388. Mali has ratified the major international human rights instruments as well as the international humanitarian law instruments and has domesticated some of these provisions into its national legislation. 389. In addition, to give effect to these international and national texts and ensure compliance with its international human rights obligations, Mali has adopted and implemented different policies, programmes and measures for the promotion and protection of human rights. 390. Mali is actively participating in the work of the Human Rights Council and the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights within which our compatriot Maitre Soyata MAIGA is a Commissioner. During its sessions, the government regularly presents progress report on the human rights situation in the country. 391. Against this background, it must be recalled that in May 2008, during its mandate at the Human Rights Council, the human rights situation in Mali came under the spotlight for assessment within the framework of the universal periodic review mechanism. 392. At the regional level, governance in Mali, including that of human rights has also been reviewed within the framework of the African Union’s Peer Review Mechanism. 393. The conclusions of these two reviews show that considerable progress has been made in achieving some rights but there are still challenges to be addressed in other areas. Progress achieved : - In the area of popularisation of rights: 394. The Malian human rights approach is a comprehensive and integrated approach that lays emphasis on the normative aspect and prioritises promotion actions with the view to enhancing the emergence and deep-rootedness of a culture of democracy and human rights within the society. 395. It is within this framework that on 10 December of every year, a national human rights platform is organised dubbed “The Democratic Discussion Forum” (E.I.D.) where the citizens directly call the members of government on possible cases of human rights violations to which they fell victim in the course of the year. 396. Furthermore, the adoption of a National Citizenship Education Programme falls into this same education dynamics of popularising the value of democracy and human rights in the society. 397. Similarly, with the support of its partners in the United Nations system, the Government has put in place a joint support programme for the “Promotion of Human Rights and Gender 77