Concluding Observations and Recommendations on the Second Periodic Report of the Republic of Benin III - Areas of Concern While recognising the efforts of the Government of Benin to promote and protect human rights and to create awareness on the principles and provisions of the African Charter, the African Commission remains concerned: 25. That government institutions and the public at large are not sufficiently aware of the African Charter and also the work of the African Commission. 26. That enough has not been done to harness through affirmative action, the potential of Beninese women willing and available to contribute to the social, economic and political development of the country. 27. About the lack of concrete legislation on gender based violence and where this exists about the lack of resolve to apply them. 28. At the high rate of infant and maternal mortality, especially in the villages where women still predominantly give birth at home. 29. About the prison conditions in the country that still remain deplorable. Prisons still suffer from overcrowding and there is lack of trained staff and lack of adequate food. The African Commission is also concerned that Hawkers are allowed to sell food in prison wards, a situation that promotes racketeering and creates fear and complete lack of security in the prisons. 30. About the practice by which some prisoners are selected to serve as guards to their fellow prisoners, a practice that could cause serious human rights abuses and make other prisoners vulnerable to all kinds of danger. 31. About the welfare of women and children who are particularly vulnerable and live in precarious conditions in prisons. 32. That the Benin Human Rights Commission is not working effectively. 33. By reports of police/gendarme brutality. 34. About the several factors that hamper the promotion and protection of human rights, such as the lack of national plan of action for the promotion of human rights, the delay in the disbursement of funds allocated by the State to Departments responsible for human rights as highlighted in Benin’s First Periodic Report. 45th Ordinary Session of the ACHPR 5|Page