It is a great honor for me to speak before this august gathering of experts from different countries, peoples, languages and races of the world to present the message of the Chief Justice of the supreme Court of Benin who has asked me to represent him and bring the contribution of his Office to the gigantesque work of the Students of CMS under the enlightened leadership of our Honorable Host, Distinguished Jagdish Gandhi to improve the living conditions of future children through out the world.

The Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Benin has asked me especially to express his deep gratitude to Honorable Mr. Gandhi who is always willing to work for a better world for children thro the services of the Justices of the world.

In fact the action of CMS under the benevolent impetus of its founder director aims at creating a world of peace and justice not only for the present generation but also for future generation of children as the international legal instruments made available by the international Community are found inadequate.

On 20 Nov. 1989 the UN General Assembly had adopted in New York the International Convention on Children's rights to protect children's rights and improve their living conditions in the world. It had also adopted two additional protocols one on children's rights pertaining to sale of children, another on children's rights re. Use of children in armed conflicts.

This convention was ratified by 192 countries including Benin. According to this Convention, a child is a human being less than 18 years unless the domestic legislation in force stipulates that majority is reached at an earlier age. It binds all its signatories to recognize and respect all rights of children.

In persuance of this convention several summits are devoted to children's cause as children's rights continue to be violated despite some well known efforts undertaken in a few places.

In Benin for example the Parliament has voted several laws:-

-Individual and family code of 24 Aug.2004;

-Law to forbid female genital mutilations;

-Law re. Ill treatment and degrading and shameful treatment;

Govt of Benin also works towards protection and development of children by strengthening social protection.

In fact, the Benin Govt considers that it is the duty of the parents, the entire community, the nation and its partners to create an environment oriented towards institution, regulation, education, health, and nutrition for ensuring children full development and transforming them into high quality human capital capable of contributing to socio-economic development. That is why the Benin Govt. has fixed for 2007-2009, the programme of ensuring children and adolescents a respect for their rights, and equitable access to essential social services thro :-

-Protection of childhood and adolescence against ill treatment and traficking ;

- Easy access for children-both boys and girls- to essential social services ;

-Improvement of food and nutrition status of children;

-Capacity building of organisations working for children;

-Rehabilitation of orphans and vulnerable children within family and society ;

But all these actions envisaged as part of the growth strategy for reducing poverty will succeed only if the promotion of family, women, gender equality, women's autonomy, dynamising social protection are in synergy with the protection and development of children with a view to reinforcing social protection and the social fabric wherefrom armed conflicts and other vices that seriously affect children will be forever banished because individual State initiatives in this regard are inadequate.

As a result we need to engage in serious deliberations to ensure a more equitable development of international justice for children.

In this regard it seems necessary to create within the International Court of Justice or the UN a complete judicial forum for children whose rights as provided for by international instruments have been violated and who have exhausted all means of recourse to other judicial fora.

Further, the Chief justices should undertake a mission of sensitizing and awakening of conscience in their respective countries so that judges can take decisions keeping in mind the greater interests of children because the elements that fracture our societies are to be found in the very depths of childhood-namely, poverty, exclusion, discriminations etc....

Finally, respect for children's rights should be accompanied by development of their fundamental needs, for children should be integrated in domestic and international welfare policies.

We need also to aggressively plead and lobby with our governments in order to popularise and promote children's rights, for the more people know about their rights the more they will be careful that they are not trampled ; If need be, they will take action to reassert their rights, which in its turn will encourage better compliance adherence. People and policy makers will take steps to ensure adherence to these rights.

I would not be able to conclude this message without reiterating once again the gratitude expressed by the Honorable Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of my country to our distinguished Host Mr. Jagdish Gandhi, for organizing so very perfectly this world judiciary Summit.

Thank you for your attention.