C- Description of State institutions relevant to the Protocol The primary missions of the Ministry of social affairs, children and family matters are to propose projects and programmes guaranteeing the promotion and protection of the rights of women and their integration in the development process, in a manner which ensures equal opportunity in the political, economic, social and cultural spheres. The Office of the Commissioner for Human Rights and Humanitarian Action (CDHAH) is in charge of drafting and implementing the national policy for the promotion, defence and protection of human rights. The National Commission for Human Rights provides advisory opinion on public policies and strategies for the promotion of women’s rights. The Ministry in charge of women’s empowerment has developed several strategies and policies: - National strategy for the promotion of women, - National family policy, - Early childhood development policy, - National development policy on nutrition, - National strategy to eliminate FGM, - National strategy on gender mainstreaming. The MASEF participated in the development of different development policies and strategies including: - National strategy on poverty reduction, - National conference on employment, - National population policy, - Social development policy, - National strategy for accelerated growth and shared prosperity This participation helped ensure that the needs of women are taken into consideration in these policies and programmes. 1. The gender dimension Significant progress has been made in reducing gender disparities in the areas of political participation, gender mainstreaming, protecting women against violence and fostering their access to education, vocational training and production inputs. At the national and regional level, activities were aimed at promoting and ensuring gender mainstreaming, coordinating the management and resolution of family disputes, monitoring implementation of the provisions of Convention on the Elimination of all forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW). 50