A/HRC/10/53 page 12 ill-treatment, OHCHR Nepal and partners, including the NHRC, conducted several workshops on the principles and procedures governing health examinations for detainees, bringing together around 120 police officials and local authorities, as well as senior health professionals. The workshops identified key policy gaps that have contributed to a lack of accountability for police abuses. These workshops will provide the basis for an initiative by OHCHR Nepal and its partners to assist the Nepal Police in developing appropriate policies at the national level. 44. In May, the Supreme Court ordered the Government to undertake reforms with regard to the prison system, including improving prison conditions and the situation of children living with prisoners, as well as reforming policies on prison management and administration. The Government states that reform of the prison system is ongoing subject to available resources. (c) Abuses by individuals associated with political parties 45. Whilst OHCHR Nepal continued to receive reports of abuses by members of the CPN(M) and its youth wing, the Young Communist League (YCL), prior to the elections, the number of incidents reported diminished after April. However, abusive activity continued to be reported, particularly intimidation and interference in decision-making processes at the local level. In Kathmandu, OHCHR Nepal raised concerns with the YCL leadership about reports of abduction and ill-treatment of drug users and sellers who were forced to participate in a “rehabilitation centre”, after which the YCL promised to close the centre. Also of concern was the lack of any significant progress by the CPN(M) in returning land and property confiscated during the conflict, despite numerous public commitments. 46. The establishment of youth wings by other political parties raised concern, particularly when, as was the case with the Youth Force, affiliated with the Communist Party of Nepal-Unified Marxist-Leninist (UML), they appeared to be competing with the YCL and claimed to conduct “law enforcement” activities in support of the police, including targeting of allegedly corrupt government officials. Confrontations between the YCL and Youth Force led to violence and political tension on a number of occasions. 47. The issue of the future of former Maoist army combatants, who are in cantonment sites in line with the agreement on monitoring of the management of arms and armies, has yet to be resolved. The verification process conducted by UNMIN in 2007 determined the total verified Maoist army personnel as 19,602, of whom 2,973 were below 18 years of age when the ceasefire agreement was signed. Following a visit by the Special Representative of the Secretary-General on Children and Armed Conflict to Nepal in December, the Prime Minister committed himself to discharging the former child combatants, whose presence was in violation of the Comprehensive Peace Agreement and child rights provisions, from the cantonment sites, by February 2009. In November, intensive discussions were launched on the integration of the two armies; however no agreement has yet been found on the process or possible options for reintegration or rehabilitation of combatants. By 31 December, the special committee to supervise, integrate and rehabilitate Maoist army combatants, as envisaged under the Interim Constitution, had yet to start its work, pending final agreement on its composition.