A/HRC/5/3 page 16 33. Although in many of these countries, the actual implementation process is still in its infancy, success in terms of overall poverty reduction is already becoming apparent. In Nepal, for example, the Central Bureau of Statistics (2005) reveals that the national poverty head count rate declined from 41.76 per cent in 1995/96 to 30.85 per cent in 2003/04. In urban areas in particular, the change was even more significant, from 21.55 per cent to 9.55 per cent, representing a decline of 56 per cent. The Poverty Gap analysis also shows a substantial decrease from 6.54 to 2.18 in urban areas and 11.75 to 7.55 at the national level. Similarly in Cambodia, in those areas (59 per cent) covered by both the 1993/1994 and 2004 Socio-Economic Surveys, over these 11 years the poverty index fell by 11 percentage points or about 1 percentage point a year, while the Food Poverty Line declined from 20 per cent to 14.2 per cent.24 In Bangladesh, the incidence of poverty in households, using the direct calorie intake method, shows a significant improvement. The number of male-headed households suffering from hard core poverty (or less than 1,805 K.cal/day); declined from 27.7 per cent in 1988/89 to 19.6 per cent in 2000, while the corresponding change for women headed households was a decline from 32.0 per cent to 26.4 per cent.25 Viet Nam also has been able to meet significant poverty reduction targets through the implementation of its Comprehensive Poverty Reduction and Growth Strategy (CPRGS) adopted in 2000. The incidence of poverty in Viet Nam has declined from 17 per cent in 2000 to 7 per cent in 2005.26 At the end of 2004, 2 out of 64 provinces in Viet Nam did not have any poor households, 18 provinces had poverty rates ranging from 3 to 5 per cent, 24 provinces had poverty rates between 5 to 10 per cent and only 2 provinces recorded poverty rates of over 20 per cent.27 Viet Nam has fulfilled its MDG targets 10 years in advance, and reduced the number of poor households from 58.1 per cent in 1993 to 24.1 per cent in 2004, measured against the international poverty line.28 34. Most Asian countries also attach considerable importance to providing social safety nets for targeted vulnerable groups in order to fulfil the criteria of equity and non-discrimination. Bangladesh, in particular, has had significant success in its social safety net programmes (SNP’s) of which 27 represent 4.4 per cent of public expenditure. These SNPs focus on every section of society, women, children, the disabled and the elderly and include programmes for employment generation, food security, heath, education and community development. 35. The success of these programmes, in particular with regard to women, is reflected in women’s increased participation in household decisions and income-generating activities, as well as in their improved health conditions. For example, infant mortality rates (per 1,000) in 24 Cambodia: Poverty Reduction Strategy Paper, IMF Country Report No. 06/266, July 2006. 25 Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics (BBS) and Household Income and Expenditure Survey (HIES), 2000 and 2003. 26 Viet Nam: Poverty Reduction Strategy Paper, Annual Progress Report, IMF Country Report No. 06/340, September 2006, at http://www.imf.org/external/pubs/ft/scr/2006/cr06340.pdf. 27 Ibid. 28 Ibid.