A/HRC/11/21* Rights of the Child (CRC). The Special Rapporteur on torture and the Special Rapporteur of the African Commission for Human Rights and Peoples had visited the country. 7. Despite obstacles such as the social crisis of February 2008, which had necessitated strengthening measures adopted in 2006 to combat the rising cost of living, a number of efforts had been made to raise living standards. Realisation of the right to adequate housing had been particularly difficult over the past two years due to the evacuation of communities occupying non aedificandi areas. In 2008 the Government adopted a decree to grant such people compensation. 8. Protection of the rights of children is one of the government’s priorities. However, the emerging phenomena of street children and trafficking and violence against children have reduced the impact of the Government’s action to assist children. Centres to receive street children or victims of trafficking and exploitation have been created with the support of the Belgian Red Cross, the European Union and other international partners. Regarding violence against children, the Government’s willingness to bring legislation into line with relevant conventions is manifest. Forced marriage is an offence and primary education is free and compulsory. In 2004 the Government created a Ministry on Women’s and Family Issues and constant efforts are made to follow a gender-based approach. The Constitution enshrines the principle of equal rights for all citizens. A national action plan for the integration of women in development has been adopted with the support of national and international partners and the current reform of the Criminal Code would result, inter alia, in the criminalization of female genital mutilation (FGM). 9. Cameroon signed the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, the related on 1 October 2008 and had previously, in July 1983, adopted a law on the protection of such persons and set up relevant structures. In 2005, a forum on national solidarity resulted in strategies for the promotion of education of persons with disabilities. Furthermore, measures have been taken to improve the conditions for hosting and training of handicapped and vulnerable students in State universities. The rights of indigenous peoples and minorities are guaranteed by the Constitution. Cameroon has actively participated in the adoption of the Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples in September 2007. To combat exclusion and marginalisation and advance fundamental rights and socio-economic integration, the Government has established programmes of action with various partners and donors. Regarding refugees, Cameroon is party to the relevant international conventions and has adopted in July 2005 a law on status guaranteeing refugees fundamental rights. In 2006, UNHCR and the Government has jointly held training seminars to correct some shortcomings among refugee-protection officials in charge of an estimated number of 81,037 refugees. 10. To better comply with the Paris Principles, in 2004 the National Committee for Human Rights and Freedoms has been transformed into a financially autonomous National Commission for Human Rights and Freedoms. A law is being drafted to comply fully with the Paris Principles. Since its creation, the Commission has, inter alia, published reports and established several regional offices. With civil-society and UNDP support, the pedagogue notebook for teachers for human rights education, has trained trainers at the central and regional levels, initiated human right education in selected pilot institutions in the country’s 10 regions and, with the assistance of stakeholders, elaborated an action plan for human rights promotion and protection. 11. On gender discrimination, the Minister noted that some traditions remain sources of discriminatory practices and violence against women. Also of note are the quasi-economic dependence of women in certain regions, the under-education of girls in certain parts of the country, and insufficient budget allocations for programmes and projects in this regard. Problems concerning the administration of justice include a resurgence of crime, overlengthy preventive detention, the low capacity of detention centres and financial obstacles 4 GE.09-16396