On July 5, 2012, with the deposit of its instrument of accession...

On July 5, 2012, with the deposit of its instrument of accession, Benin has become part of the Second Optional Protocol to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR), aiming at the abolition of the death penalty. 
Although the death penalty remains within its jurisdiction until the criminal laws providing for it are repealed, the ratification without reservations of the Second Protocol, which is to enter into full force and effect on 5 October 2012, makes Benin a country totally abolitionist. 
In fact, under Article 1, paragraphs 1 and 2, of the Second Optional Protocol to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, “No one within the jurisdiction of a State Party to the present Protocol shall be executed,” and “Each State Party shall take all necessary measures to abolish the death penalty within its jurisdiction.”  
On December 18, 2008 Benin co-sponsored and voted in favour of the Resolution on a Moratorium on the Use of the Death Penalty at the UN General Assembly. 
On December 21st, 2010, Benin co-sponsored the Resolution but was absent during the vote.