A/HRC/8/50 Page 11 35. Australia welcomed the establishment in 2006 of a national human rights institution and asked whether it was in line with the Paris Principles. Australia also welcomed efforts to combat FGM but noted with concern the high incidence of this practice, and asked for more information on efforts to prohibit this practice in law. Australia also welcomed Mali’s moratorium on the application of the death penalty enforced since 1979 and its support for the General Assembly resolution on the moratorium of the use of the death penalty adopted in December 2007. Australia asked the delegation if the Government envisages to abolish the death penalty. 36. Azerbaijan stated that, according to the Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, the majority of the population work in the informal sector and as such, is not sufficiently protected and therefore exposed to all forms of abuse. Azerbaijan wished to know what measures were envisaged to solve this problem. Azerbaijan also asked whether the level of cooperation with neighbouring countries on trafficking of human beings was commensurate to the gravity of the phenomenon. 37. United States of America noted Mali’s responses to questions on FGM and stated that it shares the concerns expressed by other delegations. It asked what steps Mali is taking to ensure that it can retain its role as a leader on the freedom of the press, ensuring that all journalists in the country are able to report freely, and recommended that the Government serve as a model for the freedom of the press by ensuring that all journalists and media outlets, including those that may be viewed as critical to the Government, are free from harassment. Noting that forced labour is prohibited by law, the United States of America recalled reports that forced labour still occurs and stated that hereditary relationships between and within certain ethnicities continue to affect groups such as the Bellah, or black Tamacheks, in rural areas. It asked what additional action is needed on the part of the Government to ensure the elimination of forced labour and recommended that the Government increase and raise awareness throughout the country of forced labour, paying special attention to groups such as the Bellah, or black Tamacheks. 38. Italy wished to be updated on the status of the proposed law on the abolition of death penalty. Noting that the Committee on the Rights of the Child expressed its concern at the lack of specific legislation on the prohibition of ill-treatment of children, and suggested foreseeing the adoption of norms leading to a general prohibition of corporal punishment, Italy recommended that Mali adopt effective measures to combat all forms of ill-treatment of children, including corporal punishment. Secondly, Italy enquired about the results of the strategy implemented with regard to FGM and recommended Mali that reinforce the measures to combat this phenomenon. 39. Cuba noted that Mali, like any other developing country, needs solidarity and international cooperation to strengthen its national efforts to benefit the people, and referred to its cooperation with Mali in the area of health. It also asked the delegation to further elaborate on the functioning of the community vigilant mechanisms on trafficking in children, as an example of a good practice to address this problem. 40. Egypt stated that the compilation report overemphasized Mali’s social and economic difficulties, while references to the volume of aid provided by the international community were hard to find. Egypt asked whether Mali was satisfied with the volume of assistance it was receiving to support its efforts to promote and protect human rights. 41. Burkina Faso highlighted the progress achieved in the field of health services, with the adoption of measures to assure free caesarean operations and the treatment of tuberculosis and malaria for pregnant women and children under five. Burkina Faso noted that in the field of education many challenges exists, for which Mali needs assistance from technical and financial