A/HRC/25/73 that ill-treatment of albinos had become commonplace and widespread, with several cases of kidnapping reported. According to BEDACI, a woman sentenced to 5 years of prison for kidnapping albinos was reportedly released after 8 months. 63. The dropout rate was higher for albinos than for the rest of the population, in particular owing to stigmatization and vision problems. Eighty per cent of albinos were from poor families. The Independent Expert noted, however, that Côte d’Ivoire on 21 June 2013 adopted a law for the ratification of the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. He hopes that specific measures will be adopted to take into account the specific needs of albinos in respect of health, education and access to the labour market, in accordance with Human Rights Council resolution 23/13 of 13 June 2013 on attacks and discrimination against persons with albinism. F. Persistence of sexual violence 64. The Independent Expert is increasingly concerned about the high prevalence of sexual violence in Côte d’Ivoire, all the more so as many cases of rape are attributable to civilians or close relatives, FRCI members, unidentified armed men or teachers. Since the beginning of July, reports of acts of sexual violence against young girls have continued, above all in the Bouaké region and in the western part of the country. 65. The Independent Expert was informed that forced marriage and female genital mutilation were continuing. UNOCI told the Independent Expert that between 1 May and 30 September 2013 at least 168 cases of rape, 94 cases of female genital mutilation, 8 forced marriages and 36 cases of child labour trafficking had been registered. 66. The Independent Expert should like to recall that over and above the legal decisions already taken to combat female genital mutilation, a genuine cultural and legal awareness campaign, conducted in close cooperation with traditional and religious chiefs, will be required to combat the problem. 67. The Independent Expert reaffirms the concerns raised in his previous report (A/HRC/23/38), in particular in paragraph 53, about the practice of some criminal investigation officers who demand that rape victims produce a medical certificate as a condition for taking their complaints. The Independent Expert hopes that the reforms in the Criminal Code and the Code of Criminal Procedure reshaping the criminal courts will make it possible for rape to be addressed as a distinct crime in its own right. 68. The Independent Expert is deeply concerned about rape in schools, for which, even when the perpetrators confess, the authorities have been unable to impose appropriate penalties capable of restoring the rights of the victims. The Minister of Education provided information on criminal and disciplinary measures taken against the perpetrators of such acts. G. Freedom of association and assembly 69. The Independent Expert notes with satisfaction that a preliminary bill is being drafted for the protection of human rights defenders. The authorities should do everything possible so that the bill will be the subject of a broad discussion with human rights organizations before it is adopted by the parliament. 70. During the second quarter of 2013 demonstrations by the youth branch of the main opposition party, the Front Populaire Ivoirien (Ivorian Popular Front) (FPI), were banned, but in the third quarter of 2013 some activities of the FPI resumed, with rallying and campaigning organized by its president, who had recently been released pending trial. On GE.14-10154 15