of the sub-regional organizations in Burkina Faso. The first stage took place from 14 to 15 June, 2013 at Pô, then at Tenkodogo, Fada, Gaoua and Koudougou. 139. A National Committee for the Monitoring of the Free Movement of Persons and Goods, and the Right of Residence and Establishment within ECOWAS has been in place since 2010 (Order No. 2010-005/PM/CAB of 18 February, 2010). At the 4th session of the said committee held on 26 July, 2012 in Bobo-Dioulasso, issues relating to irregular practices along the corridors of the UEMOA region were tackled. The President of Burkina Faso was appointed by his peers to lead the implementation of the protocol on the free movement of persons and goods on 26 October, 2013. 140. On 10 July, 2013, the government adopted a decree on the establishment, composition and running of the National Committee for the Monitoring of the Free Movement of Persons and Goods, and the Right of Residence and Establishment within ECOWAS. This Decree, which replaced the Prime Minister’s order of 18 February, 2010 on the establishment of the said Committee, aims at strengthening the legal and institutional framework for the implementation of community enactments relating to the free movement of persons and goods as well as the right of residence and establishment in our country. The report on these irregular practices shows that during the fourth quarter of 2011, there was an increase of 10% in the number of checks as well as a decline of 2% and 19% of the duration of checks and racketeering respectively. For every country crossed, the number of checks over 100km was between one and three. With regard to racketeering over 100km, the amounts varied between CFAF 800 and CFAF 4,500, depending on the country, while the duration of checks was between 11 and 27 minutes. The removal of non-tariff barriers along the corridor is an important lever for the strengthening of economic integration and the development of economic activities at the national and sub-regional levels. 141. Burkina Faso recorded about 53,000 Malian refugees, following the crisis which affected the Republic of Mali in 2012. In order to meet the needs of these populations, the Government, with the support of its partners, formulated and implemented a response plan covering the sectors of the promotion and protection of human rights, supply of survival kits, animal resources, etc. Thus, special measures were taken to grant prima facie refugee status to refugees. They were also registered by the relevant departments, while cards were issued to them to have access to provisions, health services, etc. Finally, human rights sensitization and training activities, particularly on the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination and Law No. 042-2008/AN of 23 October, 2008 on the status of refugees in Burkina Faso, were carried out for them as well as for the local populations in order to encourage peaceful cohabitation. J. Right to Participate in Public Affairs 142. Article 11 of the Constitution guarantees the enjoyment of civil and political rights, subject to compliance with the legal conditions for the enjoyment of the same. Furthermore, Article 12 provides that “all Burkinabes, without any discrimination whatsoever, are entitled to participate in the management of the affairs of State and society. To this end, they may vote and be voted for under the conditions provided for by law.”. Similarly, Article 13 of the Constitution guarantees the free formation of political parties, and specifies that the latter participate in the shaping of political life, the education of the people and the exercise of the right to vote. 37