In a significant step toward promoting gender equality and strengthening public awareness, Benin’s Economic and Social Council (CES) convened a high-level workshop on Wednesday, July 30, 2025, aimed at deepening the understanding and implementation of two key legal instruments: Law No. 2021-11 on gender-based violence and Law No. 2021-12 on sexual and reproductive health.
The event, led by CES President Conrad Gbaguidi, was attended by Health Minister Professor Benjamin Hounkpatin and Minister of Social Affairs and Microfinance Véronique Tognifodé.
The session sought to equip council advisors with the tools to effectively engage communities on the content and importance of these laws.
“Gender-based violence, whether physical, psychological, sexual, or economic, is an unacceptable attack on human dignity. It constitutes a major obstacle to social and economic progress,” Gbaguidi declared in his opening remarks.
He stressed that although Benin has developed a strong legal and institutional framework since 2016 to promote gender equality, public knowledge and understanding of these laws remain low.
According to Gbaguidi, the workshop offers a critical opportunity to bridge that gap. “Our role in raising awareness among communities is essential in order to make them more aware of their rights and responsibilities,” he said.
“This is why I express the pride of the Economic and Social Council in supporting the government in this noble vision.”
He emphasized the CES’s expanded mission to bring institutional decisions and national legal instruments closer to citizens.
“The Economic and Social Council, seventh mandate, has resolutely committed itself since its installation in February 2025 to invest in playing its part effectively and efficiently,” Gbaguidi added. “We will go down to the field to discuss with our fellow citizens the outlines of the two legal instruments.”
Health Minister Professor Hounkpatin lauded the initiative as a timely move to defuse controversies surrounding the laws and promote understanding. “I express my gratitude to the President of the CES for his wonderful initiative in popularizing these laws,” he said.
Minister Tognifodé also praised Gbaguidi’s leadership, highlighting his inclusive approach to positioning the CES at the core of Benin’s social policy landscape.
The workshop marks a strong reaffirmation of Benin’s commitment to human rights, equality, and community-driven governance.
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