of operation and terms of reference were reorganized by Decree No. 2019-305 PRN/MJ of 7 June 2019. A toll-free number (08001111) is available for people to report any act of corruption they have suffered or witnessed. 35. Centre for Legal and Judicial Studies: This body was instituted by Decree No. 2017010/PRN/MJ of 6 January 2017 and its terms of reference are established by Order No. 071/MJ/GS of 16 May 2017. Its status was raised in 2019 because it is now headed by a DirectorGeneral. The Centre is particularly tasked with conducting studies in order to develop national laws and to adapt them to the socio-economic development needs, study the legal issues relating to the application of the laws, lead, promote and publish research in the legal and judicial fields, collect legal documents and facilitate their dissemination, ensure the release of publications and reviews by the Ministry of Justice as well as consolidate and develop international cooperation. 36. National Unit for Mutual Assistance in Criminal Matters and Legal Cooperation: Established by Decree No. 2018-908/PRN/MJ of 28 December 2018 on the organization of the Ministry of Justice, it helps the Central Authority to take decisions in the areas of extradition, mutual assistance and international cooperation in the justice sector. 37. Central Agency for the Management of the Seizure, Confiscation, Freezing and Recovery of Criminal Assets: Established pursuant to Decree No. 2017-599 of 13 July 2017, it is carrying out a public service mission in the management of seized or confiscated assets as part of the criminal procedures. PART TWO: STATUS OF PROGRESS MADE IN THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE CHARTER SINCE 2016 A. I. CIVIL AND POLITICAL RIGHTS Equality before the law and prohibition of discrimination: Articles 2 and 3 38. The preamble of the Constitution of 25 November 2010 proclaims the commitment of Niger to the principles of multi-party democracy and human rights as defined by the 1948 Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the 1966 International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, the 1966 International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights and the 1981 African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights as well as the legal regional and international human rights protection and promotion instruments as signed and ratified by Niger. 39. Articles 5,7,8,9 and10 of the Constitution establish, among others, the equality of all citizens before the law in various areas. The prohibition of discrimination is a cross-cutting human rights principle which the State respects and enforces under all circumstances. Furthermore, Niger has ratified all the international conventions against all forms of discrimination. With regard to both rights and duties, equality before the law is a consequence of the prohibition of discrimination. No individual or group of individuals, not to talk of a region or a category of citizens or vulnerable groups, is favoured to the detriment of another. B. Right to life and physical and moral integrity: Article 4 21