Protection of children in Benin : A CATE put into service

For the strengthening of the child protection system in Benin, a Child Reception and Transit Center (CATE) was put into service in Allada, in the Atlantic department. The official commissioning ceremony took place, Monday 16 August 2021 at the Allada Social Promotion Center. This, in the presence of Véronique Tognifodé, Minister of Social Affairs and Microfinance, by Jean-Claude Codjia, prefect of the Atlantic, of the Departmental Director of the Republican Police, the representative of the Mayor and several other actors in the child protection chain.

Guided tour of the different compartments of the center led by Nadège Ahoga Codo, Departmental Director of Social Affairs and Microfinance of the Atlantic, symbolic cutting of the ribbon giving the top of the activities in the center already equipped with equipment and human resources, with the support of technical and financial partners, and succession of speeches. This was the menu of this ceremony of the commissioning of the Children’s Reception and Transit Center (CATE) in Benin. For Minister Véronique Tognifodé, the commissioning of the Allada center strengthens the department’s child protection system. What, according to his words, is added to the various legal measures, administrative and technical measures to prevent various violations of children's rights and ensure the care of victims as well as the punishment of perpetrators. To believe it, its implementation is part of the dynamic of guaranteeing children in difficult situations, an emergency response to enable stakeholders, to have the necessary time for an in-depth assessment of the situation and the development of a support plan in strict compliance with the requirements of the intervention process. She invites those responsible for the center to demonstrate responsibility to maintain the operation of the said center in compliance with the norms and standards.. She took the opportunity to reaffirm the Government's determination to protect children. Note that the Children’s Reception and Transit Center (CATE) is set up to provide children with conditions conducive to transitional care, time to find a definitive solution.

Patrice ADJAHO