231. The criminal code and the criminal procedure code from Laws No 65-60 and 65-61 of 21 July 1965 had not been amended significantly in spite of the ratification of a large number of international treaties by Senegal. Instead, the reforms carried out in 1977, 1985, 1996, 1999 and 2000 can be cited in this context. 232. These reforms were inspired by the necessity to incorporate new forms of criminality or strengthen the promotion, protection and safeguard of fundamental human rights. 233. Conscious of the fact that the economic and social development of Senegal is dependent on the legal and judicial certainty in general and the quality of its legislation, in particular, the public authorities felt the need to create a platform for brainstorming on the fundamental mission of providing the judicial system of Senegal with legal tools consistent with its aspiration of being a country governed by the rule of law. 234. The Commission, which was presided over by the Dean of the Faculty of Law of Cheikh Anta Diop University of Dakar, comprised representatives of the judiciary (magistrates, lawyers and judicial police), including specialists in criminal law and members of civil society ; it set for itself the objective of maintaining the core and relevant traditional provisions of the current Criminal Code and Criminal Procedure Code and incorporating crimes and new procedures dictated by the numerous regional and international legal instruments acceded to by Senegal. 235. After six (6) years of discussions and exchanges, the Commission developed two (2) preliminary draft reforms to be submitted to the public authorities of the country. The amendments touched on:   Offences : o Protection of extremely vulnerable persons, particularly women and children, who fall victim to sexual violence and other forms of abuses. It is proposed that the minority will be made the constituent element of the offence. o Endangering the lives of others ; o Theft and concealment of information ; o Introduction of notions of therapeutic and safe abortion ; o Enforcement by the judge of international conventions ratified by Senegal ; o Escape of the person held in custody ; o Corrupting a foreign public official ; o Cover-up of misapplication of public funds. Judicial proceedings : o Besides the principle of territoriality, extension of international competence of Senegalese courts with the establishment of 51