A/HRC/8/36 Page 4 6. As regards the role of women in politics, Ghana decided to enhance their participation with the aim of achieving the African Union target of 50 per cent by 2015. Political parties were urged to ensure that women participate in leadership on an equal basis with men. The Government has provided funding under the Ministry of Women and Children’s Affairs and has established funds for women and local governance. Capacity-building has resulted in an increase in women elected to district assemblies from 7.2 per cent to 10 per cent in the last election organized two years ago. Ghana affirmed that female genital mutilation (FGM) has been criminalized under Ghanaian law; the Criminal Code was amended increasing the minimum sentence from three years to five years and the maximum sentence from five years to ten years. In the same vein, the Government continues to endeavour to proceed against other discriminatory practices, such as “trokosi” and witch camps. Ghana stated that there are places were women accused of being witches and banished from their communities stay together, and that nothing prohibits them from leaving these camps apart from retribution from the communities they lived in. 7. Ghana has passed a human trafficking law and is taking steps to reduce child trafficking. A national plan of action has been developed which involves all stakeholders. The Ministry of Manpower, Youth and Employment has a child labour unit programme in about 20 districts. There is a national programme on the elimination of the worst forms of child labour in cocoa-growing areas, which operates in several districts. A national health insurance scheme has been established under the National Health Insurance Act. The scheme provides quality and affordable health care to approximately 9 million persons, about 48 per cent of the population, and has been in operation for four years. Ghana has established a traditional medicine practitioner’s council under the Traditional Medicine Practitioners Act. 8. The Constitution guarantees the right to fair trial. There have been some concerns about access to justice but efforts were ongoing. Ghana has mainstreamed alternative dispute resolution, and mediation desks have been set up throughout the country with the cooperation of the Legal Aid Scheme. The Attorney General’s Office has established a programme called “Justice For All”, as well as a human right hotline where people report suspected human rights abuses, in January 2008. For the past two years the police has included human rights education in its training. There is a special unit that deals with discipline within the Police Service. 9. In 2006 Ghana passed a new Minerals and Mining Act, which provides for fair and adequate compensation, in accordance with international best practices, and the right of access to the high court when a party is not satisfied with the compensation. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Minerals Commission are proactive in ensuring that the rights of all are respected, including the rights of communities, the vulnerable and of the mining agency. The EPA rating and disclosure programme will rate the activities of mining companies. 10. Ghana affirmed that its Constitution states that every Ghanaian child is entitled to free compulsory basic education, which includes three years of secondary education and two years of kindergarten. Every Ghanaian child is now entitled to eleven years of free education. Initiatives have been introduced to facilitate the implementation of the law, including the Capitation Grant, which is given to every child in public school and covers cultural, sports and other miscellaneous fees and has led to a considerable increase in school enrolment. Freedom of expression has resulted in the establishment of over 100 radio stations. . B. Interactive dialogue and responses by the State under review 11. During the ensuing interactive dialogue, statements were made by 44 delegations, many of which praised Ghana for the high quality of its presentation as well as its national report.