GENEVA  – The UN Special Rapporteur on the promotion and protection of human rights and fundamental freedoms while countering terrorism, Ben Saul, will visit Benin from 18 to 27 November 2024. The Special Rapporteur will assess the extent to which Benin’s laws and practices to counter terrorism comply with international human rights law, including criminal laws and measures to counter the financing of terrorism and violent extremism. The Special Rapporteur will meet with Government representatives, members of the judiciary, law enforcement officials, policy specialists, civil society organisations, community and religious leaders, victims of terrorism, UN officials, and other relevant stakeholders. He will also visit detention facilities to interview individuals suspected or convicted of terrorism-related activities. The visit is intended to make constructive recommendations to support the Government’s efforts to protect human rights while countering terrorism. Saul will hold a press conference on 27 November in Cotonou at 17:00 local time at the UN premises (UNICEF room). Access will be strictly limited to journalists. The Special Rapporteur will present a report to the Human Rights Council in March 2025. Mr. Ben Saul, Special Rapporteur on the promotion and protection of human rights and fundamental freedoms while countering terrorism The Special Rapporteurs are part of what is known as the Special Procedures of the Human Rights Council. Special Procedures, the largest body of independent experts in the UN Human Rights system, is the general name of the Council’s independent fact-finding and monitoring mechanisms that address either specific country situations or thematic issues in all parts of the world. Special Procedures experts work on a voluntary basis; they are not UN staff and do not receive a salary for their work. They are independent from any government or organization and serve in their individual capacity. For more information and media requests, please contact: Ms. Karen Reyes Tolosa (karen.reyestolosa@un.org and hrc-sr-ct@un.org) For media inquiries related to other UN independent experts please contact Dharisha Indraguptha (dharisha.indraguptha@un.org) or John Newland (john.newland@un.org) Follow news related to the UN’s independent human rights experts on X: @UN_SPExperts.