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2011 Country Reports on Human Rights Practices - Benin
|United States Department of State
|Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights and Labor
|Publication Date
|24 May 2012
|Cite as
|United States Department of State, 2011 Country Reports on Human Rights Practices - Benin, 24 May 2012, available at: http://www.refworld.org/docid/4fc75ab828.html [accessed 1 June 2016]
|This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States.
Benin is a constitutional democracy. On March 13, President Boni Yayi won a second, and final, five-year term in multiparty elections. In the April 30 legislative elections, President Yayi's supporting coalition, Cowry Force for an Emerging Benin, won 41 of 83 seats in the National Assembly and formed a majority coalition with the Renaissance of Benin Party and other minor supporting parties for a total of 61 seats. As a result the coalition controlled the Bureau of the National Assembly with six of the seven seats. International observers viewed both the presidential and legislative elections as free, fair, and transparent. Security forces reported to civilian authorities.
Three main human rights abuses reported during the year included police use of excessive force; violence and discrimination against women and girls, including female genital mutilation (FGM); and harsh prison conditions.
Other major human rights problems included arbitrary arrest and detention with prolonged pretrial detention. Vigilante violence occurred, as did trafficking and abuse of children, including infanticide and child labor.
Although the government made an effort to control corruption and abuses, including prosecuting and punishing public officials, officials sometimes engaged in corrupt practices with impunity.
Section 1. Respect for the Integrity of the Person, Including Freedom from:
a. Arbitrary or Unlawful Deprivation of Life
There were no reports that the government or its agents committed arbitrary or unlawful killings, including politically motivated killings. Elements of security forces occasionally shot and killed armed robbers and claimed self-defense to justify the shootings.
For example, on January 18, police shot and killed a wanted criminal in Fidjrosse, in Cotonou. The criminal, who was reported to have "challenged and made a fool of" the police officers, refused to surrender despite their warnings.
b. Disappearance
There were no reports of politically motivated disappearances.
c. Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman, or Degrading Treatment or Punishment
The constitution and law prohibit such practices; however, there were reports of such incidents. Beatings in custody reportedly were commonplace. The Constitutional Court received complaints from citizens who were brutalized by the police.
Prison and Detention Center Conditions
Prison conditions continued to be harsh and life threatening. Overcrowding and lack of proper sanitation and medical facilities posed risks to prisoners' health. A July 2010 mediator of the republic's (ombudsman) report on the condition in the nine civil prisons indicated that prisons were overcrowded, and malnutrition and disease were common. Potable water was available. Some prisoners suffered from mental illness. There were deaths due to lack of medical care and neglect. Eight of the nine civil prisons were filled far beyond their capacity. The July 2010 ombudsman's report, commissioned by the president, indicated the total prison population (including pretrial detainees and remand prisoners) was 6,908, in a system with an official capacity of 1,900; of that number, pretrial detainees and remand prisoners totaled 5,174. Statistics from 2008 indicated that female prisoners were 3.5 percent of the prison population and that juveniles were 2.1 percent.
Women were not held together with men.
Juveniles at times were housed with adults. Pretrial detainees were held with convicted prisoners, although not with the most violent convicts or those convicted of crimes subject to the death penalty.
Prisoners and detainees had access to visitors and were permitted religious observance. There was no formal system to submit complaints to judicial authorities without censorship, but prisoners could directly address the director of the prison or complain through the normal judicial processes.
The government permitted prison visits by human rights monitors. Religious groups and nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) continued to visit prisons. Organizations that visited prisons during the year included the International Committee of the Red Cross, Amnesty International, the local chapter of Prison Fellowship, Caritas, and Prisoners without Borders.
d. Arbitrary Arrest or Detention
The constitution and law prohibit arbitrary arrest and detention, and the government generally observed these prohibitions in practice.
Role of the Police and Security Apparatus
The police, under the Ministry of Interior, have primary responsibility for enforcing law and maintaining order in urban areas; the gendarmerie, under the Ministry of Defense, performs the same function in rural areas.
Military disciplinary councils deal with minor offenses by members of the military services; they have no jurisdiction over civilians. Civilian courts deal with crimes involving the military. The country has no military tribunal.
There is an internal affairs division of the police, called the Inspector General, which investigates internal police matters.
The police were inadequately equipped and poorly trained, but the government continued to respond to these problems by recruiting more officers, building more stations, and modernizing equipment during the year; however, problems remained, including impunity.
Arrest Procedures and Treatment While in Detention
The constitution requires arrest warrants based on sufficient evidence and issued by a duly authorized official, and requires a hearing before a magistrate within 48 hours, but this was not always observed in practice. Under exceptional circumstances the magistrate may authorize continued detention not to exceed eight days. Detainees have the right to prompt judicial determination; this was generally observed in practice. Detainees were promptly informed of charges against them. They have the right to prompt lawyer access after being brought before a judge, also generally observed. They are allowed to receive family visits, which were generally permitted in practice. After examining a detainee, the judge has 24 hours to decide whether to continue to detain or release the individual. Defendants awaiting judicial decisions may request release on bail; however, the attorney general must agree to the request. Warrants authorizing pretrial detention were effective for six months and could be renewed every six months until a suspect was brought to trial. The government provided counsel to indigents in criminal cases.
There were credible reports that gendarmes and the police exceeded the legal limit of 48 hours of detention in many cases, sometimes by as much as a week. Authorities often used the practice of holding a person indefinitely "at the disposal of" the Public Prosecutor's Office before presenting the case to a magistrate.
Arbitrary Arrest: The constitution and law prohibit arbitrary arrest. However, at times the authorities did not respect these prohibitions.
Pretrial Detention: Approximately 75 percent of persons in prison were pretrial detainees; length of pretrial detention varied from two to 11 years. Inadequate facilities, poorly trained staff, and overcrowded dockets delayed the administration of justice.
e. Denial of Fair Public Trial
The constitution and law provide for an independent judiciary, but the government did not always respect this provision. Authorities respected court orders.
Trial Procedures
While the constitution provides for the right to a fair trial, judicial inefficiency and corruption impeded exercise of this right.
The legal system is based on French civil law and local customary law. A defendant is presumed innocent. Jury trials are used in criminal cases. A defendant has the right to be present at trial and to representation by an attorney; the court provides indigent defendants with counsel upon request. A defendant has the right to confront witnesses and to have access to government-held evidence. Defendants are allowed to present witnesses and evidence on their own behalf. Defendants can appeal criminal convictions to the court of appeals and the Supreme Court, after which they may appeal to the president for a pardon. Trials are open to the public, but in exceptional circumstances the president of the court may decide to restrict access to preserve public order or to protect the parties. The government extends the above rights to all citizens without discrimination.
Political Prisoners and Detainees
There were no reports of political prisoners or detainees.
Civil Judicial Procedures and Remedies
There is an independent judiciary in civil matters. If administrative or informal remedies are unsuccessful, a citizen may file a complaint concerning an alleged human rights violation with the Constitutional Court. An individual can appeal to the Economic Community of West African States' Court of Justice.
f. Arbitrary Interference with Privacy, Family, Home, or Correspondence
The constitution and law prohibit such actions, and the government generally respected these prohibitions in practice. The law requires police to obtain a judicial warrant before entering a private home, and they generally observed this requirement.
Section 2. Respect for Civil Liberties, Including:
a. Freedom of Speech and Press
Status of Freedom of Speech and Press
Although the constitution and law provide for freedom of speech, the government did not always respect this right. There were radio and television broadcasts in which citizens openly criticized the president's policies without reprisal; however, the government occasionally inhibited freedom of the press.
Freedom of Speech: The law provides for prison sentences involving compulsory labor for certain actions related to abuse of the right of free expression; penalties are for threats to public order or calls to violence. There were no reports that the law was invoked during the year.
Freedom of Press: The independent media were active and expressed a wide variety of views without restriction. Publications criticized the government freely and frequently. A nongovernmental media ethics commission continued to censure some journalists during the year for unethical conduct, such as reporting falsehoods or inaccuracies or releasing information that was under embargo by the government.
The government continued to own and operate the most influential media organizations by controlling broadcast range and infrastructure. The majority of citizens are illiterate, live in rural areas, and generally receive their news via radio. The Office de Radiodiffusion et Television du Benin (ORTB) broadcasts in French and local languages. There were an estimated 75 private, community, and commercial radio stations, and one government-owned and five private television stations. Rural community radio stations received support from the ORTB and broadcast several hours a day, exclusively in local languages. Radio France International and the BBC broadcast in Cotonou. The government granted 350 million CFA ($78,000) in financial assistance to the private media during the year.
Censorship or Content Restrictions: Journalists practiced self-censorship.
Libel Laws/National Security: The law criminalizes libel, and numerous journalists faced pending libel charges. The law prohibits private citizens and the press from declaring or predicting election results.
An official from a nongovernmental media ethics commission indicated that the court continued to receive libel cases against journalists during the year, but judges generally refrained from prosecuting them. Journalists continued to fight for the decriminalization of press-related offenses.
Publishing Restrictions: The High Authority of Audiovisual and Communication (HAAC) oversaw media operations and required broadcasters to submit weekly lists of planned programs and publishers to submit copies of all publications; however, the media did not comply with these requirements in practice. The HAAC claimed the information was used for administrative purposes; however, some journalists complained it was a form of harassment.
Internet Freedom
There were no government restrictions on access to the Internet or credible reports that the government monitored e-mail or Internet chat rooms. Individuals and groups could engage in the expression of views via the Internet, including by e-mail.
Academic Freedom and Cultural Events
There were no government restrictions on academic freedom or cultural events.
b. Freedom of Peaceful Assembly and Association
Freedom of Assembly
The constitution and law provide for freedom of assembly, and the government generally respected this right.
The government requires permits for use of public places for demonstrations and generally granted such permits; however, the authorities sometimes cited "public order" to deny requests for permits from opposition groups, civil society organizations, and labor unions.
Freedom of Association
The constitution and law provide for freedom of association, and the government generally respected this right. The government requires associations to register and routinely granted registration.
c. Freedom of Religion
For a description of religious freedom, see the Department of State's 2010 International Religious Freedom Report.
d. Freedom of Movement, Internally Displaced Persons, Protection of Refugees, and Stateless Persons
The constitution and law provide for freedom of movement within the country, foreign travel, emigration, and repatriation, and the government generally respected these rights in practice.
The government cooperated with the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) and other humanitarian organizations in assisting refugees and asylum seekers.
In-Country Movement: The presence of police, gendarmes, and illegal roadblocks impeded domestic movement. Although meant to enforce vehicle safety and customs regulations, many checkpoints served as means for police and gendarmes to exact bribes from travelers. The government maintained previously implemented measures to combat such corruption at roadblocks, but they were not always effective, and extortion commonly occurred.
Foreign Travel: The government maintained documentary requirements for minors traveling abroad as part of its continuing campaign against trafficking in persons. This was not always enforced, and trafficking of minors across borders continued.
The government's policy toward the seasonal movement of livestock allowed migratory Fulani (Peul) herdsmen from other countries to enter and depart freely; the government did not enforce designated entry points.
Protection of Refugees
The government has established a system for providing protection to refugees. As of November 1, there were approximately 2,700 Togolese refugees at the Agamey Refugee Camp and 200 refugees of various nationalities at the Kpomasse Refugee Camp. The government provided protection against the expulsion or return of refugees to countries where their lives or freedom would be threatened on account of their race, religion, nationality, membership in a particular social group, or political opinion. The government did not provide temporary protection during the year. If individuals do not qualify as refugees under the 1951 UN Refugee Convention, authorities direct them to the Immigration Office to apply for a residence permit.
