Benin report - Institut Africain de la Gouvernance

CHAPTER SIX: SOCIOECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT__________________________________________________________________________6. Ensure that the implementation of all development programmes andprojects is compatible with the decentralisation policy, which itself mustbe effectively implemented (government and local authorities).Objective 5:Indicate progress made with respect to gender equalityin all crucial areas, including girls’ education at alllevelsi. Summary of the CSAR853. The CSAR stressed that Benin has a legal framework to guaranteefundamental human rights. This legal framework consists of nationalinstruments and international conventions specifically directed at women andgirls. These have been ratified.854. In the area of education, besides national instruments and internationalconventions, papers resulting from meetings such as the 1991 GeneralConference on Education defined specific strategic development orientationsfor the promotion of girls‟ education. Indeed, it was specified that “The schoolmust also educate a large number of girls; this will ultimately reduce thepresent disparity. Especially, it will create the best conditions for theprotection of the mother and the child through good food and a more effectivetraining of the child. The education of the young girl will guarantee herdevelopment and consolidate her economic independence; finally, the familyunit could be better preserved”.855. Within the framework of the „education for all‟ strategies, Benin has taken anumber of actions. These include: establishing a training system forunderprivileged girls; creating environments favourable for the education ofgirls; reducing school fees for girls in the first cycle of secondary generaleducation; creating centres for girls; introducing incentives for registering girlsin scientific and technical training programmes; supporting the best practicaltraining of girls; adopting a law that protects girls in schools and trainingcentres; popularising legal instruments for the protection of girls in schoolsand training centres; and continuing to popularise the Convention on theRights of the Child.856. The CSAR also emphasises that concrete actions were taken to establish amore equitable environment. These included formulating the PNPF, which issupported by a multi-sectoral action plan. Its goal is to contribute to reducing(in the short term) and eradicating (in the long term) the disparities betweenmen and women in all areas of activity. However, the CSAR did not mentionthe current changes and trends in school attendance, education, access tohealth care, or the employment of girls.857. Another positive aspect highlighted by the CSAR is the existence of a ministryin charge of women‟s empowerment in all governments of the democratic era.However, the report observed that, even if there are increasingly more women275