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186:"However, indecent assault on a minor of fifteen years shall be punished by imprisonment of five to ten years and a fine of twenty thousand francs to one million francs or one of these two penalties only when it has been committed or attempted either with violence, coercion or surprise, or by legitimate, natural or adoptive guardian of the victim or by a person having control over him or her, or by two or more authors or accomplices or even by a person who has abused the authority conferred by his functions."
137:
with a child of either gender, but penalized any act that is indecent or against nature if committed with a person of the same sex under 21: "Without prejudice to more severe penalties prescribed by the paragraphs that precede or by
Articles 332 and 333 of this Code, shall be punished with imprisonment from six months to three years and a fine of 200 to 50,000 francs anyone who commits an indecent act or against nature with a minor...of the same sex under 21 years old."
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181:"Notwithstanding the heavier penalties provided in the preceding paragraph or Article 545 of this Code, shall be punished by imprisonment of six months to three years and a fine of fifty thousand to two hundred and fifty thousand francs anyone commits an indecent act or act against nature with an individual child of the same sex.
176:"Article 543: Any indecent offense, committed or attempted without violence or coercion, or surprise on the person of a minor under fifteen years of age, shall be punished with imprisonment of three to five years and a fine of fifty thousand francs to two hundred and fifty thousand francs or one of these penalties.
152:
On 4 March 2013 the French ambassador invited the
Beninese Minister of Justice to a meeting to discuss Benin's official response to its 2012 UNHRC Universal Periodic Review. Benin had rejected recommendations from states calling on Benin to improve the situation for LGBT persons. But at the 4 March
136:
Same-sex sexual acts are legal in Benin between consenting adults over the age of 21. The penal code in force in Benin is actually the Penal Code of French West Africa adopted by French colonial decree on 6 May 1877. A 1947 amendment to the Penal Code of 1877 fixed a general age limit of 13 for sex
156:
Among the more recently proposed laws regarding same-sex sexual activity is a draft penal code from
October 2008, which has not yet been voted on. Unlike the 1996 draft, the 2008 draft of the Penal Code includes no reference to punishment for same-sex sexual relations between consenting adults in
148:
In response to its 2008 UNHRC Universal
Periodic Review, the representative of Benin stated, " issue of homosexuality, the phenomenon is not ignored but is marginal. Families would never allow their children to be taken to court for such an offense, so no criminal ruling has ever been rendered,
246:
Despite no evidence against him other than a friend responding affirmatively to a police officer's question regarding his homosexuality, one foreigner spent two months in a
Beninese jail in 2006 awaiting trial for fabricated charges likely concerning outrage against public decency based on his
227:
At the beginning of 2013 there were approximately nine LGBT Beninese associations functioning in
Cotonou, Porto Novo, and Parakou. Among the organizations are Bénin Synergie Plus (BESYP); l’Union pour la Solidarité, l’Entraide et le Développement (USED); les Amis de Sans Voix;
266:
of
Cotonou that drew a diverse audience of 200 people. Maybe for the first time an open debate brought Beninese to express their support for and questions and concerns about homosexuality in Benin. Several people openly identified as gay, and several more as homophobic.
144:
Penal Code of Benin read "Anyone who commits an indecent act or an act against nature with an individual of the same sex will be punished by 1 to 3 years imprisonment and a fine of 100,000 to 500,000 francs." This draft, however, was never voted into law.
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The government has recognized the same-sex relationships of members of the diplomatic corps attached to Benin by granting diplomatic visas and diplomatic immunity to the same-sex partners of foreign diplomats in Benin.
239:'s 2012 Human Rights Report found that, "There were no reports of criminal cases involving homosexuality. There were no reports of societal discrimination or violence based on a person's sexual orientation."
253:
Hirondelle Club BĂ©nin, an LGBT association created in March 2013 and based in
Cotonou, has documented as of April 2013 15 homeless adolescents who have been kicked out of their homes because of their sexual
171:"Article 542: Any person who commits an affront on public decency shall be punished by imprisonment of three months to two years and a fine of fifty thousand to two hundred and fifty thousand francs.
242:
However, the US State
Department's report is gravely incomplete. LGBT residents in Benin who are open about their sexual orientation face discrimination, harassment, violence, and extortion:
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The
Facebook page, Tous NĂ©s Libres et Egaux, was created to promote tolerance of human diversity and the eradication of all forms of discrimination in Benin, especially homophobia.
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homosexuality. He was luckily relatively quickly granted bail of 700.000 F, but has heard nothing since and his case could be reopened any day.
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A transgender Beninese woman in Parakou was attacked in the first decade of the 2000s with a knife and has extensive scars on her arm.
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525:"STATE-SPONSORED HOMOPHOBIA : A world survey of laws: Criminalisation, protection and recognition of same-sex love"
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meeting, the Minister turned to her Deputy Director who subsequently said "certain things would be rectified."
