Benin recorded 336 cases of child marriage between January 2025 and June 2026, according to the Child Helpline (LAE) – a figure that informs the authorities’ call to step up prevention efforts and the protection of girls.
In a statement released on Tuesday, in Cotonou, the LAE reported the 336 cases of child marriage recorded between January last year and June this year.
This announcement was made during the observance of the 15th International Day of the Girl Child (IDG), organized by the Ministry of Family and Social Action under the theme: “Ending child
marriage: investing in girls’ rights and supporting their leadership for a better future.”
The gathering also provided an opportunity to review the implementation of the National Program to Combat Child Marriage (PNLME) – adopted by the Council of Ministers on September 3, 2025 –
with a particular focus on resource mobilisation and sustainability.
Hugues Oscar Lokossou, the Minister of External Resource Mobilization and Debt Management, announced three commitments aimed at securing national resources, ensuring long-term partner funding, and adapting financial instruments to social impact financing mechanisms.
Veronique Tognifode, the Minister of Family and Social Action, called on various stakeholders to strengthen prevention, report attempted child marriages, and shift cultural norms that hinder the protection of girls.
Meanwhile, Bignon Laura Violenne Sohou, the head of Benin’s National Children’s Advisory Council, advocated for better integration of children’s priorities into policies and programs that affect them.
TE/Sf/fss/as/APA