To prevent torture, on 20 September 2006 Benin ratified the optional protocol to the Convention against torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment. Benin attended the first meeting of State Parties to this Protocol in Geneva, Switzerland on 18 December, 2006. At its sitting of the 6 December, 2006 Cabinet, in its decision contained in the extract of Transcript no 49, authorised the establishment of a National Prevention Mechanism in accordance with article 3 of the Protocol. b- Respect for property The State shall protect the right to property in Benin. The 11 December, 1990 Constitution enshrines and guarantees the right to property in its article 22. Former civil law provisions are still in force and Civil Code and Civil Procedure bills pending adoption before the National Assembly have taken this issue on board. The enforcement of certain legal decisions on real estate cases recently led to mass surrender of land. And in a bid to protect the rights of citizens, in 2006, the Government tabled a bill on rural land issues which was passed recently. Other relevant provisions are presently being discussed across the length and breadth of the country. 2- Respect for individual freedoms Article 23 of the Constitution enshrines the « right to freedom of thought, conscience, religion in compliance with public order as established by the laws and regulations ». - 11 -