and Peoples’ Rights adopted by the Eighth OAU Assembly of Heads of State and Government on 27 June, 1981 in Nairobi, Kenya, and came into force on 21 October, 1986. 2. In accordance with this Article, “each State Party shall undertake to submit every two years, from the date the present Charter comes into force, a report on the legislative or other measures taken, with a view to giving effect to the rights and freedoms recognized and guaranteed by the present Charter.” 3. It should be stated that Mali ratified the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights per Order No. 81-36/P-RM of 29 October, 1981. 4. The preparation of this report reviews the status of the implementation of the Charter by taking into account directives on the subject, observations made during the presentation of the Initial Report (26th Ordinary Session of the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights held in Kigali from 1 to 15 November, 1999), as well as the developments observed over the last few years. 5. This report, which reduces the periodic reports which were due in 2001, 2003, 2005, 2007, 2009 and 2011 respectively into a single document, examines the human rights situation in Mali by relying particularly on the provisions set forth by the regulatory framework at the national, regional and international levels. 6. The Republic of Mali, mindful of the fact that the ratification of many international legal instruments in various areas enjoins it to submit initial and periodic reports to the organs tasked to supervise the implementation of its international commitments by State Parties, established the Inter-Ministerial Support Committee for the Preparation of Initial and Periodic Reports for the implementation of the International Conventions ratified by Mali, “ CIMERAP” per Decree No. 09-049/P-RM of 12 February, 2009. 7. The said Committee is basically made up of representatives of the ministries. Furthermore, it may appoint any other person or structure whose contribution it deems useful for the accomplishment of its mission, particularly the National Human Rights Commission and the main civil society organizations working in the area of human rights. 8. In order to collect the necessary information for the preparation of this report, a wide consultation process was initiated at the national level for the main stakeholders directly or indirectly concerned with human rights issues. 9. A validation workshop which brought together all stakeholders involved in human rights issues (government bodies and civil society organizations) was organized and subsequently adopted by Cabinet. 9