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to the country. LGBT persons additionally face stigmatization among the broader population.
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On 17 May 2013 the LGBT associations of Cotonou organized a public event in support of the
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707:, Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights and Labor, U.S. Department of State, p. 17"
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residents. Although same-sex sexual acts for both men and women are legal in
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to the society, and homosexuality is often called a disease brought by
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743:"Journée mondiale contre l'homophobie – Institut Français du Bénin"
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Anti-discrimination laws in the provision of goods and services
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International Day Against Homophobia, Biphobia and Transphobia
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There is no recognition of legal rights for same-sex couples.
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34:
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Former United States Ambassador to Benin, Dr. James Knight
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Gays and lesbians allowed to serve openly in the military
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Lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) people in
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639:"Fac-similé JO du 23/11/1947, page 11569 - Legifrance"
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2011 Country Reports on Human Rights Practices: Benin
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Anti-discrimination laws in hate speech and violence
166:"Paragraph 1: Public outrage from assaults on decency
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673:"University of Minnesota Human Rights Library"
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112:face legal challenges not experienced by non-
556:Homosexuals talk about their lives in Benin
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427:Commercial surrogacy for gay male couples
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367:Step-child adoption by same-sex couples
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319:Anti-discrimination laws in employment
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623:: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (
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149:although it is provided for by law."
132:Law regarding same-sex sexual activity
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207:There is no legal protection against
191:Recognition of same-sex relationships
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379:Joint adoption by same-sex couples
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1718:LGBTQ rights in Africa by country
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579:French diplomat in Cotonou, Benin
1609:Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic
1379:Democratic Republic of the Congo
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355:Recognition of same-sex couples
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230:Swallow (the bird) Club of Benin
281:Same-sex sexual activity legal
232:; et Tous NĂ©s Libres et Egaux.
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403:Right to change legal gender
47:Legal, unequal age of consent
558:24 Hour Benin June 21, 2021
88:Recognition of relationships
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1097:Water supply and sanitation
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415:Access to IVF for lesbians
161:"SECTION IV: MORAL OFFENSES
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879:People's Republic of Benin
854:Second Franco-Dahomean War
203:Discrimination protections
73:Discrimination protections
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1364:Central African Republic
442:allowed to donate blood
237:U.S. Department of State
562:August 2, 2021, at the
140:Article 88 of the 1996
1310:LGBT rights in Africa
884:Mercenary coup attempt
502:Human rights in Africa
1723:Human rights in Benin
1524:SĂŁo TomĂ© and PrĂncipe
1384:Republic of the Congo
497:LGBT rights in Africa
492:Human rights in Benin
294:Equal age of consent
22:LGBTQ rights in Benin
869:Presidential Council
1599:States with limited
859:Republic of Dahomey
643:Legifrance.gouv.fr
605:on 17 October 2012
343:Same-sex marriage
213:sexual orientation
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1626:other territories
1399:Equatorial Guinea
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967:Foreign relations
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537:on 8 October 2023
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223:Living conditions
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874:Kérékou coup
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747:If-benin.com
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1173:Paralympics
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987:LGBT rights
926:Departments
1707:Categories
1656:(Portugal)
1614:Somaliland
1534:Seychelles
1499:Mozambique
1484:Mauritania
1469:Madagascar
1424:The Gambia
1359:Cape Verde
1143:Literature
1071:(currency)
1069:CFA franc
972:Government
864:Soglo coup
609:17 October
508:References
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1218:Languages
1203:Education
1092:Transport
1016:President
1004:Air Force
962:Elections
894:Geography
757:25 August
727:25 August
714:State.gov
687:25 August
677:1.umn.edu
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541:25 August
211:based on
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619:cite web
560:Archived
456:See also
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98:Adoption
63:Military
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1661:Mayotte
1652:Madeira
1647:(Spain)
1643:Melilla
1574:Tunisia
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1504:Namibia
1494:Morocco
1459:Liberia
1454:Lesotho
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1324:Algeria
1252:Outline
1128:Cuisine
1111:Culture
1082:Tourism
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1042:Economy
916:Climate
906:Borders
831:History
262:at the
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1584:Zambia
1579:Uganda
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1064:Energy
911:Cities
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1639:Ceuta
1559:Sudan
1509:Niger
1464:Libya
1449:Kenya
1429:Ghana
1419:Gabon
1394:Egypt
1334:Benin
1259:Index
1198:Crime
1163:Sport
1153:Music
1148:Media
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142:draft
118:Benin
114:LGBTQ
110:Benin
35:Benin
1569:Togo
1479:Mali
1369:Chad
1138:Flag
1021:list
839:Ketu
759:2017
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625:link
611:2012
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235:The
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