A/HRC/8/50 Page 8 the efforts made to improve prison conditions in Mali’s largest prison, Ireland noted with concern that overall, prisons remain overcrowded, with poor access to medical facilities, and asked what steps has the Government taken to improve these conditions. Ireland made three recommendations to Mali: (a) to enact legislation prohibiting all forms of FGM; (b) to expand coverage and access to services that prevent the transmission of HIV from mother to child; (c) and to improve prison conditions by reducing overcrowding and ensuring access to adequate medical treatment. 24. China noted the establishment of the national human rights commission and the numerous achievements by Mali, in particular with regard to economic, social and cultural rights. China enquired about the focus of the work of the High National Council on HIV/AIDS, set up in 2007, and the difficulties this institution was facing. 25. Senegal welcomed the establishment of EID, a yearly exchange with stakeholders on the human rights situation in the country. This dialogue should however not only take place in Bamako but also be decentralized to the regional and community level so as to involve a maximum number of citizens. 26. Germany asked what measures the Government envisages to strengthen the human rights protection of women, and recommended to review all laws with the aim at eliminating any discriminatory norms against women. Germany also enquired about the existence of obstacles that would prevent the national human rights commission to fully take up its mandate. 27. Canada made reference to Mali’s efforts to strengthen its democracy, welcoming the ratification by Mali of six core international human rights treaties and the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court. Canada also noted that a national institution for the promotion and protection of human rights has been established, and encouraged Mali to provide it with the necessary human and financial resources for it to become fully operational. Canada made reference to the recommendation made by CEDAW to adopt legislation on domestic violence, which would include marital rape, sexual harassment and other forms of sexual abuse, as well as to recommendations made by the Human Rights Committee regarding the need for Mali to take the necessary measures to prohibit and criminalize FGM. Canada recommended that Mali take the necessary measures to implement the recommendations of CEDAW and the Human Rights Committee concerning violence against women and FGM. Canada also recommended the organization of an awareness-raising campaign on the illegality and the medical consequences of FGM. Canada asked to be updated on the status of the Family Code and on efforts made by the Government to ensure its prompt adoption. Canada also noted that it is cooperating with Mali to reduce the inequalities between women and men in public life and recommended that Mali continue to encourage women to run for elections. Canada also made reference to the lack of independence of the judiciary and corruption within the judiciary system, as reflected by the deplorable conditions in the prisons. Canada recommended that Mali take the necessary measures to strengthen the independence of the judiciary, to eliminate corruption and to ensure that the conditions of persons deprived of their liberty are in conformity with relevant international standards. Canada also recommended that Mali respect the freedom of opinion and expression and to abstain from imposing penal sanctions on journalists because of their articles. 28. The Democratic Republic of the Congo encouraged Mali to pursue the implementation of all programmes for the development of the country, without neglecting the importance of informing and alerting the public opinion about human rights. The Democratic Republic of the Congo enquired about the ways in which the Government of Mali will proceed to overturn the burden of customary traditions such as “sororate” and “levirate”, especially in the rural environment. It also