Protection programming in Benin
In Benin we work in partnership with national and local organisations to deliver culturally grounded, inclusive protection programmes, addressing ritualised harm against children through prevention, accountability, and community-led change.
Our approach combines advocacy, research, community engagement, and large-scale awareness campaigns to strengthen child protection systems and support victims and survivors.
Our approach
- Advocacy and accountability
We advocate for the protection of children’s human rights and for accountability for perpetrators, working alongside government institutions, law enforcement, and civil society. - Awareness and prevention campaigns
We design and deliver multi-platform awareness campaigns to increase understanding of risks, reporting pathways, and available support services for children, families, and communities. - Community engagement
We work closely with communities, including practitioners of traditional belief systems, to reduce stigma, challenge harmful practices, and strengthen locally owned protection mechanisms. - Reporting and referral mechanisms
Through localised child protection networks and trained community change-makers, we support victims, survivors, and witnesses to access referral services and justice, while strengthening coordination with national reporting systems. - Research and learning
We conduct desk-based and participatory research with children, community members, educators, and traditional practitioners to inform evidence-based programming, advocacy, and communications.
Vodun Roundtable for Child Rights
In collaboration with local partners, we convened a landmark Vodun Roundtable for Child Rights in Benin, bringing together more than 100 participants, including Vodun priests and priestesses, police, NGOs, and government representatives.
Research and campaigns
Our research programme combined a review of academic and grey literature with participatory research involving children, parents, teachers, community members, and Vodun practitioners, which informs our programmes and campaigns.
Radio campaigns
We partnered with well-known local artists, including Don Metok and Jolidon, to create an awareness-raising song broadcast in four languages across Benin. The campaign ran nationally for four months and was amplified through radio and social media.
Impact highlights:
- Reached over 5 million listeners daily
- 74% of surveyed adults reported hearing the song
- Adults reported increased awareness and a greater likelihood of taking protective action, including educating their own children of the risks of child sacrifice.
The campaign sparked widespread public discussion, with radio shows and commentators using the platform to condemn child sacrifice.
Social media campaigns
Research with children identified social media as a highly effective channel for prevention messaging. We collaborated with local influencers, co-creating content with young people to ensure relevance and authenticity.
The campaign, launched under the hashtag #BeninProtegeLesEnfants, gained significant organic traction and was shared widely by young people and influencers.
Impact highlights:
- Reached over 265,000 people across Facebook, TikTok, and Instagram
- 52% of children who use social media reported seeing the campaign
- Children reported increased confidence in applying safety advice
- Messaging also reached adult audiences beyond the initial target group
Shifting national discourse
The campaign contributed to a broader national conversation on child sacrifice in Benin. A significant outcome of the campaign, bolstered by community engagement work, was the publication of a public letter by the Vodun Rights Committee formally denouncing child sacrifice—a first for leaders within the Vodun religion and a clear indication of growing institutional commitment to child protection.