Experts of the Committee on the Rights of Migrant Workers Congratulate Benin on Efforts to Protect Human Rights in West Africa, Raise Questions on the e-Diaspora Platform and Expulsions
The Committee on the Protection of the Rights of All Migrant Workers and Members of their Families today concluded its consideration of the initial report of Benin, with Committee Experts congratulating the State for its quest to protect human rights in West Africa, while raising questions about the e-diaspora platform and expulsions.
A Committee Expert congratulated Benin for its tireless quest to protect human rights in West Africa.
Myriam Poussi, Committee Expert and Country Rapporteur, asked if the e-diaspora online platform was already established? If so, how was it being managed? How was it ensured that migrant workers, especially those in an irregular situation, signed up to it? How was it ensured that authorities applied the Convention directly?
A Committee Expert asked about the competent authority to declare an expulsion? What was the process of expelling someone and did migrants have the option to appeal this decision? Was there any available data on expulsions?
The delegation said the e-diaspora platform was launched by the Government of Benin in 2024 to promote consular registration for Benin nationals abroad. This gave them a consular identification, along with a certificate which allowed them to access administrative documents from abroad. Users filled out a form online, which enabled the Government to gather data on the country’s diaspora. There was a consular service for supporting Benin nationals abroad. There were around 1,000 Beninese nationals abroad already using the platform.
The delegation said an expulsion of an individual was declared by the Ministry of the Interior. The 1986 law was quite outdated, and the kind of expulsion it dealt with was not necessarily used. It was possible within the legal system to appeal an expulsion decision. Expulsions and deportations were not systematic and if this was carried out, it was always done with the support of the consulate of the individual. It was only done in very specific cases.
Presenting the report, Aïmabou Guy Yvon Detchenou, Keeper of the Seals, Minister of Justice and Legislation of Benin and head of the delegation, said that with an estimated population of 12.45 million in 2021, Benin was known for its legendary hospitality and political stability, making it a preferred destination for migrant workers. Benin actively participated in regional initiatives to guarantee the free movement of people while ensuring respect for human rights, and did not require an entry visa for nationals of African countries. The Labour Code Act in Benin was based on the provisions of the Constitution to give effect to the rights and duties of migrant workers. Mr. Detchenou said Benin continued to face many challenges, including the fight against irregular migration; access for migrants, refugees and stateless persons to essential services; and the strengthening of the collection of reliable data to compile statistics and guide public policies on migration, among other issues.
In concluding remarks, Ms. Poussi thanked Benin for the dialogue, which had made it possible to assess Benin’s commitment to uphold the rights of migrant workers and their families. The Committee had seen that Benin was taking steps to successfully manage migration on its territory.
In his closing remarks, Mr. Detchenou expressed gratitude to the Committee for the frank exchange and high-quality comments. The Government of Benin was committed to creating a migration framework founded on human dignity and solidarity.
The delegation of Benin was comprised of representatives from the Ministry of Justice and Legislation; the Ministry of Labour and Civil Service; the Ministry of Interior and Public Security; and the Permanent Mission of Benin to the United Nations Office in Geneva.
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The Committee will next meet at 3 p.m. on Tuesday, 3 December to review the combined second to fourth periodic report of Egypt (CMW/C/EGY/2-4).
Report
The Committee has before it the initial report of Benin (CMW/C/BEN/1).
Presentation of Report
AÏMABOU GUY YVON DETCHENOU, Keeper of the Seals, Minister of Justice and Legislation of Benin and head of the delegation, said Benin's initial report highlighted the State’s efforts to achieve the objectives of the Convention in a regional context marked by migration. Benin was a West-African country with 121 kilometres of coastline. Benin was a territory of origin during the era of the triangular trade and the slave trade, sharing 2,123 kilometres of land borders with four countries: Burkina Faso, Niger, Nigeria and Togo. The country was divided into 12 departments. With an estimated population of 12.45 million in 2021, Benin was known for its legendary hospitality and political stability, making it a preferred destination for migrant workers. It was now a country of both transit and destination for migratory flows. These realities presented complex challenges but also the opportunity to strengthen human rights and promote best practices in migration.
