C. Elimination of Harmful Practices 328. The Criminal Code punishes in Articles 376 to 383 on marital offences, female genital mutilation and unsafe abortions. The government has embarked on the fight against harmful practices such as female genital mutilation, forced marriages, the levirate, etc. Thus : - 500 paralegals comprising members of civil society organisations operating in the area of promoting and protecting women’s rights were established in 2012 for the protection of women and men victims of domestic violence ; 60 employees of the Ministry of Women’s Affairs and Gender were trained in women’s rights and provision of care for victims of violence and 30 employees were also trained in 2010 in listening skills and verbal communication techniques for the provision of improved services to victims of violence. 329. To give a new impetus to the fight against excision, the government decided to transform the National Excision Control Committee into a Council. Awareness raising campaigns involving the traditional chiefs and religious leaders have been carried out against this phenomenon across the country. 330. Concerning genital mutilations, it must be noted that the United Nations General Assembly 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, on the initiative of the African Group led by Burkina Faso. The violence perpetrated against women and girls is prohibited and penalised under the Criminal Code, particularly Article 417 which penalizes with imprisonment of between 5 and 10 years against perpetrators of rape. The Criminal Code punishes assaults and battery, and indecent assault against a person of either sex. Moreover, Article 380 of the Criminal Code penalises female genital mutilation with a term of imprisonment of between six months and three years and a fine of CFAF 150 000 to 900 000. A national excision control committee was established. Awareness raising actions involving traditional chiefs and religious leaders have been carried out against this phenomenon across the country. 331. The combined effect of the law, awareness raising campaigns and the strong involvement of the government, customary and religious authorities led to significant achievements in the fight against the FGM. However, the practice persists underground and this affects girls at an increasingly early age. In the face of such a situation, the vigilance and awareness raising campaigns are on-going for the complete eradication of the FGM. To facilitate the denunciation of violence perpetrated against children, Burkina Faso officially launched a hot line, number 80 00 11 52 on 13 September 2011. In 2012, this number was changed into three digits: 116, which is very easy to be memorised by children. The Regional Directorate for Social Welfare and National Solidarity of the Centre recorded 157 cases of violence denounced between September 2011 to April 2012. D. The rights relating to marriage 332. Cf. Part One, right to the protection of the family. E. Access to Justice and Equal Protection before the Law 333. Cf. Recommendation on access to justice. 81