applied for, pursued and obtained the consent of the government of Benin for me to visit her prisons. I acknowledge my debt of gratitude to them. INTRODUCTION Funds from the Norwegian Agency for Development Co-operation (NORAD) continue to support the work of the Special Rapporteur, and I am very appreciative of this assistance. aving visited the prisons of two countries in West Africa, Mali and the Gambia, it would have been preferable to have seen the prisons of one of the sub-regions which is yet to play host to the Special Rapporteur, North, East and Central Africa. But as no positive response had been received from the countries in these regions with whom contacts had been established to make a mission possible, I had to direct my attention to a country which was willing to throw its prisons open to the Special Rapporteur. H Benin demonstrated, in readily accepting to receive the Special Rapporteur within a short time of permission being sought that it takes its obligations as a State Party to the African Charter on Human and Peoples' Rights (the Charter) seriously; and that it is anxious to co-operate with the African Commission on Human and Peoples' Rights (the Commission) in their common endeavour to promote and protect human rights in Africa. I visited prisons and detention centres in Cotonou, Porto Novo, Abomey, Parakou, Lokossa and Natitingou. Prison visits, and indeed all meetings, began with a brief account of the mandate and work of the Commission and how these justified the instant mission. Briefing by prison officials with questions from the Special Rapporteur preceded a tour of the premises of the prisons. Interviews with prisoners alone was generally the last important event of a prison visit. Whenever necessary suggestions for immediate remedial were proffered by the Special Rapporteur. It is a matter of delight to report that the appropriate authorities took the necessary action in all those cases; and they are to be congratulated for so doing. Beyond prisons the Special Rapporteur met Ministers of State, high-ranking civil servants, journalists and members of non-governmental organisations. An opportunity was not missed to remind the competent authorities that the initial Report from Benin to the Commission in accordance with Article 62 of the Charter was long overdue. It was gratifying to receive assurances that the Commission would soon receive the Report of Benin. 2 3