Benin was a member of the Economic Community of West African States, the treaty which recognised the principle of free movement of persons and goods, as well as their right to residence. Benin actively participated in regional initiatives to guarantee the free movement of people while ensuring respect for human rights, and did not require an entry visa for nationals of African countries. The country was working to strengthen international partnerships to respond to the migration and humanitarian crises, and had conducted several bilateral agreements in this regard. Measures had also been taken to strengthen the human rights framework; facilitate the professional integration of migrants; and combat trafficking in persons. The Constitution determined the framework of Benin's policy on combatting all forms of discrimination. Foreigners in the country enjoyed the same rights and freedoms as Beninese citizens.
Benin was a party to significant International Labour Organization conventions which regulated the living conditions of migrant workers. The Labour Code Act in Benin was based on the provisions of the Constitution to give effect to the rights and duties of migrant workers. These included their access to education and vocational training services, affiliation to the national social security fund, protection against unfair dismissal, forced labour and cruel, inhuman and degrading treatment, and the promotion of their right to be active in a trade union organization. Migrant workers and members of their families could apply to the ordinary courts the same way as nationals. Benin had undertaken significant reforms to harmonise its legal framework with international standards, including measures to guarantee the rights of migrant workers, and to promote hosting and protecting asylum seekers, stateless persons and refugees. The country had also recently adopted a national strategy to prevent statelessness.
Benin had experienced massive influxes of asylum seekers, due to terrorist threats and attacks across the sub-region; 9,392 new asylum seekers had been registered in Atacora, who had collectively obtained refugee status in December 2023 and benefited from the rights in law no. 2022-31 of 20 December 2023 on the status of refugees and stateless persons. The number of people forced to flee neighbouring countries was increasing. In Benin, the population of refugees and asylum seekers had increased from 5,041 on 30 May 2023 to 14,243 on 29 May 2024, an increase of 64.61 per cent. Faced with this increase in numbers, Benin had made three new commitments for the benefit of refugees for the period 2024-2027 at the Second Global Refugee Forum held in Geneva in 2023. These included to strengthen the accommodation capacity of 2,000 host families by 2027; guarantee the non-discriminatory insurance coverage of 3,000 refugees in health facilities; and ensure access to education for 5,000 refugee children.
Benin continued to face many challenges, including the fight against irregular migration; access for migrants, refugees and stateless persons to essential services; and the strengthening of the collection of reliable data to compile statistics and guide public policies on migration, among other issues. Mr. Detchenou said the dialogue with the Committee was an opportunity to receive informed recommendations that would guide work to increase respect for the rights of all migrant workers and members of their families.
Questions by Committee Experts
MYRIAM POUSSI, Committee Expert and Country Rapporteur, expressed hope that the dialogue would be fruitful and constructive. Benin was congratulated for having published their declaration of competence under articles 76 and 77 of the Convention on individual communications. This commitment contributed to the strengthening of the Convention and the Committee’s mandate. What was the content of specific laws, particularly the law from 1986, which dealt with foreigners in Benin. Which of the provisions under the Children’s Code were connected to the Convention? What were the preconditions for acquiring Benin nationality for migrant workers and their family members? What was the context of the text regulating housing for foreigners in Benin?
Since the ratification of the Convention, what specific steps had been taken to harmonise domestic legislation with the Convention? There were two laws in Benin governing nationality, one from 2022 and one from 1965. What was the relationship between the two texts? Why were there two acts dealing with nationality? There were several workplace agreements being negotiated between Benin and the Gulf countries. At what stage of negotiations was the State at currently? Were these negotiations moving forward?
Several documents described the migratory policy in Benin which was currently being created. What was the status of the drafting of those documents? Was the process still underway? Was it inclusive of civil society and what was the timeframe? Was the e-diaspora online platform already established? If so, how was it being managed? How was it ensured that migrant workers, especially those in an irregular situation, signed up to it? How was it ensured that authorities applied the Convention directly?
There had been a great deal of developments by Benin in terms of projects and programmes dedicated to reducing the impact of climate change. This bore testimony to the country’s awareness of the damaging impacts of climate change, and the firm will of the Government to mitigate those changes. However, it would be useful for the Committee to know which categories specifically related to migrant workers. What normative, institutional procedures had been undertaken by Benin to ensure discrimination did not exist in the country? What were the preconditions in Benin for a foreigner to gain formal status?
