32. According to Constitutional Council’s decision of 20 August 2989, the international commitments of Algeria prevail over the national legislation. This decision confirms the principle provided for by the Constitution whereby the ratified international treaties prevail over national law. The Constitution states that « following its ratification and after its publication, any convention will be incorporated in the national law and, according to article 132 of the Constitution, acquires an authority which is superior to the law, authorising any Algerian citizen to invoke it before the courts. » 33. Algeria a subscribed to the main international human rights instruments and regularly submits relevant periodic reports. It maintains rapports of cooperation with UN agencies, the African Union and the League of Arab States, as well as with the non-governmental organisations community. 34. The annual celebration of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, that of the Women, the Child, the African child, the Elderly, the Family and the Disabled persons are renewed opportunities to raise the general public’s awareness on the various international human rights instruments, to which Algeria is party. It is also an opportunity to measure the effects of the actions carried out by the public authorities and to draw learning for the improvement of their effective implementation. 35. In the area of human rights education, the educational institutions ensure the popularisation of the conventions, which are incorporated in school curricula, and school manuals of several programmes. Students are sensitised about human rights using universal instruments (Universal Declaration on Human Rights and other international and regional treaties). Articles of some of the conventions are circulated as teaching supports in all education institutions across the country. Similarly, units on human rights are fully part of teaching at the Magistrates’ High School, the Police High School and the National School of Prison Administration, as well as the National Schools of Gendarmerie. 36. The international and regional human rights conventions ratified by Algeria are posted on the website of the Ministry of Justice (www.mjustice.dz). In addition, the latter, are given training in Algeria and abroad, on public liberties and human rights. 37. An authority act on the extension of women’s representation within the elected local and national assemblies has been promulgated in January 2012. This law provides for the gradual process of women’s representation within elected assemblies which rages between 20 to 50%. It also states that any electoral list, which does not comply with the women representation rate as per this law, will be rejected. This voluntarism policy for women advancement has resulted in reaching 31% of women in Parliament during the legislative elections of May 2012. 38. In addition to the Constitution, a number of legislations, including authority acts, facilitate the democratisation of the public activity: 5