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5th International Conference <strong>of</strong> <strong>Chief</strong> <strong>Justices</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> WorldAddress byHon’ble Mr Justice Arsene K Capo-ChichiMagistrate, Charge de MissionsSupreme Court <strong>of</strong> Ben<strong>in</strong>[English translation <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> speech delivered <strong>in</strong> French]It’s said that <strong>the</strong> child is <strong>the</strong> future <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> nation. If one shares and agrees with this truth,it should be known by <strong>all</strong> that <strong>the</strong>re is no future for nations without children. Thus,endeavour<strong>in</strong>g to protect <strong>the</strong> child and <strong>all</strong> his rights becomes a paramount mission for higherauthorities <strong>of</strong> every nation. It is because <strong>of</strong> his support to this noble ideal which high<strong>of</strong>ficial jurisdictions reasonably and susta<strong>in</strong>ably could not afford to fail, that <strong>the</strong> <strong>Chief</strong>Justice <strong>of</strong> Ben<strong>in</strong> Supreme Court has promptly subscribed to <strong>the</strong> participation <strong>of</strong> his<strong>in</strong>stitution <strong>in</strong> this Forum after been <strong>in</strong>vited.Long-time determ<strong>in</strong>ed calendar constra<strong>in</strong>ts unfortunately did not <strong>all</strong>ow President SaliouABOUDOU, who regrettably could not person<strong>all</strong>y attend <strong>the</strong> 5th InternationalConference <strong>of</strong> <strong>Chief</strong> <strong>Justices</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> World who, on <strong>the</strong> premises <strong>of</strong> one <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> prestigiousHon’ble Mr Justice Arsene K Capo-Chichi, Magistrate, Charge de MissionsSupreme Court <strong>of</strong> Ben<strong>in</strong> address<strong>in</strong>g <strong>the</strong>Conferencecomplexes <strong>of</strong> City Montessori School will this time, devote <strong>the</strong>ir round-<strong>the</strong>-clock quest for World Peace <strong>in</strong> bra<strong>in</strong>storm<strong>in</strong>gon ways and means <strong>of</strong> hav<strong>in</strong>g a Convention on <strong>the</strong> future <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> children.Therefore he entrusted me to express to <strong>the</strong> <strong>in</strong>itiators and organizers <strong>of</strong> this great forum his feel<strong>in</strong>gs <strong>of</strong> gratitude and to thisaugust assembly that <strong>the</strong>y succeeded <strong>in</strong> br<strong>in</strong>g<strong>in</strong>g toge<strong>the</strong>r, his heartfelt thoughts <strong>of</strong> fruitful debates and highly useful decisions.Subsequently, I can no longer resist to show my full gratitude for <strong>the</strong> warm welcome and <strong>the</strong> attention I have been receiv<strong>in</strong>gs<strong>in</strong>ce my arrival <strong>in</strong> India, land <strong>of</strong> legendary hospitality.On <strong>the</strong> 29th and 30th <strong>of</strong> September 1990 <strong>the</strong>re was a World Summit at <strong>the</strong> UN attended by 71 Heads <strong>of</strong> State and Heads<strong>of</strong> Government, 88 <strong>of</strong>ficials and representatives and at which a World Declaration <strong>in</strong> favour <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> survival, protection anddevelopment <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Child was announced and implemented as from 1990. On 20th November 1989 <strong>the</strong> UN GeneralAssembly adopted <strong>the</strong> Convention and a year later on 2nd September 1990; that was <strong>the</strong> first true action taken at planetarylevel <strong>in</strong> favour <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> child’s welfare.Ben<strong>in</strong> is a West African country classified <strong>in</strong> terms <strong>of</strong> development, among <strong>the</strong> least advanced countries <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> world.However, <strong>the</strong> scope <strong>of</strong> its economic potentials is not a handicap to its adher<strong>in</strong>g to <strong>the</strong> noble ideals <strong>of</strong> social justice, peaceand full development. As a result, it has signed and ratified almost <strong>all</strong> treaties aim<strong>in</strong>g at <strong>all</strong> k<strong>in</strong>ds <strong>of</strong> discrim<strong>in</strong>ation, fightaga<strong>in</strong>st terrorism, advent <strong>of</strong> a world without war. Among o<strong>the</strong>r th<strong>in</strong>gs, it is also party to International Pacts relat<strong>in</strong>g to civiland political rights as well to International Pacts relat<strong>in</strong>g to economic, social and cultural rights that it ratified on March 12,1992.Hon’ble Mr Justice Arsene K Capo-Chichi,Magistrate, Charge de Missions, SupremeCourt <strong>of</strong> Ben<strong>in</strong> be<strong>in</strong>g welcome uponarrival at <strong>the</strong> Lucknow AirportAccord<strong>in</strong>g to its tradition, a child is considered as a treasure and benefit <strong>of</strong> life.Never<strong>the</strong>less education rate is still low especi<strong>all</strong>y for girls <strong>in</strong> rural areas. To remedy thisnational situation, compulsory education as leg<strong>all</strong>y stated s<strong>in</strong>ce 1975 has been reiterated <strong>in</strong><strong>the</strong> Constitution <strong>of</strong> 2nd December 1990, Article 13. Almost one sixth <strong>of</strong> its national budgetis s<strong>in</strong>ce <strong>the</strong>n earmarked for education. In The country has also signed on 25th April1990 <strong>the</strong> Convention on <strong>the</strong> Rights <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Child and has ratified it on 3rd August <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong>same year.By way <strong>of</strong> such formalities Ben<strong>in</strong> made some commitments among which some reportson periodic successes and failures to <strong>the</strong> <strong>in</strong>ternational community <strong>in</strong> terms <strong>of</strong> protection--74--