A/HRC/8/39 Page 4 treaties prevail over domestic legislation and regulatory standards. Benin has also taken legal or regulatory measures to incorporate international instruments into domestic law and to integrate recommendations of treaty bodies. This was the case with the Persons and Family Code in 2006; the Code on the Child in 2007; the Law on combating the financing of terrorism and money laundering in 2006; the Law on political parties, and the reform of the texts concerning offences linked to the media. 6. The institutional framework has been strengthened by the creation of various institutions and structures aimed at ensuring the promotion and respect of human rights, such as the Constitutional Court, the Senior Authority for Audiovisual and Communication, the High Court of Justice, the Economic and Social Council, the National Advisory Council for Human Rights, the Committee for the follow-up of the implementation of international legal instruments, the creation of new jurisdictions, the National Commission on the Rights of the Child, the Presidential Mediator and the Minors’ Protection Police Units (Brigade de protection des mineurs). Benin has also taken a number of measures aimed to protect and promote human rights, inter alia, free-of-charge preschool and primary schooling; a programme for granting micro-financing for the poorest; the promulgation of a law concerning the status of Benin’s judiciary; and free health care for children up to five years of age, reinforced by a campaign for the distribution of impregnated mosquitoes nets to pregnant and breastfeeding women. The regular participation of Benin in the work of the Human Rights Council, the submission of the periodic reports to the treaty bodies and the implementation of their recommendations all contribute to strengthening the promotion and protection of human rights. Benin noted also that considerable progress has been made within the framework of the promotion and protection of human rights on the ground, in particular in the field of economic, social and cultural rights as well as civil, political and other fundamental rights. To guarantee the right to an adequate standard of living, Benin has adopted several strategies and programmes to combat and mitigate poverty, such as the Strategy Document for Poverty Reduction and the Growth Strategy for Poverty Reduction 2007-2009. These documents reflect the Government’s vision and its priority to strengthen the micro-economic framework, good governance and the ability of the poor to participate in the decision-making and productive processes. As to the right to education and culture, Benin has adopted in February 2005 a letter on educational policy in order to guarantee education for all between now and 2015, in conformity with the Millennium Development Goals. As to the right to housing, the adoption of Law No. 200703 of 17 October 2007 on rural lands will enable the improvement of land tenure systems. Furthermore, the State is planning to build social housing and is drafting a national land policy. With regard to the prevention of torture and other cruel or inhuman and degrading treatment, Benin on 20 September 2006 became a party to the Optional Protocol to the Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment (CAT) and in application of its provisions has started setting up a national mechanism for the prevention of torture. The head of the delegation stated that Benin is ready to welcome the Sub-Committee on the Prevention of Torture from 18 to 26 May 2008. Furthermore, Benin has rehabilitated and compensated victims of acts of torture perpetrated under the revolutionary regime. 7. Benin also stated that despite the significant progress made, considerable challenges still have to be met. This review process therefore provides an opportunity for Benin to launch an appeal for international cooperation in order to deal with the numerous inadequacies in implementing all the international instruments and to continue with the ratification of relevant instruments. The consideration of the national report will provide an opportunity, thanks to the contribution of the delegations, to Benin to strengthen its commitment to the compliance of its international obligations and to find solutions to address those gaps.