2. The Application is filed against the Republic of Benin (hereinafter referred to as “the Respondent State”), which became a party to the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights (hereinafter referred to as “the Charter”) on 21 October 1986 and to the Protocol to the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights on the Establishment of an African Court on Human and Peoples’ Rights (hereinafter referred to as “the Protocol”) on 22 August 2014. On 8 February 2016, the Respondent State deposited the Declaration provided for in Article 34(6) of the Protocol (hereinafter referred to as “the Declaration”) by virtue of which it accepted the jurisdiction of the Court to receive applications from individuals and Non-Governmental Organisations. On 25 March 2020, the Respondent State deposited with the African Union Commission (hereinafter referred to as “the AU Commission”) an instrument of withdrawal of the said Declaration. The Court has held that the withdrawal has no bearing on pending cases and new cases filed before the withdrawal came into effect which was on 26 March 2021.1 II. SUBJECT OF THE APPLICATION A. Facts of the matter 3. It emerges from the Application that the Respondent State’s parliament adopted the Law of 24 August 2004 on the Individual and Family Code of Benin (herein after referred to as, “the Law of 24 August 2024”). According to the Applicant, Article 6(1)(3) and (4) of the said Law contravenes the instruments for protection of women’s rights ratified by the Respondent State. 4. The Applicant avers that on 18 December 2017, he lodged a petition with the Constitutional Court of the Respondent State challenging the 1Houngue Éric Noudehouenou v. Republic of Benin, ACtHPR, Application No. 003/2020, Order of 5 2020 (provisional measures), §§ 4-5 and corrigendum of 29 July 2020. 2