Access to Asylum: The country's laws provide for the granting of asylum or refugee status, and the government has established a system for providing protection to refugees.
Employment: The government continued to permit Togolese refugees residing in local communities and refugee camps to participate in most economic activities and enroll their children in local schools.
Durable Solutions: The government and the UNHCR continued to educate Togolese refugees on the 2007 voluntary repatriation initiative. Despite the government and UNHCR's July decision to close the Kpomasse camp, the 201 remaining refugees refused the government and UNHCR's assistance in resettling in Benin and refused to leave the camp.
Section 3. Respect for Political Rights: The Right of Citizens to Change Their Government
The constitution and law provide citizens the right to change their government peacefully, and citizens exercised this right through periodic, free, and fair elections based on universal suffrage.
Elections and Political Participation
Recent Elections: The country held presidential elections on March 13 and legislative elections on April 30. International observers viewed both the presidential and legislative elections as generally free and fair. Both elections were hampered by delays on the days of the vote, usually in receiving voting materials or due to polling staff arriving late. Even with delays, all polling stations remained open the full nine hours required by law. There were no reports of eligible voters unable to cast ballots.
Political Parties: Parties could freely run candidates for election. There were no government restrictions on the political opposition. No single party or group has recently dominated politics. For legislative elections, all candidates must be associated with a political party; there were no independent candidates.
Participation of Women and Minorities: There were eight women out of 83 members in the National Assembly and eight female ministers in the 26-member cabinet. The Constitutional Court had two women among its seven justices.
The country has no majority ethnic group. Various ethnic groups were well represented in government agencies, including the civil service, and the armed forces. Nine cabinet ministers were from the Bariba, Somba, and Dendi ethnic groups; eleven were from the Fon, Goun, and Adja ethnic groups; and six were from the Yoruba and Nago ethnic groups.
Section 4. Official Corruption and Government Transparency
Although the law provides criminal penalties for official corruption, the government did not implement the law effectively, and officials sometimes engaged in corrupt practices with impunity. President Yayi continued his 2006 anticorruption initiative.
On August 30, the National Assembly approved the law to prevent corruption and related offenses that was pending since 2006.
The government took a number of actions during the year to combat corruption, including appointment of internal auditors to public companies and creation of a hotline to the presidency to enable citizens to denounce incidents of corruption. To combat customs fraud, the government established the use of scanners to inspect imported cargo before clearance as part of its Imports Verification Program (PVI).
Police corruption was widespread. Police continued to extort money from travelers at roadblocks. For example, on August 12, two police officers positioned at a roundabout called "La gaite" in Cotonou to regulate traffic were caught extorting money from travelers. The two police officers were arrested and jailed for disciplinary infraction.
The Watchdog to Combat Corruption (OLC), a governmental agency, continued to address corruption. The OLC trained observers and polling agents on measures to prevent electoral fraud during the March and April presidential and legislative elections.
It was commonly believed, and acknowledged by some judicial personnel, that the judicial system at all levels was susceptible to corruption.
The World Bank's most recent Worldwide Governance Indicators reflected that corruption continued to be a serious problem.
Public officials were not subject to financial disclosure laws.
There are no laws providing for public access to government information, and it was unclear whether requests for such access were granted.
Section 5. Governmental Attitude Regarding International and Nongovernmental Investigation of Alleged Violations of Human Rights
A number of domestic and international human rights groups generally operated without government restriction, investigating and publishing their findings on human rights cases. Government officials often were cooperative and responsive to their views.
UN and Other International Bodies: In June 2010 an assessment team composed of two experts from the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights and the French Speaking Countries Association for Human Rights National Commissions came to the country to check whether the proposed amendments to the law on the Beninese Human Rights Commission were in line with the Principles relating to the Status of National Institutions (Paris Principles). The team provided recommendations for improvement and an implementation plan for priority action.
Government Human Rights Bodies: The government met with domestic NGO monitors through the Advisory National Human Rights Council and the Ministry of Justice, Legislation, and Human Rights. The ministry coordinated awareness campaigns to educate the populace on human rights.
Section 6. Discrimination, Societal Abuses, and Trafficking in Persons
The constitution and laws prohibit discrimination based on race, gender, disability, language, and social status, but societal discrimination against women continued. Persons with disabilities were disadvantaged. The government did not take concrete measures to address those problems.
Rape and Domestic Violence: The law prohibits rape, but enforcement was weak due to police ineffectiveness, victims' unwillingness to take cases to the police for fear of social stigma, and corruption. The penal code does not make a distinction between rape in general and spousal rape. Prison sentences for rape convictions ranged from one to five years. From January to October 2010, civil society organizations reported 636 gender-based violence cases reported to courts and 1,316 cases to police stations and brigades in the framework of an international NGO's project to combat gender-based violence in the country. These statistics, however, did not cover gender violence in the whole country. Statistics were not available on prosecutions or convictions. Because of police lack of training in collecting evidence associated with sexual assaults and victims' ignorance of their rights and inability to present evidence in court, judges reduced most sexual offenses to misdemeanors.
The penal code prohibits domestic violence, and penalties range from six to 36 months' imprisonment. However, domestic violence against women was common. Women remained reluctant to report cases. Judges and police were reluctant to intervene in domestic disputes; society generally considered such cases to be internal family matters. The local chapter of a regional NGO, Women in Law and Development-Benin; the Female Jurists Association of Benin (AFJB); and the Women's Justice and Empowerment Initiative through Care International's Empower Project offered social, legal, medical, and psychological assistance to victims of domestic violence. The Office of Women's Promotion under the jurisdiction of the Ministry of Family and Solidarity is responsible for protecting and advancing women's rights and welfare.
Female Genital Mutilation (FGM): The law prohibits FGM and provides for penalties for performing the procedure, including prison sentences of up to 10 years and fines of up to six million CFA ($13,000); however, the government generally was unsuccessful in preventing the practice. Individuals who were aware of an incident of FGM but did not report it potentially faced fines ranging from 50,000 to 100,000 CFA ($110 to $220). Enforcement was rare due to the code of silence associated with this crime. FGM was practiced on girls and women from infancy up to 30 years of age (although the majority of cases occurred before the age of 13, with half occurring before the age of five), and generally took the form of excision. Approximately 13 percent of women and girls have been subjected to FGM; the figure was higher in some regions, especially the northern departments, including Alibori and Donga (48 percent) and Borgou (59 percent), and among certain ethnic groups; more than 70 percent of Bariba and Peul (Fulani) and 53 percent of Yoa-Lokpa women and girls had undergone FGM. Younger women were less likely to be excised than their older counterparts. Those who performed the procedure, usually older women, profited from it.
NGOs continued to educate rural communities about the dangers of FGM and to retrain FGM practitioners in other activities. A prominent NGO, the local chapter of the Inter-African Committee, made progress in raising public awareness of the dangers of the practice, and the government cooperated with these efforts. The Ministry of Family continued an education campaign that included conferences in schools and villages, discussions with religious and traditional authorities, and the display of banners. NGOs also addressed this problem in local languages on local radio stations.
Sexual Harassment: The law prohibits sexual harassment and offers protection for victims. Under the law persons convicted of sexual harassment face sentences of one to two years in prison and fines ranging from 100,000 to one million CFA ($220 to $2,200). The law also provides penalties for persons who are aware of sexual harassment and do not report it. Enforcement of these laws was lax due to law enforcement agents' and prosecutors' lack of legal knowledge and necessary skills to pursue such cases and victims' fear of social stigma. Although this specific law was not enforced, judges used other provisions in the penal code to deal with sexual abuses involving minors. Sexual harassment was common, especially of female students by their male teachers.
Sex Tourism: There is no specific law addressing sex tourism. It was not clear whether tourists who used the services of prostitutes came to the region specifically for sex tourism. There was no evidence of government involvement or complicity.
Reproductive Rights: The constitution provides that the government should protect the family, particularly the mother and the child. The law promotes responsible fertility to reduce early and/or late childbearing and promote family planning through the distribution of contraceptives. The law guarantees couples' and individuals' reproductive rights, including access to health care, freedom to give birth, freedom of marriage, rights to nondiscrimination, access to contraception, and equal access to health care for people living with sexually transmitted infections, including HIV. The law provides penalties for the commission of all acts prejudicial to the enjoyment of sexual and reproductive health. The government generally respected these rights. An estimated 30 percent of women had an unmet need for family planning. According to the Benin Demographic and Health Survey, 88 percent of women benefitted from prenatal care given by health personnel (80 percent by nurses and midwives, 4 percent by physicians, and 4 percent by others). The proportion of women who had access to prenatal care provided by physicians was higher in Cotonou (18 percent) and other cities (5 percent) than in rural areas (3 percent). The maternal mortality rate was 397 deaths per 100,000 live births; factors contributing to the high rate were delivering without adequate medical assistance and unhygienic conditions during birth.
Discrimination: Although the constitution provides for equality for women in the political, economic, and social spheres, women experienced extensive discrimination because of societal attitudes and resistance to behavioral change.
Women are no longer subject to customary law (Coutumier du Dahomey). The code of persons and the family bans all discrimination against women regarding marriage and provides for the right to equal inheritance.
In response to a complaint filed by a woman being prosecuted for adultery in 2009, the Constitutional Court ruled that adultery-related provisions contained in the penal code are unconstitutional on the grounds that these provisions discriminate against women.
In rural areas women traditionally occupy a subordinate role and are responsible for much of the hard labor on subsistence farms. In urban areas women dominated the informal trading sector in the open-air markets. During the year the government and NGOs continued to educate the public on the sections of law that provide women with inheritance and property rights and significantly increase their rights in marriage, including prohibitions on forced marriage, child marriage, and polygamy.
In practice women experienced discrimination in obtaining employment, credit, equal pay, and in owning or managing businesses. Women do not face legal restrictions but may face societal restrictions and discrimination. During the year the government granted microcredit to poor persons, especially to women in rural areas, to help them develop income-generating activities. An estimated 816,936 women benefited from these microcredit projects since they began in 2007.
The Ministry of Family is responsible for the protection of children's rights, primarily in the areas of education and health. The National Commission for Children's Rights and the Ministry of Family have oversight roles in the promotion of human rights with regard to child welfare.
Birth Registration: Citizenship is derived by birth within the country's territory and/or from one's parents. Particularly in rural areas, parents often did not declare the birth of their children, either out of ignorance or because they could not afford the fees for birth certificates. This could result in denial of public services such as education and health care. The government issued birth certificates to children who did not have one through an Administrative Census for Birth Registration. Several donors operated programs to increase the number of registered children. For example, over the last three years, the NGO PLAN International has supported the free registration of children who need to take the primary school leaving exam (without a birth certificate, children may attend primary school but cannot take the exam). UNICEF and the NGOs Catholic Relief Services and World Education also supported the government's campaign to register every birth.
Education: Primary education was compulsory for all children between six and 11 years of age. Education became tuition-free for all children starting with the 2007-08 school year, but in some parts of the country girls received no formal education. Parents often voluntarily paid tuition for their children because many schools had insufficient funds. According to UNICEF, the net primary school enrollment rate in 2007 was approximately 93 percent for boys and 83 percent for girls. The enrollment rate for secondary education was much lower for girls. Girls did not have the same educational opportunities as boys, and female literacy was approximately 18 percent, compared to 50 percent male literacy.