SABRINA GAHAR, Committee Expert and Country Rapporteur, said Benin’s presence in Geneva showed the country’s commitment to respecting the rights of all migrant workers and their families. Benin was characterised by its rich history and efforts to move towards a stable democracy. The country had made significant progress in education and health, despite the challenges which remained. Benin had committed to the principles of free movements of persons and goods and had undertaken commitments in the area of migration, seeking to guarantee the rights of migrants and their social cohesion. Was the State party planning to ratify the Optional Protocol relating to the complaints procedure of the Convention on the Rights of the Child? Was Benin planning to ratify African treaties on migration and labour, and the International Labour Organization convention relating to refugees in Africa?
At the national level, the Committee took note of the adoption of texts to protect migrant workers. What were the provisions which guaranteed nationality to stateless children? What was the monitoring mechanism for the programme of training Benin workers abroad? What return and reintegration support did Benin workers have? The Committee took good note of a significant number of non-State actors, including civil society. Had the Government set up a consultation structural mechanism involving State structures concerned by migration? What mechanisms enabled different civil society organizations to defend the rights of migrant workers?
What was the State’s commitment to strengthen the Human Rights Commission of Benin to enable it to effectively carry out its mandate in compliance with the Paris Principles? What measures were being taken to collect different data concerning State nationals working abroad in an irregular situation? Did Benin have recent disaggregated data relating to work force flows in and out of the country? What was the mortality rate among migrant workers? What strategies were in place to reduce youth and child mortality and the ritual killing of children?
EDGAR CORZO SOSA, Committee Expert and Country Rapporteur, congratulated the members of the delegation for the efforts they had made to be here in Geneva, which demonstrated Benin’s goodwill and resolute attitude. How did the State’s legislation reflect the provisions of the Convention? What was in the pipeline to ensure that the content of the Convention was aligned with national provisions? Given its large size, was there a plan to ensure the informal sector could move towards the formal sector? What action was being taken to ensure workers in this sector could have their rights upheld? If the Constitutional provisions contradicted international standards, what would the response be? Would the Convention or the Constitution prevail? What steps had the State party taken to implement the recent recommendations of the Committee of the Rights of Persons with Disabilities to take into account the situation of migrants with disabilities and provide them with the necessary documents to enjoy freedom of movement? It would be worth trying to address the system of people smuggling.
A Committee Expert said information received stated that immigrants from China, India and Lebanon exceeded those from West African countries in Benin. Were these statistics accurate? Did this reflect the accurate picture of migrant workers in Benin? Why were Asian workers attracted to Benin more than the neighbouring States, especially those in Africa? Was the Convention being implemented and all migrants being provided with the same set of rights?
Another Expert congratulated Benin on ratifying International Labour Organization Convention 143. Was the State party considering ratifying the supplementary convention? Benin had not yet ratified two core International Labour Organization conventions. Would the State also consider ratifying Convention 189 on domestic workers and Convention 190 on violence and harassment? What measures had the State party adopted to combat people smuggling?
A Committee Expert congratulated Benin for its tireless quest to protect human rights in West Africa. Benin was commended for access to the Benin Constitutional Court. Why would a foreign national or migrant who had respected the necessary steps at the border be obliged to declare their presence in the country? How was this decree implemented? Were there any procedures which would allow for migrant status to change from irregular to regular?
How did the Government manage to draw up programmes if there was no reliable data? What was the role of the decentralised authorities in migration management? Were efforts being made to record the number of migrant workers in the prison population? Was the Government obliged to detain migrants in the same places as those with criminal sentences? It could be worth investigating alternative measures to detention. Was the Government undertaking efforts to ensure that Benin workers abroad could participate in public life?
Responses by the Delegation
The delegation said the law governing the regime for foreign nationals covered entry, residency and exit of foreign nationals from the country. It dated from 1986. When foreign nationals arrived, they could stay in hotels or with relatives, and were registered at a police station or a local authority. To have access to a resident permit, one needed to justify the reason for their stay. The timeframe for processing permits was 45 days. To enter Benin, foreign nationals whose States did not have agreements for visas with Benin, could obtain a visa online. This could be obtained almost instantaneously. All Africans could come to Benin for 90 days without requiring a visa. People coming from China, India and Lebanon created companies and looked for a labour force from their own countries. They had to request and obtain permits which could help explain the statistics in the report.
The e-Disapora platform was launched by the Government of Benin in 2024 to promote consular registration for Benin nationals abroad. This gave them a consular identification, along with a certificate which allowed them to access administrative documents from abroad. Users filled out a form online, which enabled the Government to gather data on the country’s diaspora. There was a consular service for supporting Benin nationals abroad. There were around 1,000 Beninese nationals abroad already using the platform.
