According to the 2014 Demographic and Health Survey (MICS 2014) conducted in Benin, the latest nationwide quantitative study of female genital mutilation (FGM), just under one in ten women (9.2%) aged 15–49 had undergone FGM. Around 0.2% of girls aged 0–14 had undergone FGM.
Among women and girls who have undergone excision, the most common form is excision with the removal of parts of the flesh. The age at which FGM is practised varies between communities. Most excised women come from northern Benin. The lower a household's economic well-being, the higher the proportion of women in that household who have undergone excision. Some religions, such as voodoo, consider FGM to be an aberration.
For the period from 1 January 2024 to 30 April 2025, the Integrated Data System on Family, Women and Children – New Generation (SIDoFFE-NG) recorded three cases of FGM on children and zero cases of FGM on adults.
Despite the implementation of public and private programmes to combat FGM, its persistence can be explained by various factors such as the social integration of excised girls, the supposed effect on their health, control over their sexuality and respect for certain mystical forces.
The sources consulted differ on who has the final decision on whether to proceed with excision.
Stereotypes and prejudices confine women to secondary roles at the economic, family and decision-making levels. Gender-based violence (GBV) against women is common.
In communities where prevalence is high, the main threat to an uncircumcised girl is stigmatisation by members of that community. Uncircumcised girls, or their families, risk losing their social status and being subjected to insults and ridicule.
Benin has ratified numerous international treaties condemning FGM, and Beninese law has prohibited the practice since 2003. A 2021 reform of the Penal Code provides for a prison sentence of up to five years for FGM where a child survives. However, these legal prohibitions have led to more clandestine practices.
Complaints relating to FGM can be made to the police or the public prosecutor. The number of court decisions relating to FGM is difficult to ascertain. According to the available data, the courts have only dealt with a small number of cases since 2019.
Access to justice and legal protection for girls and women is primarily affected by social barriers, particularly when family honour is at stake. Customary or traditional leaders play a role in maintaining social cohesion. They are in high demand and play a key role in defusing tensions. In this context, many victims of GBV avoid or abandon legal proceedings in favour of an amicable settlement. Therefore, conflict management through compromise prevails over legal settlement.
Benin has implemented policies and strategies to combat GBV, including national and front-line structures that address the prevention of such violence, victim support and legal follow-up.
Policy
The policy implemented by the Commissioner General is based on a thorough analysis of accurate and up-to-date information on the general situation in the country of origin. This information is collated in a professional manner from various, objective sources, including the EUAA, the UNHCR, relevant international human rights organisations, non-governmental organisations, professional literature and coverage in the media. When determining policy, the Commissioner General does not only examine the COI Focuses written by Cedoca and published on this website, as these deal with just one aspect of the general situation in the country of origin. The fact that a COI Focus could be out-of-date does not mean that the policy that is being implemented by the Commissioner General is no longer up-to-date.
When assessing an application for asylum, the Commissioner General not only considers the actual situation in the country of origin at the moment of decision-making, he also takes into account the individual situation and personal circumstances of the applicant for international protection. Every asylum application is examined individually. An applicant must comprehensively demonstrate that he has a well-founded fear of persecution or that there is a clear personal risk of serious harm. He cannot, therefore, simply refer back to the general conditions in his country, but must also present concrete, credible and personal facts.
There is no policy paper for this country available on the website.