A/HRC/8/20 Page 4 against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment (CAT) and the process for the ratification of the Optional Protocol is currently underway. Within this process, the National Constitutional Assembly, together with a number of non-governmental organizations and the Ministry of Justice and Human Rights, has also been working on a project to introduce reforms to the Criminal Code, including a definition of torture in accordance with CAT. Outstanding challenges remain, such as the need to provide human rights training to law enforcement officials, the elimination of the jurisdictions of the public forces by merging jurisdictions. As part of efforts to combat impunity and strengthening of the judicial system, there is further the need to ensure better coverage and strict independence of the judiciary. Ecuador has created the Truth Commission. Current challenges include the reform of the national security law and the elimination of the military and police courts jurisdictions to address human rights violations by military and police forces. Since 2007, a human rights manual has become part of the human rights training for the police. 8. In responding to questions raised in advance on the penitentiary system, in 2008, the Government will be investing US$90 million in the penitentiary system, in particular in the areas of infrastructure, social rehabilitation centres, access to legal assistance and pretrial detention. Ecuador set as target to become a country without children in the prisons. Ecuador is also promoting a flexible programme to provide pardons to persons in accordance with the law, including those who are terminally ill, to revise the cases of those who have received extremely severe sentences, and undertake a social census of prisoners, which is currently underway. 9. Regarding questions asked in advance on human rights defenders, it is planned to provide amnesties to all human rights defenders prosecuted for claims regarding mining and logging activities. With regard to access to justice and judicial reform, the Ministry of Justice and Human Rights is coordinating the development of a new programme to introduce oral proceedings and greater transparency in the trials, as well as creating centres on mediation, and strengthening judicial careers. 10. Ecuador increased the national budget by 38 per cent to invest in social areas, in particular to provide universal, free and quality public health services and free and quality basic education, and to create economic opportunities to vulnerable groups. With regard to women’s rights, the National Plan for the Prevention, Eradication and Sanction of Gender Violence, the National Plan for the Prevention, Eradication and Sanction of Trafficking of Persons, and the National Plan of the Prevention and Punishment of Sexual Violence are currently being implemented. On the rights of children, reference was made to the National Plan for the Comprehensive Protection of Children and Adolescents, in particular actions for the progressive eradication of child labour and begging and to address the exploitation of children. A national council for the promotion and protection of the rights of persons with disabilities has been established as well as the Office of the Procuraduría for the Defence of the Rights of Persons with Disabilities and a programme called Ecuador without Barriers which is promoted by the Office of the Vice-President. On the rights of migrants, Ecuador is a country of origin, transit and destiny of migrants and has established the National Secretariat for Migrants to coordinate all actions, implement policies, and provide comprehensive assistance to migrants. The National Development Plan for Migrants 2007-2010 also includes a programme that facilitates the return of Ecuadorians to the country. Ecuador has ratified all international norms on refugees and maintains an institutional framework that effectively assists asylum-seekers, both for their recognition as refugees and their social insertion. In this connection, UNHCR recognizes Ecuador as a country with best practices in the protection of the rights of refugees. On the right of indigenous peoples, the Constitution recognizes the cultural diversity of the country and Ecuador has adopted long-term public policies to address the needs of people of African descent.