Benin had bilateral negotiations with Gulf countries, including Kuwait. The Government aimed to forge a win-win partnership for the mobility of workers. Last week, Benin took part in the International Organization on Migration meeting in Geneva and had been able to present this vision. Migration needed to be placed at the heart of these partnerships.
In the upcoming months, the Government would be reforming the regime for foreign nationals in Benin. There were severe penalties set out for an irregular stay. If someone could not produce the necessary documents and justify their statements, they would be invited to leave. There was an opportunity to appeal a decision of expulsion.
Benin had a population policy in place since 1987, but this did not allow the State to properly address the phenomenon on migration. A study was undertaken in June 2024 which provided qualitative data on migration. However, there was still not enough disaggregated data to fully understand the migration situation in the country in its entirety. There was a need to coordinate all Government services holistically to have a better understanding of what was being done across the board. This ongoing work was still a live project, and the State looked forward to the adoption of the migratory policy which would arise from this work.
Migrant workers in Benin were considered to be the same as Benin citizens, which was why they could access the justice system and social security. The State authorities had not recorded any discriminatory situations. Benin was working hard to ratify the international instruments which were useful and necessary for the country. The State did not automatically plan to ratify all instruments if there was no phenomenon locally which related to them.
In the case of conflict between domestic law and a convention, the convention took precedence automatically. If there was incompatibility between a convention and the Constitution, the Constitution would have to be amended and revised before the convention could be ratified. There was a law adopted in December 2022 on statelessness, which enshrined in domestic law the principles and provisions and particular elements of the convention relating to that portion of the population. When foreigners in Benin were in an irregular situation, it would be ensured that the necessary provisions were being observed if any deportation or expulsion was carried out.
It would be helpful if the Committee could clarify the question on ritualistic killings. There could sometimes be logic adopted by different authorities, and responses could be contradictory; laws could not be adopted which ran contrary to the different conventions that the State had ratified. There were mechanisms which ensured the law was in line with conventions, and laws could be amended as necessary. A conformity check happened between existing laws and international conventions.
Questions by Committee Experts
MYRIAM POUSSI, Committee Expert and Country Rapporteur, said when it came to entry visas, Benin automatically issued them to all Africans who wished to come. Had this had an impact on the flow of arrivals and a knock-on effect on the number of migrant workers arriving? Had this created challenges in Benin regarding the steps taken to ensure the rights of foreigners in the country? The replies stated that there were no recorded cases of forced servitude or sexual exploitation of migrant workers. What steps was Benin taking to combat trafficking in human beings, including migrants? What was the profile of victims of trafficking?
What were the discretionary grounds on which a residency permit could be refused? Could the person appeal a rejection decision in the 72-hour period before they were required to leave the national territory?
SABRINA GAHAR, Committee Expert and Country Rapporteur, said a number of migrant workers in Benin were employed in the informal sector, making them vulnerable to violations of their labour rights. Did Benin plan to improve the monitoring and implementation of the relevant laws? What were the number of cases of violence against women and girls? Could information be provided concerning measures taken by the State party to combat any form of violence, racism or xenophobia?
According to a report published by the United Nations Children’s Fund in 2015, one girl in 10 was married before the age of 15, and three in 10 were married before the age of 18. Certain families believed early marriage to be a solution, and girls were urged to marry foreigners or older persons for money. What were the Government’s efforts to eliminate child marriage by 2030? What facilities had been established to support access to family reunification? What efforts had been undertaken to mitigate the impact of climate change? Did law 21226 on preventing violence against women extend to protecting female migrant workers and their daughters? Some reports suggested that Benin did not provide appropriate protection services to victims of human trafficking. What legal steps were taken to pursue perpetrators? What compensation was provided to victims, particularly psychosocial support?
EDGAR CORZO SOSA, Committee Expert and Country Rapporteur, asked what had been done to resolve the challenge of implementing the Convention? There was a low level of awareness of the Convention, particularly among workers in the informal sector. What was being done to eliminate that challenge? What programmes and mechanisms were in place to support migrants with disabilities? Could information be provided on people smuggling; what was the situation? Had there been any perpetrators sentenced for this offence? Was there a reasonable deadline for any deportation to be carried out? What was the specific participation of civil society in the drafting of the report?
