Various other laws are also relevant to the operations of the mining industry. These include the Soil Conservation Act 76 of 1969, the Hazardous Substance Ordinance 14 of 1974, the Atmospheric Pollution Prevention Ordinance 11 of 1976, the Prevention and Combating of Pollution of the Sea by Oil Act, Act No. 6 of 1981, the Forest Act, Act No. 12 of 2001, and the Atomic Energy and Radiation Protection Act, Act No. 5 of 2005. The objectives/aim of the last mentioned Act is to: - minimize the exposure of persons and the environment in Namibia to the effects of harmful radiation ensure that adequate control is exercised over the possession, production, processing, sale, export and import of radiation sources and nuclear material create the necessary mechanisms to facilitate compliance with the obligations of Namibia under international agreements relating to nuclear energy, nuclear weapons and protection against the harmful effects. Although the laws are in place Namibia still faces serious challenges due to poor land use practices, in equitable land distribution and recurrent droughts and floods. 25. ARTICLE 25: DUTY TO PROMOTE AWARENESS OF THE CHARTER ENFORCEMENT, TEACHING AND DISSEMINATION OF HUMAN RIGHTS INFORMATION For the past two years, the Office of the Ombudsman compiled all the Concluding Observations, including that of the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights, which they distributed to Parliamentarians and members of the public. 26. ARTICLE 26: INDEPENDENCE OF THE JUDICIARY 26.1 Duty to guarantee the independence of the courts Namibia enjoys a remarkably independent judiciary. No one thus far has complained about outside interference with the judiciary. Judges of the superior courts are appointed on the recommendation of Judicial Service Commission (JSC) and are drawn from the senior legal practitioners. Magistrates are appointed on the recommendation of the Magistrates Commission. - 46 -