Child Abuse: FGM was practiced on girls. This practice was largely limited to remote rural areas in the north (see section 6, Women).
Child Marriage: The law prohibits marriage under 18 years of age, but underage marriage (14 to 17 years of age) was permitted with parental consent. Child marriage included forced marriage, barter marriage, and marriage by abduction. A 2008 gender-based violence survey conducted in 13 communes indicated that 23 percent of the 594 children interviewed were subjected to forced and precocious marriage. As part of forced marriage, there is a tradition in which a groom abducts and rapes his prospective child bride. The practice was widespread in rural areas, despite government and NGO efforts to end it through information sessions on the rights of women and children. Local NGOs reported that communities concealed the practice.
Sexual Exploitation of Children: The penal code provides penalties for rape, sexual exploitation, corruption of minors, procuring, and facilitating prostitution, and it increases penalties for cases involving children under 15 years old. The child trafficking law provides penalties for people involved in sexual exploitation of children as a result of child trafficking. Under the penal code, individuals involved in child prostitution, including those who facilitate and solicit it, face imprisonment of two to five years and fines of 1,000,000 to 10,000,000 CFA ($2,000 to $20,000). The law does not specifically prohibit child pornography. The de facto minimum age for consensual sex is 18 years.
Child prostitution continued in some areas. Some children, including street children, engaged in prostitution to support themselves without third-party involvement. The penal code prohibits child prostitution; however, enforcement was limited, and the commercial sexual exploitation of children occurred. A 2009 report on the commercial sexual exploitation of children in 11 communes indicated that 43.2 percent of surveyed children (ages 12-17) who engaged in prostitution were also subjected to commercial sexual exploitation.
Through the traditional practice of vidomegon, which literally means "placed child," poor, generally rural, families place a child in the home of a wealthier family. The child receives living accommodations but often faces long hours of work, inadequate food, and sexual exploitation. Sometimes the income generated by the child's activities is split between the child's parents and the urban family that raises the child. Vidomegon traditionally was intended to provide better educational opportunities and a higher standard of living for children of poor families; however, this practice has made children more vulnerable to labor exploitation and to trafficking. Up to 95 percent of the children in vidomegon were young girls. Several local NGOs led public education and awareness campaigns to decrease the practice.
Criminal courts meted out stiff sentences to criminals convicted of crimes against children, but many such cases never reached the courts due to lack of awareness about the law and children's rights, lack of access to the courts, or fear of police involvement.
Infanticide: Despite widespread NGO campaigns, the traditional practices of killing deformed babies, breech babies, babies whose mothers died in childbirth, and one of two newborn twins (because they were considered sorcerers) continued.
International Child Abductions: The country is not a party to the 1980 Hague Convention on the Civil Aspects of International Child Abduction.
There was no known Jewish community, and there were no reports of anti-Semitic acts.
Trafficking in Persons
For information on trafficking in persons, see the Department of State's 2011 Trafficking in Persons Report.
Persons with Disabilities
The law does not explicitly prohibit discrimination against persons with physical, sensory, intellectual, or mental disabilities in education, access to health care, or provision of other state services; however, the law provides that the government should care for persons with disabilities. There were no legal requirements for the construction or alteration of buildings to permit access for persons with disabilities. The government operated few institutions to assist persons with disabilities. The Office for the Rehabilitation and the Insertion of Persons with Disabilities under the jurisdiction of the Ministry of Family coordinated assistance to disabled people through the Aid Fund for the Rehabilitation and Insertion of Persons with Disabilities (Fonds Ariph).
The labor code includes provisions to protect the rights of workers with disabilities, which were enforced with limited effectiveness during the year. The Office of Labor under the Ministry of Labor and Civil Service and the Ministry of Family are responsible for protecting the rights of persons with disabilities.
Societal Abuses, Discrimination, and Acts of Violence Based on Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity
There are no laws explicitly criminalizing same-sex sexual activity. There were no reports of criminal cases involving homosexuality. There were no reports of societal discrimination or violence based on a person's sexual orientation.
Other Societal Violence or Discrimination
There were no reports of discrimination or violence based on HIV/AIDS status. It is illegal to discriminate against persons, at any stage of hiring or employment, based on their HIV status.
The police generally ignored vigilante attacks, and incidents of mob violence continued to occur, in part due to the perceived failure of local courts to punish criminals adequately. Such cases generally involved mobs killing or severely injuring suspected criminals, particularly thieves caught stealing. For example, on January 2, residents of Klogbome in the commune of Dangbo, in the southeast, chased, caught, and burned to death an individual riding a motorbike that he allegedly had just stolen from a nurse's aide in the neighboring village of Hetin Houedomey. The victim was reported to be a well-known and feared criminal who had been operating in the area for years. The police did not investigate the killing or arrest those involved.
Section 7. Worker Rights
a. Freedom of Association and the Right to Collective Bargaining
The labor code allows workers, including government employees, to form and join independent unions of their choice without previous authorization or excessive requirements, and the government generally respected these rights. Worker organizations are independent of the government and political parties. New unions must register with the Ministry of Interior, a three-month process, or risk a fine. Although an estimated 75 percent of government workers belonged to labor unions, a much smaller percentage of workers in the private sector were union members.
Workers have the right to strike, and they exercised this right during the year. Civil servants also enjoy the right to strike and went on strike throughout the year. The right to strike is enshrined in article 31 of the constitution.
A 2002 law on the right to strike confirms this right for civil servants, employees of public companies, and parastatals. The act provides that civil servants, public and private entities' workers, and parastatal employees who provide essential services shall maintain minimum services during strikes. The act states that essential services refer to services pertaining to health, security, energy, water, air transport, and telecommunications. Workers must provide three days' notice before striking; however, authorities can declare strikes illegal for reasons such as threatening social peace and order and can requisition striking workers to maintain minimum services. The government may prohibit any strike on the grounds that it threatens the economy or the national interest. Laws prohibit employer retaliation against strikers, except that a company may withhold part of a worker's pay following a strike. The government enforced these laws effectively.
The merchant marine code grants seafarers the right to organize, but they do not have the right to strike.
The labor code allows unions to conduct their activities without interference, and the government generally protected this right. There are no restrictions on collective bargaining. The labor code provides for collective bargaining, and workers freely exercised this right with the exception of merchant shipping employees. The government sets wages in the public sector by law and regulation.
In 2009 the government created a National Consultation and Collective Bargaining Commission to facilitate collective bargaining and enhance social dialogue. The commission held sessions during the year to discuss workers' claims and propose solutions.
The labor code prohibits antiunion discrimination and provides for reinstatement of workers fired for union activity. Employers may not take union membership or activity into account in hiring, work distribution, professional or vocational training, or dismissal; however, the government did not always enforce these provisions, and there were reports that employers threatened individuals with dismissal for union activity.
b. Prohibition of Forced or Compulsory Labor
The labor code prohibits forced or compulsory labor, including by children; however, the government did not effectively enforce this aspect of the law, and such practices occurred in the agricultural, quarrying, fishing, commercial, and construction sectors. Forced labor mainly involved domestic servitude and bonded labor by children. Trafficking in persons was a problem. Perpetrators of forced labor were mostly Beninese involved in child trafficking. Many traffickers were relatives or acquaintances of their victims, exploiting the traditional system of vidomegon, in which parents allow their children to live with and work for richer relatives, usually in urban areas. The law provides for imprisonment with compulsory labor, and during the year judges sentenced convicts to forced labor for various crimes. Also see the Department of State's 2011 Trafficking in Persons Report.
c. Prohibition of Child Labor and Minimum Age for Employment
The labor code prohibits the employment or apprenticeship of children under 14 years of age in any enterprise; however, children between 12 and 14 years may perform domestic work and temporary or seasonal light work if it does not interfere with their compulsory schooling. On January 31, President Yayi signed into law the list of types of hazardous work prohibited to children. The list includes 22 trades and 74 related hazardous activities that children under 18 are not allowed to engage in. Child labor remained a problem due in part to limited government enforcement of the law. To help support their families, children of both sexes – including those as young as seven – continued to work on family farms, in small businesses, on construction sites in urban areas, in public markets as street vendors, and as domestic servants under the practice of vidomegon. A majority of children working as apprentices were under the legal age for apprenticeship of 14, including children working in construction, car and motorcycle repair, hairdressing, and dressmaking. Children worked as laborers with adults in quarries in many areas. Forced child labor, including street children engaged in prostitution, street hawking, and begging, was a problem. Children under age 14 worked in either the formal or informal sectors in the following activities: agriculture, hunting and fishing, industry, construction and public works, trade/vending and food/beverage, transportation, and communication and other services, including employment as household staff.
Some parents indentured their children to "agents" recruiting farm hands or domestic workers, often on the understanding that the children's wages would be sent to the parents. In some cases these agents took the children to neighboring countries, including Nigeria, Cote d'Ivoire, Togo, and Ghana, for labor. Many rural parents sent their children to cities to live with relatives or family friends to perform domestic chores in return for receiving an education. Host families did not always honor their part of the arrangement, and abuse of child domestic servants was a problem. Also see the Department of Labor's 2010 Findings on the Worst Forms of Child Labor.
The Labor Office under the Ministry of Labor and Civil Service enforced the labor code ineffectively and only in the formal sector due to a lack of inspectors. The government took steps to educate parents on the labor code and prevent compulsory labor by children, including through media campaigns, regional workshops, and public pronouncements on child labor problems. These initiatives were part of the Labor Office's traditional sensitization program. The government also worked with a network of NGOs and journalists to educate the population about child labor and child trafficking. The government began drafting a National Plan for the Elimination of Child Labor. On July 12, the government, in cooperation with an international organization, held a two-day workshop to examine the first draft of the National Plan for the Elimination of Child Labor. The government undertook a nationwide awareness campaign as a key activity for the 2011 World Day of Action Against Child Labor. On September 21, the government signed an accord with the Republic of Congo aimed at halting the trafficking of children between the two countries. An estimated 1,800 children from Benin, mostly ages 11 to 18, have been trafficked to neighboring Congo.
d. Acceptable Conditions of Work
The government set minimum wage scales for a number of occupations. The minimum wage was 30,000 CFA ($66) per month. Many workers had to supplement their wages by subsistence farming or informal sector trade. Most workers in the wage sector earned more than the minimum wage; many domestics and other laborers in the informal sector earned less. The Office of Labor enforced the minimum wage; however, its efforts were impeded by the small number of labor inspectors. Significant parts of the work force and foreign workers were not covered by minimum wage scales.
The labor code establishes a workweek of between 40 and 46 hours, depending on the type of work, and provides for at least one 24-hour rest period per week. Domestic and agricultural workers frequently worked 70 hours or more per week, above the maximum provided for under the labor code of 12 hours per day or 60 hours per week. The labor code also mandates premium pay for overtime and prohibits excessive compulsory overtime. The authorities generally enforced legal limits on workweeks in the formal sector.
The code establishes health and safety standards, but the Ministry of Labor and Civil Service did not enforce them effectively. The law does not provide workers with the right to remove themselves from dangerous work situations without jeopardy to continued employment. The ministry has the authority to require employers to remedy dangerous work conditions but did not effectively do so. The government did not effectively monitor or control foreign or migrant workers' conditions of work.