A Committee Expert asked what was being done to strengthen the capacity of border forces? Had there been trainings organised relating to human rights? What was the capacity of diplomatic missions to deal with the new visa system? What was the main purpose of exploitation; why were people in the country trafficked? What was the main reason that people chose to emigrate from Benin? Was there a sustainable system of communication with the diaspora? What was the scale of remittances from migrant workers? What was the current situation of Benin’s children abroad?
Another Expert commended Benin for their commitment to their treaty obligations. It had been proven that migration was inter-African. This was why African countries needed to make resolutions to use African labour, to harness their own development. What was the ranking of the Benin Human Rights Commissioner? Were labour inspectors able to travel to conduct inspections?
A Committee Expert asked about the role of the Benin Human Rights Commissioner in the protection of migrant workers and their families? What resources were available to the High Commissioner to ensure his office could discharge its mandate effectively? How did an exit visa work in practice? Who was the competent authority to declare an expulsion? What was the process of expelling someone and did migrants have the option to appeal this decision? Was there any available data on expulsions?
Responses by the Delegation
The delegation said the law on foreign nationals in Benin had been adopted a while ago with a view on territorial protection, but today Benin was open to the world. Visas were no longer a requirement for any African. There was a hefty system for obtaining a resident permit, but there had still been a lot of progress concerning legislation of the past. The expulsion of an individual was declared by the Ministry of the Interior. Borders in Benin were porous, so there could be many people who passed into the country without passing through the proper border posts. There was a fluid movement of people with the neighbouring countries. Between Benin and Nigeria, there were around 400 possible passage posts; it was not possible to have customs posts at all these locations. It was not so much about checking who was going where, but more about ensuring these people received the appropriate services when they were registered. It could not be ascertained that anyone who was arriving in Benin was a foreign worker. Benin still needed a better method to assess the reason for journeys.
It was possible that cases concerning the forced servitude of migrant workers had been settled outside of the courts, which was why they had not been recorded. There were different levels of control to tackle violence against minors. A police body conducted research and issued penalties in cases of abuse of minors. There was an office responsible for minors, which carried out visits to children’s centres, schools and shelters, to check for any cases of abuse. A centrally coordinating office was responsible for women’s rights; it received reports and complaints relating to any gender-based threat. This office could trigger the justice system and had significant resources, including legal aid and psychosocial and medical support at their disposal.
There was no discrimination in accessing the justice system in Benin. As of October 2024, the country had established a legal aid mechanism which would be rolled out country-wide in 2025. People who came into the country informally were not automatically included in administrative processes, including in social security and the mainstream health services. They needed to be invited to sign-in to procedures, which depended on their formalisation with the different responsible authorities. Since 2012, there could not be a religious marriage without a legal marriage. Awareness raising was ongoing in different communities. Everybody in Benin benefitted from legal protection, including migrants.
The informal sector in Benin represented a significant challenge. Benin was trying to improve operations to have better statistics and to better implement the provisions of the Convention. Migrant workers benefitted from the same system as workers who were citizens. It needed to be ensured that migrant workers who did not speak French could be fully apprised of their rights in their own language. Legal aid included an element for access to rights, including guidelines published in French and English, to ensure better dissemination. The State recently established a digital resource which comprised the applicable laws and all of the international conventions ratified by Benin, to ensure everyone had access to all these documents.
There was no system where a convention was above the Constitution; if there was an instance where there was a clash, the Constitution would need to be changed before the convention could be ratified. Once ratified, conventions could be invoked in domestic laws and in the courts. Laws had been put in place to ensure comprehensive support for persons with disabilities. The laws were producing some change.
The 1986 law was quite outdated, and the kind of expulsion it dealt with was not necessarily used. It was possible within the legal system to appeal an expulsion decision. The report was the result of an inclusive process and was drafted in full support with civil society.
The Criminal Code adopted in 2019 took into account offences, including human trafficking. An institutional framework had been established to deal with cross-border trafficking in adults, and to combat trafficking in vulnerable persons and minors.
Regarding remittances, there was a free transfer of funds overseen by the West African Monetary Union. There was a limit of four million dollars for cash transfers. Labour inspectors had a vehicle to conduct their visits.
Benin was currently trying to develop infrastructure to ensure separation between men, women and children in prisons. The State tried to ensure a policy of zero children in prison. Unfortunately, there was significant delay in building the infrastructure required. There were different provisions for mediation within the Children’s Code.
