A/HRC/23/6 observations they had made. Against this background, the delegation mentioned the establishment of an interministerial committee to facilitate the drafting of initial and periodic reports on the implementation of the conventions ratified by Mali. Mali had also developed manuals and teaching materials on human rights, the culture of peace, democracy and citizenship. 8. The delegation noted that the competencies and powers of a number of institutions and agencies for the promotion and protection of human rights had been reinforced: for example, the National Human Rights Commission had gained legislative powers, and the Ombudsman had been given new responsibilities in respect of conflict resolution and improvements in the rule of law, governance and human rights. 9. With regard to the situation of women and children, the delegation recalled that the Government had a department specifically devoted to the promotion of the family, the child and women. Although Mali had been criticized for adopting a Personal and Family Code that was not favourable to women’s rights, substantial efforts had been made to improve the situation of women and children, and the Code had filled a great number of legal gaps. On 24 November 2010, Mali had adopted a national policy and plan of action on gender for 2011–2013; a National Programme to Fight Excision, whose purpose is to coordinate, follow up on and evaluate policies and strategies to fight excision, is being carried out. 10. The delegation also referred to a draft constitutional law to allow for affirmative action for women that had been adopted by the National Assembly. A return to the normal constitutional order should facilitate progress in that domain. In order to give women more margin for their endeavours, 10 women’s and children’s centres had been set up in Bamako and in regional capitals. 11. With respect to the rights of the child, the delegation pointed out that Mali is on the verge of adopting a national policy for the promotion and protection of children’s rights, together with an action plan for 2013–2017. Mali has likewise stepped up the struggle against child labour by creating a national institution for that purpose and setting up a national coordinating committee to combat trafficking in persons and related practices. 12. As regards social rights, the delegation noted that there are laws instituting a compulsory health-care scheme and a medical assistance regime. Mali had ratified the Optional Protocol to the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights; the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities and the Optional Protocol thereto; the International Convention for the Protection of All Persons from Enforced Disappearance; and the African Union Convention for the Protection and Assistance of Internally Displaced Persons in Africa. 13. With regard to judicial reforms, the delegation said that a number of legislative texts had been developed to ameliorate the administration of justice and access to legal services. In addition, the strengthening of institutional and operational capacities for the administration of justice is addressed in the operating plan for the Ten-Year Justice Development Programme (PRODEJ). 14. The delegation also noted that a national policy for the promotion and protection of human rights was being developed and was expected to be adopted in the second half of 2013. 15. Concerning the death penalty, the delegation said that while no law on its abolition had been adopted, the relevant draft legislation had been before the National Assembly since 2008. A de facto moratorium had been observed since the 1980s, and death sentences were systematically commuted to life imprisonment. The Malian population, which is not very enthusiastic about the draft legislation, is currently being educated about it. 4 GE.13-11815