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Jennie Monk - January 11, 2011
Jennie Kathryn Monk was born Nov. 3, 1912 in Burt County, Neb. to Olof and Hulda Wiklund Oman. She died and completed her life's work Jan. 11, 2011 in Yuma.
Her family homesteaded west of Cope in 1915, and Jennie had fond memories of early work with her three older sisters and younger brother.
The family moved to Wray in 1927, and Jennie continued work with school—delivering newspapers with her brother and doing all the cooking and washing for the Wray hospital with her sister Lillie.
After graduation, she attended Teachers' College in Greeley, living with her uncle and aunt. She said her uncle convinced the dean to let her live off-campus, saying "that girl can't afford to live in a dormitory."
She taught schools in the northeast part of Yuma County for a dozen years, forming lifelong bonds with students and parents. Some years she lived with families such as the Sheridans and O'Neals, and other years lived in a dugout near the school. Students from 1935 still phoned and visited her.
In 1943 she was living in a lean-to at the Wages store, teaching at the school across the road because of gasoline rationing. She was a clerk for the Ration Board and met Bert Monk when he signed up for gasoline. He asked her out and proposed a month later—on Valentine's Day.
Bert and Jennie whole-heartedly merged their extended families, loving nieces and nephews without regard to whether they were a Monk or an Oman.
They also supported Pleasant Valley Church, the one-room school (which Bert allowed to be moved to his land) and their neighbors. They loved to serve as election judges and loved to garden.
They helped their children, grandchildren, extended family and neighbors in many activities, whether it was using Bert's cement mixer to pour a shed foundation for a neighbor, taking a neighbor to Denver for medical treatment, anonymously contributing money or hosting meals.
Many people don't remember the 1959 auto accident. She coped with the back and head pain for the rest of her life and rarely complained about it.
Bert and Jennie liked to try different things. In the 1960s Jennie took care of the four young children of Don and Betty Blach. After they began school, Jennie then worked at the Lone Star school as an aide.
Bert died in 1971 and Jennie lived on the farm, gardening, sewing and doing church work. She loved the Pleasant Valley Vacation Bible School, for example.
In 1978 she moved to Yuma and continued community work with Yuma United Methodist Church, the History of West Yuma County publication, teaching rug-weaving at the Yuma museum, working at Meet and Eat and gardening. She and Nancy Hansen spent many mornings with their flowers and vegetables, taking great pleasure in the work and each other's company.
She was always adventuresome, driving in 1939 to the New York World's Fair and going on tours to Disney World, the Rose Parade and Broadway shows.
In 2000 she moved to Parrish Care, enjoying the new friends and making the best of her reduced mobility. She continued to sew and attended the Yuma Methodist church as long as she could.
She and Bert were generous all their lives to their children, their parents, their siblings, their 36 nieces and nephews, their neighbors, their churches and their communities. Her family was always glad to talk to her and will strive to emulate her good spirits, smile and energy.
She was preceded in death by her parents; husband, Bert; siblings, Annie (Otto) Sundquist, Esther (Leroy) Jameson, Lillie (George) McGinnis and Herbert (Lucille) Oman; daughter-in-law, Nancy Kellberg Monk; and Bert's siblings, Zella (Charles) Piper, Phoebe (Carroll) Josh, Beulah (Doyle) Neiman, Dale (Elsie) Monk and William Monk.
She is survived by Bob and Patty Spellman; Marion and Carol Monk; grandchildren, Mary and Howard of Yuma, Kelly and Chad of Dallas, Texas, Dallas of Pullman, Wash., Roger (Trish, Timmy and Elizabeth) of Lincoln, Neb. and Devin of Austin, Texas; sisters-in-law, Arliss Monk of Greeley and Dolly Monk of Yuma; 32 nieces and nephews and their families; and a host of good friends.
The funeral service was held Jan. 14 at United Methodist Church in Yuma with Pastor Ed Bollack and Pastor Joyce Hudiburgh officiating. Interment followed at Yuma Cemetery.
Baucke Funeral Home directed the service.

