Benin report - Institut Africain de la Gouvernance

CHAPTER THREE: DEMOCRACY AND POLITICAL GOVERNANCE__________________________________________________________________________adopt and implement the statute clarifying the status and responsibilities ofopposition parties so that they can fully play their roles in, and contributeto the advent of, an „emerging Benin‟;draw up and implement the Rural Code so as to avoid conflicts in ruralareas, which are inhabited by the majority of the population;strengthen and re-energise village committees in conflict-resolution skillsto ensure the peaceful and amicable settlement of rural conflicts;continue to work with neighbouring countries to manage and resolveconflict through dialogue, consultation and negotiation; andprovide help and support to the framework for interfaith consultation,which is an exemplary initiative in West Africa, to encourage itsstakeholders to continue their roles of fostering peace and interfaithharmony in Benin.Good practice 3.1: Framework for interfaith consultationThe framework for interfaith consultation is an original and exemplary initiative whose mainobjectives are to:maintain peaceful coexistence among all religious faiths in Benin to promote peace andharmony;facilitate interfaith dialogue; andwork toward the peaceful coexistence of institutions of state and the various civil societystakeholders in Benin.The framework, which only came into being on 25 May 2007, organised an interfaith nationalcouncil in August 2007.The APR Panel welcomes this laudable initiative and tasks the government to provideconstant support to this framework that is contributing to the enhancement of peace andtolerance in Benin.Objective 2:Promote constitutional democracy, including politicalcontests and the opportunity to make choices freely,the rule of law, the declaration of human rights andthe primacy of the constitutioni. Summary of the CSAR145. Democracy and electoral contests. Constitutional and electoral democracyhas made great strides in Benin. Political parties and associations are governedby legislation. The electoral system has also been improved to ensuretransparent elections. The democratic changeover of power is being respected76