92. The commitment of the Government was also given concrete expression through the adoption of the 2009-2013 national plans of action to promote the elimination of female genital mutilation with the prospect of achieving zero tolerance. Actions were taken to sensitize the general public on the criminal nature of these acts. Similarly, training sessions on the subject were run for persons responsible for the implementation of the laws and the other concerned professionals. Thus, in 2010, 104 training sessions were run on Female Genital Mutilation (FGM); through sensitization and advocacy, 68,215 persons were reached for the fight against FGM. Health officers have acquired knowledge and skills in the handling of the after-effects of excision. Besides, community outposts have been put in place to strengthen sensitization and advocacy with the authorities and opinion leaders. 93. The government has strengthened prevention and the fight against social cankers through the organization of 2,189 sensitization sessions on the fight against the practice of female genital mutilation as well as the medical treatment of the after-effects of excision of 34 victims in 2012. The year 2011 was characterized by the implementation of the joint UNFPA/UNICEF programme for the eradication of the cross-border practice of excision and its 2009-2013 plans of actions. The programme aims at promoting the fight against the practice of excision with a view to ensuring zero tolerance by 2015. 94. According to the 2012 annual yearbook of the Ministry of Justice, the number of persons sentenced and held in the prisons for practising female genital mutilation dropped from 42 in 2009 to 13 as at 31 December, 2012, representing a drop of 30.95%. To support victims and to assist them to readjust, the government organs responsible for these issues have reception outfits tasked with counselling and directing women who have suffered violence. Many associations are involved in this area through the establishment of counselling centres which often go as far as providing victims with technical and financial assistance (provision of legal counsel, absorption of medical bills, temporary accommodation of the victim, etc.). 95. Note should also be taken of the adoption by the United Nations General Assembly of Resolution A/c.3/67/L.21 of 17 October, 2012 on the intensification of global action aimed at eliminating female genital mutilation, presented by Burkina Faso on behalf of the African Group. The country is pursuing the inclusion of the teaching of these modules on Female Genital Mutilation in the primary and secondary school curricula of the six (6) regions of the country. 96. In order to strengthen cooperation by Parliament to fast track the eradication of cross-border excision, the National Assembly, in collaboration with the Association of European Parliamentarians with Africa and the UNFPA, organized a follow-up meeting on 5 September, 2012 in Ouagadougou initiated as part of the « Role of Parliamentarians in the Eradication of Female Genital Mutilation. » This meeting was followed by sensitization activities. 97. In September, 2012, the Burkinabe Network of Islamic Organizations held a national conference to draw the attention of the public to FGM and to fight against this practice. The organizers explained that contrary to the popular belief, excision is not a Muslim tradition. 98. The government continues to work with the local people in order to fight against FGM through regional committees set up to fight against the practice of excision. These regional committees brought together representatives of the Ministries of Social Welfare, Education and Literacy, Secondary and Higher Education, Women’s Affairs, Justice, and Health as well as representatives of the Police, the Gendarmerie and local and religious leaders. The 27