The current framework did not allow foreign nationals in Benin to vote, but Beninese nationals abroad could vote.
The delegation said the e-Visa was an emblematic measure taken by the Government to facilitate migratory movement. This mechanism was established in 2018, through a complete digitisation of the visa process. Anyone wishing to visit Benin no longer had to visit a consulate but could fill out forms online. Visas arrived within 24 hours and could be used to enter Benin with no other kind of formality. This placed Benin at the forefront of African countries, compared to their African counterparts, and had led to an increase in arrivals coming to Benin. Benin had also committed to an active reciprocal process with many countries across different continents.
In 2016, there were steps put in place for all Africans coming to Benin, where visas were not required, which highlighted the country’s commitment to African integration. Benin believed there needed to be free movement on the African continent. It was easier for Europeans to visit Africa than for Africans to go to other countries on their own continent; this was an aberration. Benin supported the agreement on free movement but wanted to see other countries implementing it.
A project had been set up to strengthen border management, funded by the International Labour Organization, which allowed for a data collection system at the border. Five border posts had also been renovated.
Benin had approved a project entitled “Strengthening Community Resilience” in the context of climate change, in partnership with the International Organization on Migration. Benin had an ambitious national policy to combatting climate change, and had recently launched a national climate finance platform, which was a first for Africa.
The diaspora played an essential role in Benin’s society. A platform was in place which allowed all national services and services abroad to be brought to the diaspora, through the national public service portal. Benin had been working with the International Organization on Migration to develop a system which allowed travellers to be recorded more easily. This was set up at some posts and the central office, but had yet to be rolled out to all crossings. This would allow the collection of more reliable data.
Expulsions and deportations were not systematic, and if this was carried out, it was always done with the support of the consulate of the individual. It was only done in very specific cases. People were given the opportunity to regularise their status beforehand. The children of migrant workers obtained a residency visa of one year to facilitate family reunification.
Questions by Committee Experts
SABRINA GAHAR, Committee Expert and Country Rapporteur, asked what alternatives were available for mothers and children who were in prison? What about those who gave birth in the prison system?
EDGAR CORZO SOSA, Committee Expert and Country Rapporteur, said it was understood that the act from 1986 was outdated. There was a need to update it. It was in the interest of the State to make fund transfers as flexible as possible.
A Committee Expert asked what resources were available for the labour inspectorate to conduct spot checks? Did they have the resources to properly assess businesses and settle disputes related to workers?
Responses by the Delegation
The delegation said juvenile judges received specialised training. It was necessary to make this training even more specific, to ensure there were appropriate facilities for children. The reform of the 1986 law would be finalised next year.
The mobile money initiative was currently the primary channel for the transfer of funds. Benin was currently one of the African countries with the most developed financial services. The State also helped shoulder the costs of negotiations which took place internationally. Investment in development aimed to target savings for the diaspora. Benin hoped to be able to follow examples of good practices seen elsewhere in the world.
Closing Remarks
MYRIAM POUSSI, Committee Expert and Country Rapporteur, thanked Benin for the dialogue, which had made it possible to assess Benin’s commitment to uphold the rights of migrant workers and their families. The Committee had seen that Benin was taking steps to successfully manage migration on its territory. The dialogue had exposed a few gaps, notably statistics, which made it difficult for the Committee to objectively assess the efforts being made by the State party. Ms. Poussi congratulated the State party and urged Benin to take the challenge of statistics onboard.
SABRINA GAHAR, Committee Expert and Country Rapporteur, thanked the delegation from Benin. It was understood that Benin was fully committed to implementing the Convention. The delegation’s proactive attitude and candour was appreciated. The Committee stood ready to support Benin in their next periodic report.
EDGAR CORZO SOSA, Committee Expert and Country Rapporteur, said the dialogue had been optimistic. There were many actions Benin could take to bring the Constitution into line with the Convention. It was hoped the next report would be submitted on time.
AÏMABOU GUY YVON DETCHENOU, Keeper of the Seals, Minister of Justice and Legislation of Benin and head of the delegation, expressed gratitude to the Committee for the frank exchange and high-quality comments. The Government of Benin was committed to creating a migration framework founded on human dignity and solidarity. The State was committed to reforming the migration policy, which would make it possible to return to the Committee with a report which contained figures and statistics.
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