A/HRC/16/78 the aim of engaging relevant authorities in addressing human rights issues. Regular district and regional security meetings constituted important forums for discussing those issues. The Section also conducted joint monitoring with district human rights committees and the Human Rights Commission, aimed at building national capacity for human rights monitoring. B. Capacity-building and technical assistance 56. Training was conducted for nearly 600 law enforcement personnel, and a curriculum on human rights and gender was developed for the training of security forces. Similarly, 280 members of district committees, as well as another 275 beneficiaries from the civil society were trained on human rights. Seventeen sensitization activities on the Convention on the Rights of the Child were carried out in schools for more than 6,000 pupils, and engagement with 250 traditional women leaders on FGM and gender violence had a significant impact in changing their attitude towards FGM. Technical assistance was provided to the Human Rights Commission of Sierra Leone, Parliamentary Committee on Human Rights, and Human Rights Secretariat at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. C. Partnerships with national actors and United Nations agencies 57. Bilateral partnerships with State and non-State actors, including the Human Rights Secretariat at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Human Rights Commission of Sierra Leone, Parliamentary Human Rights Committee, Office of the Ombudsman, Ministry of Social Welfare, Gender and Children’s Affairs, Police and other law enforcement institutions was enhanced. A draft memorandum of understanding has been finalized with the Human Rights Commission to provide technical support for establishing a human rights monitoring directorate within the Commission, developing monitoring tools, and training staff on human rights monitoring. District Human Rights Committees, comprising coalitions of civil society organizations in all 14 districts in the country, also formed an integral part of the Section’s bilateral partnerships. The Section played an observer role in District and Provincial Security Committee meetings. 58. The Human Rights Section played a major role in implementing programme 2, "Access to justice & human rights," under the United Nations Joint Vision, together with UNDP, UNICEF & IOM. Outside of the United Nations, the Human Rights Section cochairs with the Human Rights Commission, regular meetings of the Human Rights Working Group established in 2010. The Working Group brings together UN actors, donors, embassies, national institutions, international NGOs and CSOs for the purposes of discussing priorities, identifying gaps, ensuring coordination, and mobilizing resources among others. V. Challenges 59. Sierra Leone has made progress in building its capacity for promoting and protecting human rights. Ratification of the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities and domestication of some crucial laws in the field of children and women’s rights have improved the legal framework to protect the rights of vulnerable categories. The establishment of the Human Rights Commission of Sierra Leone and other institutions in charge of human rights is contributing to equipping the State with an institutional structure to better cope with international human rights obligations. The Government’s efforts in tackling poverty and improving the socio-economic condition of the population through the 13