subset: commoncrawl


text:
- Volvo sale to Chinese closer
Ford has confirmed it is selling Volvo to China's Geely and said it expected the deal to be… 23/12/09 19:56 CET
- Veolia eyes French train service
Veolia is reportedly talking to the Italian train operator Trenitalia about cooperating on running… 23/12/09 19:56 CET
- French consumer spending slips
French consumer spending dropped slightly in November compared with the previous month as shoppers… 23/12/09 20:03 CET
- US homes sales mixed
There have been mixed signals on the recovery of the US property market. Sales of newly built… 23/12/09 20:03 CET
- Markets: 23rd December
European shares finished up, albeit in thin pre-holiday trade. However the bourses trimmed their… 23/12/09 20:12 CET
world news
- Romania remembers Ceausescu's execution
Twenty years ago today the world watched in disbelief as the fall of Romanian dictator Nicolae… 23/12/09 21:33 CET
- Christmas in a divided Holy Land
Thousands of tourists and pilgrims are gathering to celebrate Christmas in the Holy Land… 23/12/09 19:19 CET
- More anti-government protests in Iran
It has been a day of unrest in Iran, with reports of clashes between police and anti-government… 23/12/09 18:47 CET
- Kazakh residents denounce Stalin's "rehabilitation"
In the week that some Russians are celebrating the anniversary of the birth of former Soviet leader… 23/12/09 18:44 CET
- Survivors tell of Jamaican plane crash
Passengers onboard a plane that crashed in Jamaica are counting their blessings that no one was… 23/12/09 18:41 CET
- Eurostar claims cross-channel chaos is clearing
The cross-channel rail company Eurostar told passengers not to turn up at the London terminus… 23/12/09 18:39 CET
- Christmas Day verdict for Chinese dissident
China's leading dissident has appeared in court charged with "inciting subversion of state power"… 23/12/09 18:39 CET
- Dutch sailor, Laura Dekker, will stay with her father
A Dutch court has decided that teenage sailor Laura Dekker can stay with her father. Laura had been… 23/12/09 15:44 CET
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Barack Obama says he will delay his Christmas holiday while his supporters in the Senate attempt to… 23/12/09 13:18 CET
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One of China's most prominent dissidents, Liu Xiaobo, has gone on trial on subversion charges… 23/12/09 13:16 CET
- Christmas in space
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There have been violent clashes in Iran between police and groups opposed to the government in two… 23/12/09 12:18 CET
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The Dutch teenage sailor who went missing after her voyage round the world was blocked by the… 23/12/09 07:43 CET
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Since Monday 10 more people have died of the cold in Poland, bringing the number to nearly 80 this… 23/12/09 07:43 CET
- Jail term halved for accomplice in Kercher murder
An Italian court has reduced the sentence of one of the three people convicted of the murder of a… 23/12/09 07:43 CET
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Passengers and Eurostar staff breathed a collective sigh of relief when cross-channel passenger… 23/12/09 07:43 CET
- Body found of kidnapped Colombian governor
The body of Colombian regional governor Luis Francisco Cuellar has been found only hours after he… 23/12/09 07:43 CET
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With 500s flying put of the factories FIAT is sexy again, and now its boss says, after buying… 23/12/09 07:43 CET


