A/HRC/17/5 94. Nepal further reported on compensation and relief packages distributed to the conflict victims and family members affected. 95. The delegation further referred to several acts and regulations that protect children, and to child-friendly mechanisms, including at the village and district level. 96. The Constitution has several provisions against caste-based discrimination and untouchability. Nepal has a caste-based discrimination control and punishment bill and also the National Dalit Commission, to be converted as a statutory body. These two bills are in the Parliament. 97. Nepal is committed to the promotion of the rights of minorities, including gender minorities. It has pursued the policy of recognizing the identity of gender minorities and achieving effective implementation of relevant laws prohibiting discrimination on any ground. Any person, regardless of gender, is entitled to obtain citizenship along with an identity consistent with equal rights policy. 98. Regarding ILO Convention No. 169, Nepal noted that 218 of the 601 Members of the Constituent Assembly are indigenous people, a testimony of positive outcome of policies and programmes in these fields. 99. Equality has been ensured in health programmes and services. However, progress has been uneven. Disparities have decreased in some areas, but the geography of Nepal presents serious challenges to deliver health services to all. 100. In answering to other questions, the delegation noted that the Government will soon finalize the draft bills on civil and penal codes, sentencing act and civil and criminal procedure codes, which contain provisions which are directly related to the implementation of various human rights treaties. 101. Nepal does not tolerate any form of torture. There is no systematic torture in Nepal. There are sufficient constitutional and legal safeguards for the prevention of torture and a special bill designed to incorporate provisions of CAT is also under active consideration. 102. Nepal believes that the timely and effective implementation of recommendations by the national human rights institutions is an effective mechanism to ensure protection of human rights and is working towards establishing a follow-up mechanism. 103. In concluding, Nepal thanked the delegations for constructive support for the ongoing democratic transformation and the peace process. 104. Nepal indicated that it expects enhanced level of support for its efforts in the process of post conflict reconstruction and rehabilitation to firmly institutionalize peacebuilding efforts, create a network of national democratic institutions, and expedite the socioeconomic transformation within the democratic framework to create an environment for the enjoyment of human rights by the people. 105. Nepal reiterated its commitment to democracy and human rights. It valued the goodwill and support of friends and looked forward to working together. II. Conclusions and/or recommendations 106. The recommendations formulated during the interactive dialogue/listed below have been examined by Nepal and enjoy its support: 106.1. Give its full support to ensure that the Constituent Assembly successfully fulfils its mandate of drafting a new Constitution by May 2011, giving due consideration to the views of the different groups that compose 12