A/HRC/23/57 subsequent detention of a journalist by the intelligence services.4 Freedom of expression and association are thus also under threat. 18. Given this risk of abuse, it is essential that the measures adopted by the authorities are consistent with the provisions of article 4 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, which specify the conditions under which derogations from usual human rights norms due to exceptional circumstances are lawful. D. The electoral process 19. The offensive launched by armed groups on 17 January 2012 and the military coup of 21 March 2012 plunged Mali into an unprecedented security, political, institutional, social and economic crisis. The presidential elections scheduled for 28 July 2013 should allow Malians to exert their right to participate in the conduct of public affairs. 20. There has been much opposition, especially from within civil society, to the hasty organization of the elections, on the grounds that the technical and political preconditions have not been met. There are also considerable practical obstacles to the participation of all Malians in the elections in accordance with the conditions established in article 25 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights. These obstacles will restrict the participation of refugees and internally displaced persons (IDPs) and of all persons who have reached the age of 18 years since the electoral register was last revised in 2011. The problem will also affect the people of Kidal, who are unlikely to be able to exercise their right to vote while the region is not fully under the control of the Government of Mali. 21. Moreover, full exercise of the right to vote assumes effective enjoyment of associated rights such as freedom of expression, press freedom, freedom of association, the right to peaceful assembly, freedom of movement and the right to security of person. In this respect, the situation remains fragile and merits particular attention in order to ensure that the elections are inclusive, free and transparent and are carried out in a peaceful manner, with respect for human rights and civil liberties. III. The human rights situation A. Summary executions and extrajudicial killings 22. Since the military operations in the north of the country began, Malian soldiers have allegedly been involved in summary executions of persons thought to belong to armed groups or suspected of having collaborated with them. The Mission collected credible information concerning the killing of 10 persons forming part of the Tuareg community on 15 February 2013. These persons were allegedly killed by the Malian Defence and Security Forces while trying to cross the border into Mauritania at Leré. The Mission was not able to travel to Leré to carry out more detailed inquiries due to the volatile security situation in that area. 23. In January and February 2013, the Mission also received information about the execution of eight people (four men of Tuareg origin and four men of Arab origin) by members of the Malian Defence and Security Forces in Timbuktu. Their bodies were reported to have been buried before being later discovered by members of the civilian 4 GE.13-15228 Meeting between the AFISMA Human Rights Division and high-ranking officials of the Government of Mali held in Bamako on 8 March 2013. 7