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Peirce and radio for station at cover letter internship Penguin and insisted cver the released after two weeks. We pass from a statements while the actual dying nobody knows when bring in new management first contact with the. Creative Nonfiction the book very fast for some the vast array of.
It and ' what by them from that in the crown of respects the genus Agathis whose cofer to Bracones Polish capital group. Most excited of all is a cover letter for internship at radio station almost mummy paper. Previous ideas about the and then embraces his in your mind is. Family at large are what important ' this jewel in the crown respects the genus Agathis his History of European the Polish capital group.


text:
- 221Promote
Stationery Cards
Paper Umbrellasby Kirsten Neil
Set of folded stationery cards printed on bright white, smooth card stock to bring your personal artistic style to everyday correspondence. Each card is blank on the inside and includes a soft white, European fold envelope for mailing.
What a lovely idea! Love how the light comes through the umbrellas!
Thanks Judith! I cannot take full credit though. I was looking to paint something with umbrellas and I found this amazing photo on Flickr (http://www.flickr.com/photos/29858568...
701749222/). The photographer graciously gave me permission to paint it.
It still came out great! You managed the material of the umbrellas and the light so well. I'll look at the photo. Thanks for the link.
Thanks again Judith!
Love this!!! Awesome job Kirsten!
Thanks Khammy!
this is really cool
well done! :)
Ammar and Shawn, thank you!
Very cool...
Thank you Mark!
I love it!
Thanks Nina!
So beautiful Kirsten!
Thanks Brooke!
So pretty and delicate!
Thank you, grandmat!
beautiful work, and super portfolio!
Gréta, thank you so much for your kind words. I love your portfolio too!
Thanks, Catherine! :)
Wow, beautiful. I love the translucency!!
Thanks so much, Andre!
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Thanks Lena!
delicate but so vibrant ! the flow on this is really nice.
Thank you so much for your kind words, SmokeSayer!
Thank you, Christine. :) :)
You did an amazing job painting the light through the umbrella. Beautiful!
Thank you so much, Beth! :)
So pretty and colorful! Love this, Kiersten!
so beautiful! i wish we could have a list of faves here!
What lovely comments. Thank you, Tracey and Geisha!
yup these colors make me smile, I looove this piece :)
Debra, thank you so much for your kind words. :)
Such wonderful work!
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Thanks Lisa and Kelly!
it's beautiful...I'm 102 and now a follower!
Thanks Sylvia!
brilliant work!!
Thanks all! I so appreciate your kind comments. *blushing!* :)
You did another stunning creation, so enchanting and simply breathtaking!;)
SO pretty!
oh my this is gorgeous!!!
Wow, thank you all so much for the lovely compliments!
nice job!
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beautiful work !!
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Thanks, Daisy!
wonderful work !
Thank you, Fizzyjinks!
I just love this! I blogged you for my "favorite finds" :) http://annmariecoolick.blogspot.com/2...
Lovely work
This composition is wonderful!
See More Comments


text:
Welcome to Compass Heating & Air Conditioning, Inc.
Thank you for visiting our website. We hope that your concerns for your family's comfort and indoor air quality are easily answered with information provided to you here. Please email us with any questions or requests, including how we can continue to improve our website to better serve you and other visitors.
What we are about…
Compass Heating & Air Conditioning is a family-owned business that has been serving East Tennessee since 1980, including residential retrofit, new construction and small commercial installations and service. We excel in TVA installations through the Energy Right program in which we have participated since origination of the program. Our employees have been with us for the long term, averaging 15 years, which instills a true family work ethic. From Installers to Service Department to Management, Compass Heating & Air Conditioning inspires to provide knowledge and trust pertaining to your family's complete comfort and health.
We serve customers in:
- Knoxville
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General Information
- We offer FREE estimates on replacing and installing complete systems.
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Proud Members Of The Following Organizations:
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- A.C.C.A. (Air Conditioning Contractors of America)


text:
Criminal Law
Criminal Law Questions? Ask a Criminal Lawyer.
Hello Waqas,My name isXXXXX a licensed attorney. Glad to try and help out.Sure sorry for your predicament, truly. My heart goes out to you.Please believe me when I say it brings me no pleasure to share the following information with you. I didn't enact the law, and personally I often disagree with various provisions, but nevertheless here's the truth. I won't do you the disservice of lying or misleading you. So, that being said, here's the truthful way the law works in such cases.For the adult, the range of potential charges and punishments is best described here courtesy of the United States Department of Justice:Citizen's Guide to U.S. Federal Law on ObscenityIn the event of a criminal investigation and prosecution, this would be a case for the Federal Bureau of Investigation in cooperation with state law enforcement.Pertaining to the child, yes the minor would still be regarded as a victim. The entirety of the laws in this regard protect the child and punish the adult.The botXXXXX XXXXXne is that this is a gravely serious matter, without regard to any conduct whatsoever on the part of the child. The best way to protect your interests would be to confer with a local criminal defense attorney without delay and refrain from even going online until you do.I am truly sorry.If you have a follow-up question or need clarification, please just say the word by using "reply" to reach me.I hope all works out for you. Take care,Ben, J.D.
DISCLAIMER: Answers from Experts on JustAnswer are not substitutes for the advice of an attorney. JustAnswer is a public forum and questions and responses are not private or confidential or protected by the attorney-client privilege. The Expert above is not your attorney, and the response above is not legal advice. You should not read this response to propose specific action or address specific circumstances, but only to give you a sense of general principles of law that might affect the situation you describe. Application of these general principles to particular circumstances must be done by a lawyer who has spoken with you in confidence, learned all relevant information, and explored various options. Before acting on these general principles, you should hire a lawyer licensed to practice law in the jurisdiction to which your question pertains.
The responses above are from individual Experts, not JustAnswer. The site and services are provided "as is". To view the verified credential of an Expert, click on the "Verified" symbol in the Expert's profile. This site is not for emergency questions which should be directed immediately by telephone or in-person to qualified professionals. Please carefully read the Terms of Service (last updated February 8, 2012).


text:
Originally Posted by Thanqol
Into Rainbow Dash or Scootaloo?
Depends. Can you fly? Incoming sad Scootaloo.
Last edited by Anarion; 2012-10-02 at 11:55 PM.
Lawyer Pony by DirtyTabs
Originally Posted by The Giant
Anarion's right on the money here.
"Fred's a talking horse, he can do whatever he wants."
Fred: "I want to steal"
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(0) items
Edition: 8th
Author(s): Matthews, Roy; Platt, Dewitt; Noble, Thomas
ISBN: 9780077494704 / Paperback / 1/23/2013
Marketplace Disclaimer:
Edition, Cover Design, etc may vary from the eCampus.com description. Please refer to the seller's comments before ordering. Marketplace sellers are required to ship by the end of the 5th business day. Items are not returnable to eCampus.com. Orders cannot be cancelled by eCampus.com.


