Justice in Benin: United States Provides $2.3 Million to Modernize Courts

Benin’s Ministry of Justice and Legislation received equipment in Cotonou on November 6, funded by the United States with $2.3 million to support modernization of courts in the country’s north. Under the Justice Access Strengthening Support Project (PARAJ), implemented with the UN Development Programme, courts received desktop and laptop computers, digital cameras, and printers intended to speed case processing and help reduce pretrial detention. Justice Minister Yvon Détchénou cited reforms launched since 2016, including digitized services and online access to criminal records from November 1. UNDP Resident Representative El Hadji Fall urged recipient institutions to maintain the equipment.