’s rights.

Community members have lost property and assets including houses, land, crops and income generating means that helped them to feed themselves and be financially independent. Today they live in precarious conditions with rising poverty and uncertainty for the future.

“Forced eviction have caused physical and psychological suffering to community members and particularly women. Pregnant and breastfeeding women find it hard to have enough nutrients for their infants and children. At the same time when they are sick, it is very difficult for them to access health centers, which are very far from the relocation site,” says Jerry Tciakpe, project and communication manager at AMARRE-Bénin.

The lack of adequate compensation continues to push community members further into hardship, particularly among those who were not relocated. Some community members sleep outdoors and women in particular are exposed to a range of dangers, including sexual violence.

“The government of Benin must comply more with its international human rights obligations and ensure particularly that women’s rights are protected in this case of forced eviction,” says Valentin Hategekimana, Africa Coordinator at FIAN International

“Those responsible for the human rights violations must be held accountable,”.

Read the full CEDAW parallel report on Benin here.

For more information, please contact Valentin Hategekimana hategekimana@fian.org

Photo credit: AMARRE-Bénin