government also pursued the implementation of its national plan of action called « Zero Tolerance of FGM » which aimed at reducing this practice by at least 30 % in 2013. To this end, it organized sensitization and training campaigns as well as identification and support programmes for victims of this practice. 99. The combined effects of the law, the sensitization actions and the very strong involvement of governmental, traditional and religious authorities have brought about remarkable progress in the fight against FGM. However, it is still being practised clandestinely and continues to affect much younger girls. In the face of this situation, vigilance and sensitization actions are being pursued to ensure the complete eradication of FGM. Take urgent measures to fight against over-crowding in the prisons by giving priority to alternative detention measures, particularly for minor offences, and adopt practices which comply with all of the minimum rules for the treatment of prisoners 100. The 2010-2019 national justice policy and the national human rights and civic promotion policy (2013-2022) provide for measures aimed at improving the management of prisons, promotion and protection of the rights of prisoners, promotion and social reintegration of prisoners and the humanization of prison premises. 101. Concerning alternative sentences, the Burkinabe criminal code has made provision for educational measures for the education, rehabilitation, placement under guardianship or assistance for prisoners. These measures are applicable to minors under 18 who have been found guilty of crimes or offences. These are as follows: - return of the minor to his family; - placement of the minor under the supervision of a relative or a reliable person; - placement of the minor in a charitable, religious or private institution, and - placement of the minor in a specialized public establishment. 102. This provision is strengthened by Decree No.617-2010/PRES/MASSN/MJ/MEF on placement conditions and the monitoring of children in reception facilities and families. Furthermore, judicial sentences have become increasingly lighter for minor offences. Indeed, fines, general interest work or suspended sentences are applied in place of actual imprisonment. In addition to these are the sentences management measures taken by the Commissions responsible for the enforcement of sentences (semi-freedom, external placement, placement in open spaces, etc.), and reduction in duration particularly through the fast tracking of the judicial procedures and the exercise of presidential pardons twice a year (partial or full remission of sentences). 103. The number of prisons increased from 23 in 2009 to 24 in 2012. Mention should also be made of the completion of the construction of the Maximum Security Prison and the standardization of prison premises through the provision of various infrastructure in the Diébougou, Orodara, Manga, Bogandé and Ouahigouya prison and reform centres. In the prison and reform centres, the improvement in the living and prison conditions focused on the increase in the holding capacity of prison facilities, increase in the feeding budget, health and hygiene ; availability of more information on prisoners ; construction of water towers; grain mills as well as the construction of quarters for women and minor boys. Since 2007, a prisoner’s day has been observed every year in all the courts for recreational, sporting and sensitization activities. 28