cases, while 1,183 sentences were handed down. The number of judges increased from 354 in 2009 to 415 in 2012. The average occupancy rate of prison facilities dropped from 172% in 2009 (i.e. 5,400 prisoners for an inmate capacity of 3,140) to 143.9% as at 31 December, 2012 (i.e. 5,035 prisoners for an inmate capacity of 3,500). The decrease is particularly due to the recourse to forms of punishment other than imprisonment, increase in the inmate capacity of the Ouagadougou Remand Home and Prison and the building of new prisons. Refrain from the excessive and disproportionate use of force during popular demonstrations 25. As part of the implementation of the recommendations, police personnel were taken through an operational capacity strengthening programme in the area of the handling of conventional equipment used to restore order, pursuant to Decree 2005025/PRES/PM/SECU/MATD/DF/MJ of 31 January, 2005 on the planning of the maintenance of order in Burkina Faso. 26. All of these measures enable the defence and security forces to ensure a better control of demonstrations. Thus: - security officers now show more professionalism in their actions during demonstrations; through their leaders, they facilitate the establishment of dialogue between demonstrators and the relevant authorities; they determine the routes to be used for the demonstration; they use conventional equipment; etc. 27. Since 2011, no loss of human lives has been recorded on public roads. Through Circular No. 2013/5018/MATS/DGPN/DPJ of 5 December, 2013, the Ministry of Local Government and Security reminded the police service of the need to respect human rights in the police establishment. Raise Public Awareness on the Judicial Procedures and Existing Remedies 28. The national 2019 justice policy vision is one which seeks to establish a credible, equitable, independent, transparent, decentralized, competent and widely accessible justice system. In this regard, open days, prisoners’ days and mobile hearings are being organized. Furthermore, communications have been enhanced through press briefings on sensitive cases and the reproduction of legal information leaflets. Law handbooks and a “Just’ Info” publication are also being published, while “Fasolex”, a legal database, is available. A law centre is in existence, while counselling and guidance offices have been set up in some courts. The removal of filing fees (Law No. 23-2008/AN of 6 May, 2008) and the assignment of defence counsel for offences and all criminal cases also eliminate certain financial constraints suffered by persons subject to trial. 29. Furthermore, through its counselling and human rights documentation centres, the Ministry of Justice, Human Rights and Civic Education is involved in human rights protection through the provision of counselling support to victims of violations. It directs citizens with claims to the relevant administrative and judicial bodies. 12