A/HRC/11/18* 8. The National Report was a result of broad consultations with representations of various stakeholders, and the consultations with civil society had been particularly rewarding as their perspectives had helped shape government positions on a range of issues. 9. A number of institutional reforms undertaken to strengthen rule of law and good governance were highlighted, including separation of the judiciary from the executive. 10. Reference was made to the establishment in 2008 of a National Human Rights Commission, a three-member body headed by a former Supreme Court judge and including a distinguished woman from civil society and a representative from a minority community. The Commission was empowered to receive and investigate allegations of human rights violations from any individual or group and to monitor the overall human rights situation in the country and make appropriate recommendations. 11. The reconstituted Election Commission had completed the registration of 80 million voters, with photographs and biometric features, and. the Rules of Procedure of the Anti Corruption Commission had been refomulated. Bangladesh would ensure independent functioning of those institutions, and would adhere to its commitment to the United Nations Convention against Corruption and bring corrupt people to justice. 12. The delegation stressed that economic and social rights were of paramount importance: eradication of poverty was the Government’s top priority and more than half the budget had been allocated for poverty-reduction activities. As a result of these and other efforts, poverty declined significantly. Bangladesh was often cited for its best practices of social safety net programmes and the Government had plans to further widen the social safety-net, particularly to combat the impact of the global financial crisis. The Government’s emphasis on education was also highlighted: the education sector received the single largest share, about 15 per cent, of the annual budget. 13. Bangladesh expressed its commitment to food security for all, emphasizing that it had been able to contain the impact of the global food crisis and highlighting its strategy both to reduce food prices further by increasing domestic production and to ensure greater access to agricultural inputs that would improve farmers’ productivity and income. 14. The delegation noted the Government’s intention to institute comprehensive police reform. Steps were being taken to update and improve the Police Act of 1961. A draft ordinance developed through consultations with all stakeholders stipulated codes of conduct for the police, with a particular focus on upholding human rights in the discharge of duties and on gender guidelines for the treatment of women and children. The process of setting up a victim support centre and a criminal intelligence analysis unit was under way. 15. One of the Government’s foremost goals in the field of human rights was to bring to justice all those who committed the most atrocious crimes against humanity during the war of national liberation. The Prime Minister, Sheikh Hasina, had already indicated that Bangladesh would seek United Nations help to ensure that the mechanisms adopted for the proposed trials of the perpetrators met international standards and safeguarded the basic principles of justice. Parliament had passed a unanimous resolution that there would be a trial of the perpetrators and the victims may expect redress. Bangladesh was committed to reversing the culture of impunity that had afflicted other areas of its national life. The Government intended to resurrect due process, expunge extra-judicial modalities and objectives, and promote political harmony and reconciliation. 16. Regarding the status of specific groups, the delegation indicated that women in Bangladesh were increasingly assuming leadership roles at both national and local levels, and that the principal focus had been to eliminate gender disparities in areas of law, economics, politics and family. An Inter-Ministerial Committee co-ordinated the implementation of CEDAW’s provisions, resolute action had been taken to stop violence 4 GE.09-16252