decision makers (social services, NGOs, judges) on the determination of the best
interests of the child.
296 The Child code adopted by the National Assembly includes provisions on the
management organisation of this category of children (art.205).
o
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Protection of children against armed conflicts:
Presently, there are no children enlisted in the Armed Forces of Benin.
The legal framework of Benin -in no way favours the enlistment of children in the
military or paramilitary forces. These guarantees are laid down in the constitution of
Benin and in the different laws governing the armed forces.
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Benin is also party to the majority of conventions governing armed conflicts. They
include inter alia:
The Geneva Convention for the Amelioration of the Condition of the Wounded and Sick
in Armed Forces in the Field (1949) came into force on October 21, 1950; Declaration
of succession of Benin as of December 12, 1961.
The Geneva Convention for the Amelioration of the Condition of the Wounded, Sick and
Shipwrecked Members of Armed Forces at Sea (1949), came into force on October
21, 1950; Declaration of succession of Benin as of December 12, 1961.
The Geneva Convention relative to the Treatment of Prisoners of War (1949), came
into force on October 21, 1950; Declaration of succession of Benin as of December
12, 1961.
The Geneva Convention relative to the Protection of Civilian persons in Time of War
(1949) came into force on October 21, 1950; Declaration of succession of Benin as of
December 12, 1961.
Additional Protocol to the Geneva Conventions of August 12, 1949, relative to the
Protection of Victims of International Armed Conflicts (1977); came into force on
December 7, 1978.
The Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Rights of the Child concerning the
involvement of children in armed conflicts adopted on February 22, 2001, ratified by
Benin on February 28, 2005.
The Child code adopted by the National Assembly includes provisions prohibiting the
involvement of children in armed conflicts (art.204).
b. Children in conflict with the law:
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The judgment of infractions committed by children is governed by the articles 615 to
720 of the Criminal Procedure Code.