CHAPTER 5 INFORMATION ON THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE AFRICAN CHARTER IN SENEGAL 131. Complying with their willingness to respect their international obligations in spite of a difficult international and national economic situation marked by the persistence of the financial crisis, the fragile national economy, the urgency to ensure sustainable improvement of the living conditions of the population, which also bring in their wake new challenges such as adapting to climate change, food security, peace and security that must inevitably be addressed by making it their philosophy, which also becomes yours, that the African Charter « must be interpreted as an aggregate (in the sense that) all its clauses are mutually reinforcing34», the Senegalese authorities have formulated and implemented policies and programmes with the aim of ensuring that Senegalese citizens actually enjoy fundamental freedoms and rights set out in the African Charter in their universality, their independence and indivisibility. 132. This report was prepared in accordance with relevant guidelines of the African Commission, in particular those relating to:       The procedure for the consideration of periodic reports ; Reports of States Parties on economic, social and cultural rights (Tunis Guidelines) ; Reports of States under the Protocol to the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights on the Rights of Women35; The right to a fair trial and legal assistance in Africa36 ; Measures for the prohibition and prevention of torture and punishments or cruel, inhuman and degrading treatments or punishments in Africa37 ; The freedom of expression in Africa.38 133. In fact, based on political and economic variables such as democracy, the rule of law, the existence of institutions aspiring to be functional and effective, accountability, integrity and good governance of public affairs, the Government of Senegal initiated far-reaching reforms in public administration, a major stakeholder in policy implementation in connection with the relevant provisions of the African Charter, but the reforms are taking too long to produce the expected results. 134. The poor enforcement of rules, difficulty experienced by citizens in gaining access to information and public services, bureaucratic procedures, lack of 34 35 36 37 38 Cf. Communication 211/98 Legal Resources Foundation vs. Zambia, paragraph 70. Resolution ACHPR/Res.85 (XXXVIII) 05. Resolution ACHPR/Res.41 (XXXII) 99. Resolution ACHPR/Res.61 (XXXII) 02 Resolution ACHPR/Res.62 (XXXII) 02 31