A/HRC/10/52 page 9 violence may now seek a protection order. Furthermore the inheritance rights of women are now afforded greater protection. However the gender justice acts must be supplemented by the enactment of the long-awaited draft sexual offences bill and the draft matrimonial bill if legal protection for women is to be properly strengthened. 21. The Ministry of Social Welfare, Gender and Children’s Affairs, with the support of the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) and the United Nations Development Fund for Women (UNIFEM), undertook a national survey on sexual and gender-based violence and the report was released in December 2008 on the eve of the commencement of 16 days of activism against gender violence. The Ministry, in collaboration with the United Nations and national NGOs, has launched an advocacy programme for the enactment of the sexual offences bill and the matrimonial bill. 22. Through the support of national and international NGOs and United Nations agencies, the Ministry has established a National Committee on Gender-based Violence (NaC-GBV) to coordinate all initiatives aimed at curbing sexual and gender-based violence. A few centres that cater specifically for women victims of domestic and sexual violence have been established in the country. The Peacebuilding Fund has also approved funding for the construction of two homes in Freetown and Makeni to provide temporary housing for women victims of sexual and domestic violence. 23. Although women’s participation in the 2008 local government elections increased, they constitute only 18 per cent of the local councils and 12 per cent of the Cabinet. Another major concern is the growing insecurity of women due to rape, domestic violence and FGM. Due to the culture of silence, the gravity of the impact of traditional practices on women’s rights is still underestimated. The role of the United Nations and international partners in this regard remains crucial. D. Refugees 24. There was a decline in the refugee population in the country in 2008. As of October 2008 there were 8,366 refugees, compared to 9,947 for the same month in 2007, and of these 4,077 refugees were located in rural areas, and 4,289 in Freetown, Bo and Kenema. In the course of 2008, 1,040 refugees were assisted to voluntarily repatriate and 106 were resettled to third countries. 25. The Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) has provided shelter support for 150 families in the former refugee communities and a further 100 family shelters are in progress. Microcredit and starter kits support has been delivered to 282 individual refugees. The draft refugee legislation was enacted which, inter alia, provides for a national refugee authority responsible for formulation of refugee policy. This authority will strive to ensure the rights of refugees are respected, granting refugee status prima facie in the case of large influxes and ensuring adequate facilities for reception and care of refugees. Furthermore, a refugee secretariat has been established in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.