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 AFROL
Gender Profiles:
Benin
Benin, a small country west of Nigeria, nominally is one of the
world's poorest, qualifying for HIPC debt relief in 2000. Through
its high dependency on agricultural export products and falling
world market prices, Benin has had difficulties escaping the poverty
trap. Life remains mostly rural and traditions prevail.
Despite of constitutional prohibition, societal discrimination of
women continues. Violence and abuse of women are considered a family
matter.
Female Genital Mutilation is practiced in the northern provinces of
the country.
Each woman
averagely gives birth to 6,32 children (2000 est).
Social data
Life expectancy: Total population: 50,18 years
male: 49,24 years
female: 51,16 years (2000 est.)
Infant mortality: 90,84 deaths/1,000 live births (2000 est.)
Alphabetization rate: Total population: 37%
male: 48.7%
female: 25,8% (1995 est.)
Medical services: 42% of the population have access to medical services.
(14.286 persons per doctor)
Sex ratio: at birth: 1,03 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1,02 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0,93 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0,76 male(s)/female
total population: 0,97 male(s)/female (2000 est.)
Religious data: Muslim 13,75%, traditional African religions
62,56%, Christian 23,69%
Family and tradition
Some traditional practices inflict hardship and violence on children, including most prominently the custom of "vidomegon," whereby poor, often rural, families place a child, primarily a daughter, in the home of a more wealthy family. In July the Ministry of Justice launched a nationwide publicity campaign to alert parents regarding the risks of placing their children in vidomegon and to inform adults with vidomegon children of their responsibilities and of the children's rights.
There were no reports of any action in the case of the official detained for beating a 12-year-old maid to death in 1996.
Other traditional practices include the killing of deformed babies, breech babies, and one of two newborn twins (all of whom are thought to be sorcerers in some rural areas). There is also a tradition in which a groom abducts and rapes his prospective child (under 14 years of age) bride. Criminal courts mete out stiff sentences to criminals convicted of crimes against children, but many such crimes never reach the courts.
There are active women's rights groups that have been effective in drafting a family code that would improve the status of women and children under the law. The draft code has yet to be adopted by the National Assembly, although it has been on the legislature's agenda for more than a year and has been considered by parliamentary committees. Many observers believe that consideration of the draft was postponed because of provisions that would threaten male prerogatives, which is a highly volatile political issue. Action on the draft code is not anticipated until a new legislature convenes.
Gender sensitivity in society
The Constitution prohibits discrimination based on race, sex, and religion, but societal discrimination against women
continues.
Although the Constitution provides for equality for women in the political, economic, and social spheres, women experience extensive societal discrimination, especially in rural areas where they occupy a subordinate role and are responsible for much of the hard labor on subsistence farms. In urban areas, women dominate the trading sector in the open-air markets. By law women have equal inheritance and property rights, but local custom in some areas prevents them from inheriting real property. Women do not enjoy the same educational opportunities as men, and female literacy is about 16 percent (compared with 32 percent for males). However, elementary school pass rates in recent years highlighted significant progress by girls in literacy and scholastic achievement.
The Ministry of Labor and Social Affairs is responsible for the protection of children's rights, primarily in the areas of education and health. In particular the Government is trying to boost primary school enrollment, which is only about 66 percent. In some parts of the country, girls receive no formal education.
Health data
Access to potable water: 56%
Medical services: 42% of the population have access to medical services.
(14.286 persons per doctor)
Maternal mortality rate: 990/100.000
Infant mortality: 90,84 deaths/1,000 live births (2000 est.)
Female Genital Mutilation (FGM): Between 5 and 50% of females undergo this
procedure.
The Government has been less successful in combating female genital mutilation (FGM), which is not illegal. FGM is widely condemned by international health experts as damaging to both physical and psychological health. FGM, or excision, is practiced on females ranging from infancy through 30 years of age. Studies vary widely and suggest that as few as 5 percent or as many as 50 percent of women are affected by this practice, mostly in the northern provinces. The actual incidence probably falls between these estimates. A prominent NGO, the Benin chapter of the Inter-African Committee, has made progress in raising awareness of the dangers of the practice; the Government has cooperated with its efforts. According to recent research, there is a strong profit motive in the continued practice of FGM by those who perform the procedure, usually older women. The Government, in cooperation with NGO's, held workshops during the year aimed at eradicating the practice. One NGO paid those who perform the procedure to abandon their profession.
Violence against women
While no statistics are available, violence against women, including wife beating,
occurs. The press sometimes reports incidents of abuse of women, but judges and police are reluctant to intervene in domestic disputes, considering such disputes a family matter.
Main sources: U.S. Department of State, CIA,
UN, HRW, Mundo negro
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