A/HRC/16/5 increased. Parliament was scheduled to consider a draft law on gender equality initiated by the Government. 16. The Government had been working to implement the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities and the Optional Protocol thereto, and its Action Plan 2008-2012 included such objectives as providing persons with disabilities with standard facilities, as well as opportunities for a comfortable lifestyle. The Ministry of Labour and Social Welfare had sought to expand its cooperation with non-governmental organizations through the publication and distribution of Braille books for blind persons, and by raising public awareness about the need to ensure the participation of persons with disabilities in social life. 17. While noting many challenges, including poverty, unemployment, food insecurity, and air pollution in the capital city, the delegation stated that the Government had the necessary political will and would continue to overcome them with the support of its people and the solidarity of other countries. The Government had been trying to strike a balance between economic growth and human rights, and to utilize more equitably and more effectively the increasing wealth derived from mining. 18. While noting the fact that periodic reports had been regularly submitted to the treaty bodies and follow-up information forwarded to Special Rapporteurs, the delegation acknowledged the need to further improve the quality of such reports. 19. The delegation expressed the Government’s belief that the goals of the universal periodic review could be achieved only through the active participation of and constructive dialogue among all States and non-governmental organizations; it also expressed its readiness to work with all partners to promote and protect human rights in Mongolia. 20. In response to the advance question on the abolition of the death penalty, the delegation reported that the Government supported the ratification of the Second Optional Protocol to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights. The relevant standing committee of Parliament had been discussing whether Parliament should finally ratify it. If Parliament responded positively, draft amendments to all legislation regulating the death penalty, including the Law on the State Secret, would be formulated. 21. Responding to an advance question, the delegation referred to the 2008 amendment to the Criminal Code that had altered the definition of the term “torture” in line with the Convention against Torture. Moreover, as a result of the amendment, any official involved in an investigation would be prosecuted and punished under the Code if he or she tortured, or took cruel, inhuman or degrading measures against, a suspect in order to obtain information or a confession. A working group had been studying the possibility of the ratification by Mongolia of the Optional Protocol to the Convention. 22. The delegation stated that there no data had been recorded regarding the allegation of discrimination based on sexual orientation against lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender persons. There had been regular supervision by the Prosecutor’s Office on this issue, and an Open-Door Day was held each month in order to receive individuals’ complaints and requests. Support was provided for the participation of advocates in the process of interrogating suspects and prosecuted persons. The Government planned to conduct a survey on lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender persons and to record their needs and requests, which would make it possible to identify areas for possible legal amendments. In addition, an association of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender persons had been registered. 23. Regarding the question concerning the period of pre-trial detention, the delegation reported that the 2007 amendments to the Criminal Procedure Code had decreased the 5