Ligue pour la Défense des Droits de l’Homme
Published: 5 Oct 2016
Country: Benin
Telephone: 229 33 21 93
Fax: 229 33 26 01
229 31 38 09
229 31 46 04
Street Address: B.P. 03-630, Cotonou
Ligue pour la Défense des Droits de l’Homme au Bénin (LDH), established in 1990, focuses its work on the protection and promotion of human rights in Benin and advocates on behalf of victims of human rights abuses. LDH monitors the human rights situation in Benin, investigates alleged of human rights violations and provides legal assistance to the victims of these abuses. LDH’s activities relating to refugees have been largely with regard to Togolese refugees in Benin. This work has included monitoring camp conditions, providing medical and material assistance and providing legal assistance to ensure that that the rights of refugees are protected. LDH is currently working on developing a zone d’hébergement (waiting zone) for asylum seekers who have not yet been recognized as refugees. Many of these people spend a considerable amount of time in Bénin before being given any assistance.
In an effort to combat the social and political factors that threaten to make Bénin a hostile country to refugees, LDH has launched a campaign to combat xenophobia, focusing mainly on Togolese refugees. The campaign has included marches and concerts in support of Togolese refugees. Since the beginning of the campaign, the government of Bénin has softened its position toward refugees, and the repatriation of Togolese refugees has abated.