equal before the law, regardless of the marital status of the parents. Likewise, Article 24 of the same law, states that all citizens are equal before the law, enjoy the same rights and are subjected to the same duties, without distinction as to race, sex, social, intellectual or cultural level, religious belief or philosophical conviction. 41. The Law on Combating Female Genital Mutilation (Law No.14/2011 of June 6), is essentially aimed at preventing, combating and repressing the practice of Female Genital Mutilation in Guinea-Bissau, by mitigating the health consequences and harms to girls. 42. The National Policy on Gender Equality and Equity (2017) aims, in particular, to combat inequalities between boys and girls, or the gender inequalities, which were expressed through stereotypes, prejudices and discriminatory practices, that lead to gender differences in opportunities for participation in the development process. 43. The Law on Domestic Violence (Law No. 06/2014 of February 4) aims to combat cases of violation of physical, psychological, patrimonial and sexual integrity on children, considered to be the most vulnerable, in the context of domestic relationships and against any form of violence perpetrated by relatives. 44. The Criminal Code, Civil Code, Human Trafficking Act, General Labor Act, HIV / AIDS Prevention, Treatment and Control Act, as well as the Code of Conduct for the Protection of Children Against Sexual Abuse and Exploitation in Tourism and travel sectors, National Plan for Prevention and Fight against Trafficking in Human Beings, etc. are also indispensable tools of legislative and administrative scope in the implementation of the African Charter on the Rights and Welfare of the Child. 45. b) International legal instruments of human rights, particularly of the child to which Guinea-Bissau is a party. 46.Guinea-Bissau, is among the countries that has become notable for the rapid ratification of various regional and international instruments, in a positive attitude for expressing its interest in contributing to the achievement of common priorities for children's rights at regional, continental and international levels. 47. Guinea-Bissau, as a member state of the African Union and the United Nations, has ratified a set of international human rights legal instruments, including the African Charter on the Rights and Welfare of the Child. She is also a member of different regional, continental and world organizations, and each time, she has been assuming her responsibilities to the extent of his abilities and opportunities, in observance of the civil, political, economical, social and cultural rights of her citizens. 48. In this regard, Guinea-Bissau, has ratified and acceded to the various legal instruments on protection and defense of the rights of the Child, namely: a) The Universal Declaration of Human Rights of the 1948 United Nations General Assembly, which establishes principles of universal equality for all human beings, guaranteeing the right to life, freedom, personal safety and security, decent working conditions and personal dignity. 12