358
Then, the anti-child trafficking project: to secure child labourers and value their skills:
Indeed, as part of the fight against child trafficking in Benin, one first project was
funded by the Beninese government and the European Commission in 2002 and
2005. It allowed undertaking awareness campaigns and providing support to the
Minors' Protection Brigade and to reception and reintegration facilities.
The 2nd anti-child trafficking project was launched in 2007 and ensures the continuity
of the 1st project. Its main intervention components are as follows: strengthening of
the institutional system combating child trafficking and exploitation, the reduction of
the structural causes of child trafficking and exploitation, the securitization of the living
conditions of child labourers and the valuation of their professional skills in the
markets of Dantokpa in Cotonou, of Arzéké in Parakou and in the market of
Malanville.
359
Swisscontact undertook to implement the 3rd component of this project which
consists in developing educational tools for the implementation of a vocational
training in four (4) businesses (bakery, soap works, cheap restaurant management :
outreach catering and business) to build the capacity of children, create for them
opportunities for a better future and promote their installation in the labour market.
The anti-child trafficking national plan (2008 to 2012) which aimed at making an
inventory and evaluation of the situation related to child trafficking; and then
determine and strengthen the legal and organizational institutional frameworks meant
to ensure the prevention, readaptation and reintegration of children victims of
trafficking.
e.
Protection against negative social and cultural practices :
360
The negative social and cultural practices identified in Benin are: female genital
mutilations, widowhood rites, early and / or forced marriage, the begging of talibés,
ritual infanticide, children in voodoo initiation convents. Those practices are
henceforth punished by the criminal code and specific provisions.
361
In December 2013, the Childpro database revealed in the GER that 15 children
including 12 girls came very close to being victims of infanticideiv.
362
According to the MICS 2014, the percentage of girls aged between 0 and 14 who
were victims of any form of FGM as reported by mothers of 15-49 years is 21.1.
363
The general population and housing census in 2002 informed about this issue.
364
This census removed the veil on the persistence of early and / or forced marriage
practices, despite the various awareness actions.
365
Thus, according to the census of 2002, the total early marriage rate stands at
37% including 25% in urban areas against 45% in rural areas: 1.2% of children
aged between 10 and 14 are married (1.8% of girls and 0.6% of boys) and 10% of
girls aged between 15 and 17 are married.
366
In terms of fight against negative social and cultural practices several programs are
developed by state services (DFEA, OFFE) and CSOs with the support of technical
and financial partners.