A/HRC/8/39 Page 9 29. Regarding the implementation of the Optional Protocol to CAT, Benin approved the establishment of national mechanisms on the prevention of torture in December 2006, and in July 2007, a national seminar was held on the implementation of the Optional Protocol. Recommendations were made and a 10-member follow-up committee was set up, which developed a draft law on the prevention of torture, which is currently awaiting confirmation by the National Legislation Codification Committee. In addition, Benin is preparing for the visit of the SubCommittee for the Prevention of Torture. On the question of prisons, 10 new prisons will be built in the next two years, eight from the national budget, and two with the support of Belgium. With regard to prison conditions, the main problems are overcrowding and food. However, the delegation indicated that literacy campaigns and rehabilitation activities have started in prisons. Regarding the issue of homosexuality, the phenomenon is not ignored but is marginal. Families would never allow their children to be taken to court for such an offence, so no criminal ruling has ever been rendered, although it is provided for by law. Beginning with the academic year 2006/2007, pre-primary and primary schooling are free of charge. In pre-primary education, the objective is to increase school attendance from 4 to 15 percent between now and 2015. Measures taken include recruiting additional teachers, increasing and improving infrastructure and the teaching curriculum. Other measures include recruiting supervisory staff, the improvement of programmes, new manuals and ensuring the presence of schools in remote disadvantaged and remote areas, as well as the construction of housing for teachers. On the question of literacy for adults, Benin envisages training trainers and a national policy on literacy was validated in April 2008. The priority plan of action for the reduction of poverty took specifically into account the question of literacy and actions in this direction will be taken very soon to ensure that those who did not have access to education take part in the development of the country. 30. On the question of the world food crisis, some immediate measures were taken, such as exoneration from custom duties on basic commodities such as rice, sugar, milk etc. In addition, Benin has fixed the price of these staple products and carries out daily price controls. Benin has also given a subsidy of several billions to the national food security unit to collect food which is sold more cheaply to the population. In the longer term, Benin intends to improve its agricultural productivity through, inter alia, better agricultural practice, upgrading of lands, better management of water resources and improved seed varieties. On the issue of drinking water, Benin envisages strengthening distribution capacity in towns, and is examining the possibility of lowering the price of water by privatizing the construction and operation of water supply systems, and particular efforts are being made to support the professionalization of local operators in the water industry. Benin is also strengthening the water initiative in urban areas not covered by an investment plan by the national water society, and drilling is underway in very remote regions; for the period 20072015, it is expected to drill 100 wells in rural areas. Regarding the fight against poverty, microcredits are used to help solve the problem of poverty of young people, in particular women. 31. On the issue of FGM, a law was voted in 2003 to ban this practice and various measures were taken, including training programmes for public opinion leaders and practitioners of FGM with the help of NGOs, criminal action against individuals who practice FGM, awareness-raising actions for members of the judiciary, police officers and the population, as well as the reconversion of practitioners towards other activities, with the aim to eradicate this customary practice which is degrading for women and for the society as a whole. The Ministry of the Family deals with eradicating this practice at national level, but in addition Benin is cooperating with neighbouring countries and its partners on an agreement. Finally, measures relating to schooling and raising literacy also contribute to eradicating this practice. One difficulty in this field is the ease of movement of persons with neighbouring countries.