Djibouti is resolutely committed to promoting and protecting peoples' rights as reflected in its diplomatic efforts at the international and regional levels, and in the development of legal and policy frameworks conducive to their effective realization at the country level. 257. The ratification of several international human rights protection instruments such as the ICCPR, ICESCR, CERD, CEDAW and CRC was a priority for the State of Djibouti to enhance the living conditions of its populations. 1. The right of peoples to equality Article 19 All peoples shall be equal; they shall enjoy the same respect and shall have the same rights. Nothing shall justify the domination of a people by another. 258. At the international level, the Republic of Djibouti, in its Constitution, pledges to cooperate in achieving peace and friendship with all peoples who share its ideals of freedom, justice and solidarity based on mutual respect, national sovereignty and territorial integrity (paragraph 3 of the preamble). Since its independence, Djibouti has conducted pioneering diplomacy advocating exchanges, consultations and dialogue for the socio-economic and cultural advancement of societies and peoples. 259. In this regard, the country has deployed multiple efforts to peacefully resolve conflicts that had for a long time destabilized the sub-region and greatly affected populations in the Horn of Africa. Using space offered by IGAD and then the African Union, Djibouti has been able to roll-out its negotiation strategy. To this day, Djibouti is pursuing this ideal and is wholly committed to restoring peace in Somalia with the organization on its territory of the Arta reconciliation conference (2000) which marked the return of Somali government authorities to Mogadishu. In May 2012, Djibouti sent 800 soldiers to the District of Hiran (Baladweyn) to support the African Union’s peacekeeping forces in Somalia (AMISOM). These different interventions illustrate Djibouti's commitment to the equality of people and ensuring the full realization of their basic human rights. 260. At the country level, the Constitution stipulates that it is the duty of public authorities to establish a pluralist democracy governed by the rule of law that will guarantee the full enjoyment of individual and collective rights and freedoms (paragraph 2 of the preamble). These rights which are thus recognized in favour of all segments of the Djiboutian population can only be realized based on the principle of equality. 261. Article 3 of the Constitution sets forth the guarantees needed for the people to exercise their sovereignty and stipulates that no group can unilaterally assume or be deprived of this sovereignty; this is a considerable asset in terms of protection against domination of the people. 49