E. The right to culture a) Contribution of national plans and policies to the protection of positive African values consistent with international human rights standards 201. In order to ensure the protection and promotion of positive African values, an emerging theme “Education in Art and Culture” has been introduced into education programmes. This module is based on the fact that education of a people cannot be successful unless it is founded on culture and authentic values which are the genuine expression of their soul and identity. The government has also started the gradual transcription of the national languages followed by their introduction into the education system as languages taught or as languages of instruction. b) Legislative and other measures taken to eliminate negative social and cultural practices 202. Article 380 of the Criminal Code punishes practices relating to female genital mutilation. Furthermore, a National Council for Combating the Practice of Excision was established. Its mission is to work towards the eradication of excision. In order to strengthen parliamentary cooperation to accelerate the abandonment of cross-border excision, the National Assembly organised a follow-up meeting on 5 September 2012 in Ouagadougou, in collaboration with the Association of European Parliaments with Africa and the UNFPA, initiated as part of the project dubbed “ The role of Parliaments in the Discontinuation of Female Genital Mutilation”. This meeting was followed by awareness-raising campaigns. 203. The year 2011 was marked by the implementation of the joint UNFPA/UNICEF programme for the abandonment of the practice of cross-border excision and its action plan for 2009-2013. This programme aims at promoting the fight against the practice of excision as part of the plan for zero tolerance by 2015. According to the 2011 statistical yearbook of the Ministry of Justice, the number of persons sentenced and detained in prisons for female genital mutilation decreased from 76 in 2008 to 16 on 31 December 2011. Finally, it can be noted that the General Assembly of the United Nations adopted Resolution A/c.3/67/L.21 of 17 October 2012 on the intensification of global action for the elimination of female genital mutilation, presented on behalf of the African Group by Burkina Faso. The country is continuing with the extension of the teaching modules on Female Genital Mutilation in primary and secondary school teaching programmes in 6 regions. 204. Furthermore, forced marriages, particularly those imposed by the families and those resulting from negative customary practices such the levirate are prohibited by the Personal and Family Code (Article 234). The same prohibition is applicable to the impediments and opposition to marriages based on race, caste, colour or religion. c) Measures taken to encourage and protect cultural works and traditional knowledge systems. 205. The dissemination and promotion of Burkinabè cultural works is carried out through an active use of multimedia systems. It is also carried out through the performing arts, books, museums, public libraries, exhibitions and production of works of art and discography, through seminars, workshops, etc. The architects, planners and designers of public works and building engineers are encouraged to draw inspiration from traditional knowledge and know-how in designing buildings and public infrastructure in order to preserve the identity of Burkinabè cities 52