E/C.12/MRT/CO/1 (c) The adoption of the National Health Policy, the 2012 National Plan for the Health Development, and the creation of the faculty of medicine at the University of Nouakchott; (d) The notable improvement of the enrolment rate at the primary level of education since the adoption of Act 2001-054 on compulsory basic education and the implementation of the 2001-2010 National Programme for the Development of the Education Sector. C. Principal subjects of concern and recommendations 7. The Committee is concerned that the provisions of the Covenant have not been invoked by the State party’s courts, in spite of the constitutional guarantee of the primacy of international agreements ratified by the State party over domestic laws. The Committee is also concerned that the Covenant was never published in the Official Gazette. (art. 2, para. 1) The Committee calls on the State party to ensure that the Covenant is published in the Official Gazette. The Committee also calls on the State party to raise awareness of economic, social and cultural rights, as contained in the Covenant, and their justiciability among the professionals of the justice system and the general public and to take necessary measures, such as the effective provision of legal aid, to promote access to justice. The Committee requests the State party to submit in its next periodic report detailed information on cases before the courts in which the provisions of the Covenant have been invoked. The Committee draws the State party’s attention to its general comment No. 9 (1998) on the domestic application of the Covenant. 8. The Committee is concerned at the negative impact of extractive and mining activities in the State party on the environment and on the population’s enjoyment of the right to health, as illustrated by the serious public health problems encountered in mining towns such as Akjoujt. The Committee is concerned that this is indicative of insufficient regulatory measures and weak enforcement capacity. The Committee is further concerned that these extractive and mining activities have hitherto generated little employment for the local population (arts. 2 and 11). The Committee calls on the State party to (a) implement the Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative; (b) ensure that adequate sanctions are applied for breach of environmental clauses in extractive and mining contracts; (c) take corrective measures to address environmental and health hazards caused by extractive and mining activities; (d) ensure that the free, prior and informed consent of the population is obtained in decision-making processes on extractive and mining projects affecting them; and (e) ensure that these activities as well as the resources generated, bring about tangible benefits to the enjoyment of economic, social and cultural rights by the population. 9. The Committee is concerned that corruption affects all sectors of the State, including the judiciary, which results in a considerable loss of resources for the implementation of economic, social and cultural rights. The Committee calls on the State party to expedite the establishment of the national anti-corruption observatory and recommends that the State party intensify its efforts to combat corruption and impunity associated with it and ensure the transparency of the conduct of public affairs, in law and in practice. It also recommends that the State party take steps to raise the awareness among politicians, parliamentarians, and national and local civil servants on the economic and social costs of corruption, as well 2