A/HRC/37/78 III. The human rights situation A. Civil and political rights 34. The Independent Expert notes with satisfaction the commitment of Mali to respecting human rights. Mali has ratified nine core international human rights instruments and six optional protocols. He welcomes the adoption by Mali of a national policy on transitional justice, a national human rights policy and a national gender policy, as well as the rebuilding of the National Human Rights Commission. The establishment of a new ministry for human rights in April 2017 constitutes yet another important step towards improving the human rights situation in the country. 35. However, the human rights situation in the central and northern parts of the country is still marred by widespread abuse and serious violations of human rights committed by a multitude of actors. The state of emergency in Mali, which had been in effect almost continuously since the deadly attack on the Radisson Blu hotel in Bamako in November 2015, was extended for another year as of 31 October 2017. 1. Human rights violations committed by the Malian armed forces 36. Several human rights reports (including a recent report by Human Rights Watch on human rights violations committed during the operations of the Malian armed forces in the commune of Mondoro between May and June 2017) refer to serious violations of international human rights law and international humanitarian law, including summary executions committed during counter-terrorism operations by members of the armed forces of the country’s sixth military district. The Malian armed forces stand accused of summarily executing at least 13 individuals, who were found in four mass graves located in the central part of the country. 37. The counter-terrorism operations conducted by the Malian defence and security forces in this region have led to summary executions, enforced disappearances, torture, illtreatment and arbitrary arrests. The majority of the victims belonged to the Fulani community. The Human Rights and Protection Division of MINUSMA has verified the alleged summary execution of 13 individuals, the majority of whom belonged to the Fulani community, by the Malian defence and security forces in Douentza cercle between December 2016 and October 2017. 38. During the counter-terrorism operations conducted by the Malian armed forces in May and June 2017, at least 43 people were subjected to enforced disappearance, and at least 30 people were tortured (10 of whom were subjected to a mock execution) or illtreated. The Human Rights and Protection Division of MINUSMA has been able to determine the ethnic origin of 106 of the 112 persons questioned during the five waves of arrests that followed, 100 of whom (94 per cent) were Fulani. 39. The Independent Expert is particularly concerned about an incident that took place on 2 May 2017 where members of the Malian armed forces reportedly arrested and detained 17 persons belonging to the Fulani community, including 2 women, during an operation in Mopti Region. Four of the suspects reportedly died while they were being transferred from Mopti to Sévaré. This case raises concerns over other suspects who have died in the custody of the Malian armed forces. 40. The Independent Expert was informed of possible cases of excessive use of force by the Malian security forces. He was also informed of the death of a lorry driver and of the condition of three other civilians who were injured during a police operation in Bamako Region. On 15 April 2017, a Malian police officer allegedly assaulted a lorry driver at a checkpoint. Civilian bystanders then retaliated by attacking the police officer. As the police officer was running away, the crowd redirected the attack towards the police station located in the thirteenth district in Bamako. The tear gas and live ammunition used by the security forces to disperse the crowd reportedly claimed other victims. The Independent Expert was also informed of the case of two men who were killed by a gendarme in Mopti Region on the night of 30/31 March 2017. Although the gendarmerie launched its own investigation 8 GE.18-01553