strategy is part of the specific and inclusive policy development dynamic in terms of protecting and promoting the rights of persons with disabilities. 272. Within the context of strengthening the institutional framework for the promotion and protection of the rights of persons with disabilities, the Government has created the National Multi-Sectoral Council for the Protection and Promotion of the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (COMUD/Handicap) by Decree No. 2012-406/PRES/PM/MASSN/MEF/MS of 15 May 2012. It is a team made up of 90 members mostly from the ministerial departments, several institutions and associations working in the area of protection for persons with disabilities and representatives of all regions headed by Governors. This Council is charged with protecting and promoting the rights of persons with disabilities and carrying out periodic assessment of the implementation of the United Nations Convention and the Law of 1 April 2010. The inauguration of members was done by the Prime Minister on 8 November 2012. The COMUD/Handicap has a Permanent Secretariat which is its implementation body. C. The rights of Older Persons 273. The last general population and housing census of Burkina Faso recorded 712 573 older persons aged 60 and above and more than 5.1% of the total population. For the protection of their lives, the older persons do not have a specific legal protection which meets their specific needs. Just like any other citizen, they enjoy rights recognized by the Burkina Constitution and some texts or international instruments. In view of their state of vulnerability, the Government is undertaking several initiatives in order to ensure suitable protection in order to provide a more adapted protection commensurate with their situation. 274. Concerning measures in relation to this framework, the Ministry of Human Rights prepared a report on the status of the rights of Older Persons in September 2011. This report highlighted the fact that though achievements have been made in the area of protecting and promoting the rights of older persons, there are still some inadequacies regarding the full realisation of the above-mentioned rights. Concerning the inadequacies contained in this report, it emerged that there is no specific text regulating the rights of older persons. That is the reason why the Ministry if Human Rights has initiated a draft legislation on the promotion and protection of the rights of older persons in Burkina Faso in order to reinforce the legal framework for the protection of this vulnerable section of the population. This draft legislation was validated by the Technical Committee for the Review of Draft Laws (COTEVAL) on 2 May 2013 and it will soon be submitted for review by the Council of Ministers before its passage by the National Assembly. 275. The Ministry of Social Welfare and Solidarity organised a National Forum on Older Persons on 22 and 23 October 2012. The holding of this first edition of the national forum on older persons established a firm determination by the Government to create a priority framework for listening, for dialogue and direct consultation with Older Persons. In order to incorporate their concerns, the Ministry of Social Welfare and National Solidarity embarked on the division of the key recommendations of the Forum of 4 March 2013 along the lines of ministerial departments. D. The rights of persons living with HIV/AIDS 276. The 2012 UNAIDS report estimated the average prevalence rate of HIV infection amongst the overall population of Burkina Faso to be 1.1% at the end of 2011. According to the 68