A/HRC/32/5 29. Two human rights defenders had also been held for questioning concerning statements they had made that were intended to demoralize troops involved in counterterrorism operations; they had been released the following day. The representative of Niger stated that the country’s stability had to be ensured and that some human rights activists acted on behalf of opposition parties in order to destabilize the Government and State institutions. Niger encouraged the proper use of freedom of expression because it strengthened the democratic system. 30. A bill on the ratification of the Second Optional Protocol to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, aiming at the abolition of the death penalty was before the National Assembly. It should be noted, however, that the Government had systematically commuted death sentences to life imprisonment since 2012 and that no executions had been carried out since 1977. Although the Government was committed to abolishing the death penalty, most of the population were currently opposed to abolition. Niger had therefore chosen to conduct awareness campaigns on the issue, with the assistance of international partners, until the conditions for abolition were met. However, the Boko Haram question had delayed awareness-raising activities. Niger had asked the international community to continue to support its efforts in that regard. 31. Niger acknowledged the need to submit its report to the Committee against Torture. The Government took a firm stand against all forms of torture and trafficking in persons. A bill on torture had been drafted and was under consideration for adoption. Reporting of such acts was consistently encouraged with a view to prosecuting those responsible. 32. Of the country’s 38 prisons, only Niamey prison had a problem of overcrowding. The Government was planning to build a new facility there capable of holding 1,500 inmates. 33. An independent mechanism to monitor conditions of detention had not yet been set up; however, steps had been taken at the national level to that end. 34. With regard to efforts to eliminate gender-based discrimination, Niger had ratified the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women, and a committee had been established to look into withdrawing the reservations that had been made. A three-year plan for the period 2015-2017 had also been drawn up. It was planned to raise awareness of the issue by means of a travelling exhibition and to conduct advocacy work among members of parliament, religious leaders and traditional leaders. 35. In accordance with a 10-year policy for the advancement of women, women’s rights were mainstreamed as cross-cutting issues in the sectoral policies of the various ministries. 36. As to the issue of the Wahaya and the question of female genital mutilation, the Government was carrying out information campaigns in order to ensure that all persons responsible for such practices were reported to the authorities. The public prosecutor’s department had been instructed to prosecute the perpetrators of such acts. Furthermore, a consultation framework had been established, and it was planned to adopt a holistic strategy to develop pilot projects with a view to ensuring that medical expenses were reimbursed and that victims were helped to reintegrate into society and provided with legal assistance. 37. Following the implementation of a national strategy, the rate of female genital mutilation had fallen from 5 per cent in 2005 to 2 per cent in 2013. 38. Niger was also committed to ending child marriage. An African Union campaign had been launched to that end in 2014. 39. With regard to the right to education, the Government’s efforts were unprecedented in the country’s history. Within the space of 5 years, 15,000 classrooms had been built, as compared to 20,000 in the previous 50 years. Furthermore, the proportion of children 6 GE.16-05960