A/HRC/32/5 framework document for child protection; the adoption of a national social protection policy; and the creation of councils of older persons. 20. In terms of cooperation with special procedures, Niger had received a visit by the Special Rapporteur on contemporary forms of slavery in November 2014 and was ready to welcome the Special Rapporteur on extreme poverty and human rights. 21. Concerning cooperation with treaty bodies, Niger was continuing its efforts to submit overdue reports. For example, its report on the implementation of the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination had been considered in August 2015. Niger had also submitted reports under the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women, the Convention on the Rights of the Child, and the Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Rights of the Child on the sale of children, child prostitution and child pornography. The report on the implementation of the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights had been approved in December 2015. In addition, in early 2016, Niger had submitted its report on the implementation of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and its updated common core document. 22. Despite the progress made since 2011, significant challenges remained. They related mainly to terrorist threats, trafficking, including the trafficking of migrants, high population growth, desertification, the silting of the Niger River and the shrinking of Lake Chad. 23. The most worrying and pressing of those challenges was terrorism, in particular attacks by Boko Haram, with its costs in terms of killings, arson attacks, destruction of property, population displacement and refugees. The situation in the West African region was especially disturbing because of the challenges posed by terrorism, in particular in terms of dealing with hundreds of thousands of displaced persons and refugees, ensuring their reinsertion and the socioeconomic development of the affected areas. 24. Despite such threats, Niger, with the assistance of its partners, continued to preserve its territorial integrity and ensure the security of people and their property. It had also cared for the displaced persons, refugees and returnees arriving at its borders. 25. Niger had called on the international community to support all efforts to restore peace and security in the Sahel and the Sahara, as well as its fight against terrorism, which was a threat for all. 26. Against that background, Niger was actively preparing the general elections scheduled for 21 February 2016. The Government was committed to organizing free, transparent, inclusive and peaceful elections, in accordance with the laws and regulations of the Republic. 27. Niger had carried out an internal audit of the electoral register — in response to a request by the opposition political parties — which had been endorsed across the political spectrum. In addition, the Independent National Electoral Commission had requested the International Organization of la Francophonie (OIF) to commission an external audit by its experts. The Government had fully agreed to implement the recommendations of the OIF auditors. The electoral list had been approved by all of the country’s political class. 28. As to comments received about the freedom of journalists and statements made concerning certain politicians, the representative of Niger replied that, since 2011, no politician or journalist had been imprisoned because of their views. Furthermore, press offences, such as defamation, insults and spreading false news, had been decriminalized. However, when the Criminal Code was violated, the law was applied; accordingly, one journalist had been imprisoned, for forgery and use of forgery. GE.16-05960 5