Article 25
The state shall recognise and guarantee, under conditions fixed by law, the freedom to go and
come, the freedom of association, of assembly, of procession and of demonstration.
Article 26
The state shall assure to everyone equality before the law without distinction of origin, race, sex,
religion, political opinion or social position. Men and women are equal under the law. The state
shall protect the family and particularly the mother and child. It shall take care of handicapped
and aged persons.
Article 27
Every person has the right to a healthy, satisfying and lasting environment and has the duty to
defend it. The state shall watch over the protection of the environment.
Article 28
The storage, handling, and removal of toxic wastes or pollutants originating from factories and
other industrial or cottage industry units installed in the national territory shall be regulated by law.
Article 29
The transportation, importation, storage, burying and the discharging on the national territory of
toxic wastes or foreign pollutants and any agreement relating to it shall constitute a crime against
the nation. The applicable sanctions shall be defined by law.
Article 30
The state shall recognise for all citizens the right to work and shall strive to create conditions
which shall make the enjoyment of this right effective and shall guarantee to the worker just
compensation for his services or for his production.
Article 31
The state shall recognise and guarantee the right to strike. Each worker may defend, under the
conditions provided by law, his rights and interests whether individually, whether collectively, or
by trade union action. The right to strike shall be exercised under conditions defined by law.
Article 32
The defence of the nation and of the integrity of the territory of the Republic is a sacred duty for
every Beninese citizen. Military service shall be obligatory. The conditions for the accomplishment
of this duty shall be determined by law.
Article 33
All citizens of the Republic of Benin have the duty to work for the common good, to fulfil all of their
civic and professional obligations, and to pay their fiscal contributions.
Article 34
Each Beninese citizen, civilian or military, has the sacred duty to respect, in all circumstances, the
Constitution and the established constitutional order as well as the laws and regulations of the
Republic.
Article 35
Citizens responsible for a public office or elected to a political office have the duty to fulfil it with
conscience, competence, probity, devotion, and loyalty in the interest of the common good.
Article 36
Each Beninese has the duty to respect and to consider his own kin without any discrimination;
and to keep relations with others that shall permit the safeguarding, the reinforcement and