A/HRC/34/72 It is vital that a law of this kind, defining rape as a criminal offence, be adopted and implemented. 63. In his previous report, the Independent Expert welcomed the Act of 18 December 2015, which introduced measures to promote gender equality in access to elective and appointive posts by establishing a quota of at least 30 per cent representation for each gender. He hopes that the decree bringing this Act into force will be adopted soon. Such a measure is important to ensure that women’s needs and concerns are incorporated into various programmes. The Independent Expert encourages the Government to finalize the new strategic plan for 2016-2018 on the implementation of the national programme for gender equality. 64. One positive development was the participation of 25 military and political leaders of the Platform in a workshop organized by MINUSMA on conflict-related sexual violence, on 29 and 30 June. The outcome of this workshop was the signing of a unilateral communiqué by the President of the Platform emphasizing his commitment to combating conflict-related sexual violence. The Independent Expert also notes that the Platform has launched its action plan, the effective implementation of which will show that the various components of the Platform are committed to combating this type of violence. 65. The Independent Expert was shocked when he heard of the gang rape of a 15-yearold girl in August 2016 in Mopti. A complaint was filed by the family, but six of the seven suspects arrested by the gendarmerie were released in exchange for payment of a certain sum of money. The gendarmerie of Sevaré declared that the investigation had been closed for lack of evidence. D. The situation of children 66. Children are direct and indirect victims of violence in Mali. The recruitment of child soldiers by armed groups, injury and death caused by unexploded ordnance or stray bullets, and lack of access to basic services due to insecurity are all forms of violence against children. 67. The Independent Expert notes that the presence of child soldiers in signatory armed groups was particularly noticeable following the confrontation that occurred in Kidal on 21 July. Four child soldiers sought refuge in the MINUSMA camp and were duly placed under the authority of the National Child Protection Office. Cases of child soldiers with bullet wounds have also been recorded in hospitals. 68. Some health-care workers involved in the polio vaccination campaign refused to travel to a village in Mopti in April, owing to the lack of security in the area. The Independent Expert was shocked by the discovery by MINUSMA, on 13 October, of a hidden stock of weapons, including ammunition and explosives, in a school in Gao that was being renovated by MINUSMA. The weapons were discovered in seven of the nine classrooms in a school in Tabankort, 120 km north of Gao. 69. The Independent Expert was sad to hear that many children had been killed or injured by unexploded ordnance or stray bullets. On 13 August, a 5-year-old girl was killed and three boys were injured while playing with an explosive remnant of war in Kidal. On 10 September, a 12-year-old student from the Dogon community was killed in Mopti by a stray bullet when a teacher of the Qur’an was assassinated. On 10 October, an 18-year-old boy was killed in Gao when he picked up an unexploded grenade to play with it. He died while being evacuated to the hospital in Gao. A 16-year-old boy suffered light face wounds in the same incident. In Timbuktu on 11 October, a 7-year-old boy was killed and a 9-yearold boy was seriously injured by an improvised explosive device in the village of Dienngo. The Independent Expert was concerned by information that he received concerning the presence of armed CMA members in four or five vehicles at the entrance to a health centre in Kidal. Under international humanitarian law, the presence of combatants in or near protected facilities such as hospitals and health centres is prohibited. GE.17-02058 13