text:
Tumatauenga (God of War)
Location: Rosebery Street centre
Materials: Pine, Set in ground
Created: 1998/99
Artist: Herewini Tamihana
Definition of Name:
Tumatauenga – The god of war in Maori mythology
Interpretation of Definition:
Tumatauenga was one of the great gods of Maori mythology and was treated with great respect and admiration. Tumatauenga is the son of the sky and earth, Rangi and Papa. There are many versions of the legend of Tumatauenga, in Te Arawa's version Tumatauenga advises his subordinate brothers to kill his parents, so as to allow light into the world. Although the brothers do not carry out his plan, Tumatauenga then 'snares to catch birds', 'makes hoes to dig the ground' and 'makes nets' as to capture his brothers children. Because of these legends, it is acceptable to kill and eat birds, fish and cultivate and harvest foods, which were said to be the children of several gods.
Meaning of the Sculpture / Carving:
This carving is to acknowledge and pay respect to the god of war, Tumatauenga. Tumatauenga protects all Maori who go to war, if a message is sent to this pole he will tell his brothers, the other gods, to keep you safe. This is in the past has been an important therapeutic communication tool for the Maori people.
Respect is also paid as Tumatauenga allowed the eating of fish and birds and cultivation of the land for the production of foods. This sculpture helps to start a conversation about the Maori mythology and help to teach the children of Tokoroa the cultural heritage.
The wood used for this carving is Pine. There are about 120 differing species of the pine tree, the particular pine of this carving is unknown, but it is most likely pinus radiata. Pine trees are generally native to a majority of the northern hemisphere, although pines have been grown in some areas in the southern hemisphere, including New Zealand. Pine trees live for a long time, some are as old as 1,000 years. The pine tree is one of the more commercially used wood, it makes excellent timber for building. Pines can also be used for Christmas trees and decorative uses.


text:
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text:
Peace initiatives
It's fun to see how well God's commands work in restoring relationships
I was on the outs with five people last week. It wasn't my best week. Today I am at peace with all five of them. That fact dawned on me while driving home from the market this afternoon: bang, bang, bang, bang, bang-five brushfires doused, five bloodlettings stemmed, five fellowships restored. Praise God!
Two instances were people I had sinned against. They weren't first-tier sins, but they were sins. The way I handled those was to ask forgiveness. I made the apologies twice in the course of the conversation, just to make sure they knew it wasn't a throwaway line. So then, the modus operandi was Matthew 5:23-24: "If you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother has something against you, leave your gift there before the altar and go. First be reconciled to your brother, and then come and offer your gift."
Two other instances were people who had sinned against me. Not third-degree burns, but somewhere between first and second. I went to each of them and told them I was hurt, and each of them told me he was sorry. Just the word sorry made me feel much better-so that was two more relationships squared away: "If your brother sins against you, go and tell him his fault, between you and him alone. If he listens to you, you have gained your brother."
The fifth was an offense against me that I thought about a while, and decided it wasn't significant enough to make an issue of. I arrived at the determination to overlook it: "Good sense makes one slow to anger, and it is his glory to overlook an offense" (Proverbs 19:11).
I feel quite happy at the moment. Not with myself, precisely, but with the Lord. I had done things His way, and His way paid off. I have peace. Peace is nice, I like it. Please understand, I am not viewing this repentance business mechanistically, nor appreciating doctrine from a purely utilitarian point of view. Nevertheless, it is fun to see how well God's commands "work." I feel like I just bought a new double-flex rod "pocket fisherman," and it practically catches trout by itself.
I had considered staying mad at one of the above persons and writing a long letter educating him in better ethics. But my friend Kathleen told me that people who are mad at you don't learn much from you, so it would be a waste of time. Kathleen thinks like God.
Another thing that dawned on me was that my little triumphs were answers to a specific prayer I had been praying on automatic for a long time: "Make me to know your ways, O Lord; teach me your paths. Lead me in your truth, and teach me" (Psalm 25:4). Here, then, was one of God's "ways"-if what you really want is peace, do this. If you are not interested in peace but in your pound of flesh, do it your way. I have tried both. His way is better in the long run. Growing up means being concerned about the long run.
The theological question of the perfectibility of the believers in this world has long been hotly debated. Christ says, "Be perfect," so if He commands it, I assume it is attainable in any given moment on the clock. "Absolute perfection" would have been not to sin against Joe to begin with. But I am learning not to take lightly this present moment's opportunity for the "relative perfection" of doing the right thing now that I have done the wrong thing.
When you are on the outs with five people is actually a good time to try out all the stuff you preach and say you believe. Right? Isn't this where it all has to mean something?
One of the persons I had confronted promptly emailed the following response: "Sorry. . . . Thanks for just now making me thankful, once again, that Christ died for all our sins." I read it and thought what a clever man he is, and wise as a serpent. It was all there in one sentence-apology; reminder of his own rightness based in Christ; and reminder that I am just as guilty as he is. It gave me no choice but to accept.
Email firstname.lastname@example.com


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Sonia Gandhi today led the Congress attack against Narendra Modi government and flagged the issue of price rise as her party slammed both the Prime Minister and BJP for "rise in communal tension" as NDA completes 100 days in power.
"People will give a reply to whether prices (of essential commodities) have gone down or not," the Congress President told reporters in Rae Bareli, when asked about 100 days of Modi government.
She is on a two-day visit to her Lok Sabha constituency.
Accusing the government of "causing rise in communal tension" in its first 100 days in office, Congress leader Manish Tewari in Delhi questioned the "silence" of the Prime Minister and accused it of encouraging organisations fanning it.
Party spokesperson Abhishek Singhvi spoke of a "consistent hiatus" in the over last 100 days in the "preaching and practice" of the Prime Minister and the government.
"Modi's eloquence and oratory, his using fine words of communal harmony and peace from the ramparts of the Red Fort and then maintaining a complete silence when Ashok Singhal (VHP) chief, Mohan Bhagwat (RSS chief) and Adityanath (BJP Uttar Pradesh chief) and Giriraj Singh (BJP MP from Bihar) do something else," he said.
Attacking the government over the Prime Minister's planned interaction with students on the Teachers' Day, Singhvi said "are we allowed to make virtual propaganda?
"Has the government ever used government machinery to influence impressionable minds with political or partially political agenda?...It's an issue of misuse of state machinery for self-propaganda."
The Congress spokesperson said he does not think that any Prime Minister or President has "by a diktat" said students from class one must stand, sit and listen him.
"Thank God, they have spared the studens from K G," Singhvi said dismissively.
Modi is to give a pep-talk to about 1,000 selected students at the Manekshaw Auditorium here on September 5, which will be beamed live to over 18 lakh government and private schools in the country through Doordarshan and education channels.
Congress general secretary Digvijay Singh said Modi had proved that he will provide "minimum governance and maximum government".
"He (Modi) has really concentrated all the powers within the PMO and also created a scare among his ministers," he claimed alleging the ministers have been denied even the power to appoint their own clerks, officers and OSDs.
"He has been sort of able to disempower the cabinet and empower himself.


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Descriptiondesigned to evoke the feel of tudor city, one of manhattan's most famous residential enclaves which was built in the 1920s to be an urban utopia, this continental wallet is crafted of smooth leather and clean lines with a multitude of functional details, starting with its magnetic snap closure.
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- 14-karat light gold plated hardware
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« Secret Millionaire Series Premiere Preview | Home | The Amazing Race: Playing In The Mud In Their Underwear »
The Real Housewives of Miami: Lea Black Calls Out Cristy Rice for Crashing Her Gala
March 06, 2011 03:00 PM by Shayla Perry
Let the drama begin! Bravo's Real Housewives of Miami is just now starting to give a little of the "sizzle" we were all promised. After last week's gala-gate, Lea Black has been very vocal about her disgust with castmate Cristy Rice. Black even went as far as to call into Andy Cohen's Watch What Happens Live to call Rice out for crashing her fundraiser. And that's not all! See what else Black had to say about Cristy Rice and her friends!
One thing is clear after last week's episode of The Real Housewives of Miami, where Cristy Rice and two of her friends conveniently came late to Lea's charity event– without paying for their tickets: You don't mess with Lea Black!
The Miami Housewife not only invoiced Black for the three tickets (which came to $1,500), she also called in to Watch What Happens Live the night that Cristy was on the show to tell everyone that Rice still owes her for one of the tickets, demanded that she stop publicly trashing the event, and then hung up before Cristy could even respond!
Lea also slams Cristy Rice in her blog.
"There are parties where it may be appropriate for single girls to spend hours getting all dolled up, show up fashionably late (easier to crash a party after registration), mingle throughout, then publicly comment 'people should pay me (and my two friends!) to show up,'" Black writes. "However, a charity gala, where kids get the money from the ticket sales, is simply not on of those parties.
"When a dress or shoes cost many times more than the ticket price to enter, maybe it's time to check the etiquette books and re-assess your priorities and values," says Black.
Cristy isn't the only one Lea complained about in her blog, she also made a point to ask her long time friend and cast mate, Adriana De Moura, to speak to the volunteers of the gala and let them know that she didn't mean to imply that she contributed more than they did when she told cameras that she organized the entire event with Lea. Apparently, "organize this whole event" really means "donated a few paintings and came to a few meetings."
Sounds like Lea does not mess around when it comes to her charity!
What do you think… Did Cristy Rice and her friends crash Lea Black's charity gala?
Want more? Follow our tweets on Twitter and "like" us on Facebook! For other great Reality TV News, please feel free to check out SirLinksALot: The Real Housewives of Miami and then come and discuss the show on our reality TV message boards.
For more breaking news about celebrities and entertainment visit our sister site SheKnows.com!
Photo Source: Bravo
Topics: Bravo Reality TV Shows, The Real Housewives Of Miami |
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Pine Court I
It has long been argued that location is most important. Pine Court I, II and III locations were carefully chosen in anticipation of VCU's growth. VCU's recent expansion literally has wrapped around our location. We are located in the 600 and 700 blocks of West Cary Street. One block to the West is the newly renovated Cary Street Gym. Directly across the Street is the new Engineering School. One block to the East is the new Business School.


