Reports
U.S. Department of State's Trafficking in Persons Report
The 2023 Trafficking in Persons Report highlighted that the Beninese government identified 1,451 trafficking victims, comprising 1,214 labour trafficking victims and 237 victims of unspecified forms of trafficking. [4]
United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC)
According to a UNODC report, Benin established the specific offense of child trafficking in 2006. However, the law did not cover trafficking in persons above the age of 18, indicating a gap in the legal framework addressing adult trafficking. [5] [6]
Verité's Assessment on Supply Chains
Verité, an organization focusing on labour rights, reported that girls were exploited in sex trafficking in urban areas of Benin. Additionally, criminal groups had been identified as traffickers of women and children for various exploitative purposes. [7]
ECPAT International
ECPAT International noted that Benin was the largest source country for trafficking victims in the Republic of Congo. The organization also reported cases of sexual exploitation of children in travel and tourism involving both girls and boys in regions such as Mono and along the shores of the Bight of Benin. [8]
Organized Crime Index
The Organized Crime Index observed that efforts to support victims of organized crime in Benin have primarily focused on child victims of human trafficking, with less attention given to adult victims. Social services have referred child victims to temporary shelters offering legal, medical, and psychological assistance, while NGOs have collaborated with the government to reunite children with their families. [3]
Prevalence
Human trafficking remains a significant concern in Benin, affecting both children and adults across various forms of exploitation. In 2023, the U.S. Department of State reported that the Beninese government identified 1,451 trafficking victims, including 1,214 individuals subjected to labor trafficking and 237 victims of unspecified forms of trafficking. [4]
The exploitation of children is particularly alarming. According to the U.S. Department of Labor, children in Benin are involved in hazardous activities such as selling smuggled gasoline on roadsides and illegally selling alcohol, cigarettes, and pharmaceutical products on the street. [9]
Benin serves as both a source and transit country for human trafficking. [8] Traffickers often exploit vulnerable women and children from impoverished northern regions, transporting them to urban centers in the south for forced labor or sexual exploitation. The Dantokpa market in Cotonou is notorious for child labor, with children as young as five engaged in various forms of exploitation. [5]
Types
Forced labour
Many victims, particularly children from rural areas, are subjected to forced labour. They are often recruited under false pretenses and exploited in sectors such as domestic servitude, agriculture, markets, and handicraft manufacturing. [10] [11] Children living in lakeside areas, including the commune of So Ava in southeast Benin, have been reported to be exploited in debt bondage. [10] [11] [12] Additionally, some Quranic schools in northern Benin exploit their students, known as talibé , in forced begging. [12]
Sex trafficking
Both women and children are vulnerable to sex trafficking in Benin. Criminals have been reported to exploit girls in sex trafficking within urban centers such as Cotonou and Malanville. Furthermore, reports indicate that girls are trafficked into Benin for sexual exploitation. [11]
International trafficking
Beninese children are trafficked to neighboring countries such as Nigeria, Gabon, and the Republic of the Congo for domestic servitude and other forms of forced labor. Conversely, individuals from countries like Togo transit through Benin en route to other destinations. [10] [11] [12]
Structural factors
Cultural practices
Certain cultural practices have been misused to facilitate trafficking. The traditional system of vidomegon involves sending children to wealthier families for educational or vocational opportunities; however, some of these children are subjected to forced labour or sexual exploitation. [10] [11] [12] Additionally, the practice of trokosi , prevalent in parts of Benin, involves young virgins being sent to shrines to atone for family transgressions, where they live as slaves to the priests, performing labor and sometimes subjected to sexual exploitation. [13]
Educational limitations
Limited access to quality education in certain areas leaves children without essential skills and knowledge, making them more vulnerable to exploitation. The lack of educational opportunities diminishes alternatives to child labor and increases the risk of trafficking. [14]
Gender inequality
Societal norms that marginalize women and girls contribute to their increased vulnerability to trafficking. Discriminatory practices limit access to education and economic opportunities, making women and girls more susceptible to exploitation. [14]
Weak legal frameworks and enforcement
Although Benin has ratified international protocols against human trafficking, gaps in national legislation and inconsistent enforcement hinder effective prevention and prosecution efforts. The absence of comprehensive laws addressing all forms of trafficking allows perpetrators to exploit legal loopholes.
Anti-trafficking laws and policies
Legal framework
In December 2018, Benin enacted a new penal code that criminalizes all forms of labor trafficking and certain forms of sex trafficking. Articles of the penal code prescribe penalties ranging from 10 to 20 years' imprisonment for these offenses. [15] [16] [17]
Law enforcement actions
The government has demonstrated efforts to enforce anti-trafficking laws. In 2023, authorities reportedly prosecuted 176 individuals for trafficking offenses, including 101 for sex trafficking, three for forced labor, and 72 for unspecified forms of trafficking. [4]
Training and capacity building
To enhance the effectiveness of law enforcement and judicial personnel, Benin has collaborated with international organizations. [19] For instance, the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime organized training workshops for magistrates and investigators focusing on the investigation, prosecution, and adjudication of trafficking-related offenses. [20]
History
Transatlantic slave trade
Between the 17th and 19th centuries, the Kingdom of Dahomey, located in present-day Benin, was a central hub in the transatlantic slave trade. The kingdom engaged in capturing and selling individuals to European traders, with the coastal region becoming known as the "Slave Coast" due to the high volume of enslaved people exported. [24] By the mid-18th century, the King of Dahomey was reportedly earning substantial revenue from this trade. The capital city, Porto-Novo, was originally developed as a port for slave trading. [25]
Colonial and Post-Colonial periods
Following the abolition of the transatlantic slave trade in the 19th century, the region experienced shifts in its socio-economic structures. However, practices resembling slavery persisted, with forced labour and exploitation continuing under colonial rule and into the post-independence era. Traditional systems, such as the "vidomegon" practice,where children were sent to live with wealthier families for education or work, were sometimes misused, leading to situations of exploitation. [24]
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