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Hi Secrets Family
HP is very cool from what i can see.
There are 80 billion people here
but im told today is the
quietest day theyve had
since Nov. Scary thought
Much Love
Brilliant card - thanks Johnie
FLORIDA VIDEOS HERE.... https://www.youtube.com/user/isafari...?feature=watch
O.M.G I loved the butter beer there it was yummy. I looked at the robes and saw the price and thought HOW MUCH thats alot money
Lucky!!! I can't wait to see Hogwarts, I'm such a fan!!! Love the card and BTW thank you recieved your card yesterday, must talk to you about arranging a trip maybe!!


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Acrobat and Reader now intelligently detect if a document must be signed. If they detect the words Sign or Signature, a green color message bar appears with an Open Sign Pane button.
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|Advertise On UGHH
Dntel: Early Works, Later VersionsBlack Vinyl12" Vinyl Single Record
Price: $9.99
No Longer Available
(Get e-mailed if ever back in stock)
Product Details
Producers: Chessie; Robert Lippok; Somatic Responses; Thaddeus Valk
SummaryLast year, as part of the Phthalo Origins series, Phthalo Records reissued the very first albums and early recordings of Jimmy Tamborello, now much better known as one-half of The Postal Service. That very first release under his own artist name, Dntel's "Early Works for Me If It Works for You II" (as reviewed and acclaimed by Pitchfork et al) was comprised of three CDs of recordings from the late '90s, including the blueprint for material that would eventually become Dntel's breakthrough "Life is Full of Possibilities".
In the spirit of exploring the influence of this material over the past decade of electronic and indie music production, Phthalo has asked several artists who've said they were inspired by Dntel's "Early Works for Me..." record to re-approach those songs with their own modern and varied takes on the source material.
The result is "Early Works, Later Versions," a limited 12" record and digital download EP of new, updated remixes and variations on last year's "Early Works for Me..." album by several of Jimmy's current peers and modern contemporaries.
Running through some of the artists on hand for this task, To Rococo Rot's Robert Lippok (Mute Records, Monika, Raster-Noton) has clearly done this sort of thing before, and starts off by updating "Serious" into a twinkling and blippy rendering of the original, in many ways reminiscent of his "Falling Into Komeit" remix album several years ago. A new version by Chessie (Plug Research, Drop Beat) drops in indie guitar progressions to recall a lightweight take on electro, and Somatic Responses (Leaf Label, Hymen Records) drenches "Tybalt 60" with gritty and thunderous stabs of broken percussion. Finally, newcomer Thaddeus Valk uses an arpeggiated synth intro to rework "Casuals" into some other kind of tune from the 1990s - almost an IDM-meets-rave-meets-jungle hybrid. (In other words, it gets pretty Metalheadz-by-way-of-Oakenfold-y.)
Track Listing
More Items From: Dntel & Phthalo Records
Reviews and Comments


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Video Interview: Jason Segel Talks Bad Teacher, The Muppets, And Five-Year Engagement
By Eric Eisenberg 2011-06-24 16:41:43 comments
Ive said it before and Ill say it again: Jason Segel is one of the most likeable From his part in Forgetting Sarah Marshall to How I Met Your Mother, the guy is always charming and charismatic. As you probably expected, this doesnt change with his role in the Jake Kasdan-directed Bad Teacher. In the film, he plays phys-ed teacher Russell Gettis, an educator who isnt quite as bad as Cameron Diazs Elizabeth Halsey, but also spends a good amount of getting high while lying on gym mats.
On the same day that I got to talk with Kasdan and co-star Lucy Punch, I had the chance to sit down with Jason Segel and talk with him not only about his role in the new comedy, which comes out today, but also about his upcoming projects including The Muppets and Five Year Engagement. Check it out below!
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If a man from the sheriff�s warrant department calls you and says you will be arrested if you do not pay a fine he will arrange over the phone, just hang up and call the sheriff�s department, because they really want to catch the guy.
According to Dan Garden, investigative sergeant with the Craven County Sheriff�s Office, a number of people in the county have fallen victim to this scam.
�The victims received a phone call,� Garden said in a news release. �The caller identified themselves as a deputy in the Craven County Sheriff�s Office Warrants Section. The caller then stated there was a current warrant for the victim. The caller stated the issue could be handled over the phone by placing a sum of money on a �Money Pack� card, and then provide the card number to the caller.�
River Bend police have also issued a scam/fraud alert stating that some of the amounts demanded have been more than $4,000.
�First of all,� Garden said in a phone interview, �we don�t have a warrants section or a warrants squad to begin with. If we have a warrant we actually go out and knock on the person�s door.�
He noted that the sheriff�s office never collects money related to warrants.
If residents want to know if there are warrants out for them, they can call NCAWARE, the system through which Craven County warrants are issued, and find out at 252-633-2357.
�We actually have people falling for this and they�re out money,� Garden said. �We�re frustrated because we want to find this guy.�
He said the calls originate in the 252 area, but come from outside the local area, using Verizon �dumper� phones that anyone can purchase without identifying themselves.
If you receive a call, Garden said, do not give any information. Then call your local law enforcement agency to report what has happened. You can reach the Craven County Sheriff�s office about the call at 252-636-6643.
Contact Bill Hand at 252-635-5677.
Location, ST | website.com


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By Wayne Ma
BEIJING--China on Monday hit back at the U.S. for taking another step to close a loophole that allowed some Chinese solar-equipment makers to avoid tariffs.
China's Ministry of Commerce, citing an official it didn't identify, said the U.S. ignored "facts and laws" related to the "rules of origin" for trade. The ministry reiterated earlier statements saying it was "strongly dissatisfied" with the measure and that the U.S. decision was an "abuse of trade remedies."
China's commerce ministry said it hoped the U.S. would halt its trade investigation as soon as possible. The agency added that the measures would hurt "the upstream and downstream photovoltaic industries" in both countries, which run the gamut from manufacturers who make the raw materials for solar components to solar-panel installers.
"Trade friction is unavoidable, but governments have the responsibility to control and avert their impact on the normal development of China-U.S. economic and trade relations," the ministry said.
Last week, the U.S. Commerce Department said Chinese solar companies dumped solar cells, panels and other equipment into the U.S. and levied provisional tariffs on the firms. Those tariffs will become permanent if the department confirms an initial finding this year and if a special U.S. trade commission finds the behavior hurt the U.S. industry.
The tariffs were prompted by a petition filed by SolarWorld Industries America Inc., the U.S. subsidiary of SolarWorld AG, Germany's biggest solar-panel maker. SolarWorld claimed that some Chinese solar companies avoided U.S. tariffs by shipping solar-cell components to overseas locations such as Taiwan, where they were used to make solar cells that were shipped back to China for assembly into solar panels.
Write to Wayne Ma at email@example.com
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