A/HRC/30/31 Committee to Counter Human Trafficking, chaired by the Minister for Human Rights, met several times during the period under review. Legislation criminalizing human trafficking was drafted by the Ministry of Justice, reviewed by the Committee, commented on by United Nations entities and submitted to the Parliament for review and enactment. At August 2015, the draft bill was still pending parliamentary endorsement. G. Marginalized groups 77. Yemen does not recognize in its legislation the marginalized status of some minority groups, who continue to suffer from discrimination, in particular the Muhamasheen (also known as Al-Akhdam), a social group whose exact number remains unknown (according to unofficial sources, there are between 500,000 and 3.5 million Muhamasheen in Yemen). The group has no political representation at the national level and suffers from extreme levels of social stigma and discrimination, which exacerbates their socioeconomic exclusion and poverty. For centuries, they have been excluded from mainstream society, and they continue to be subjected to severe forms of descent-based discrimination. The Muhamasheen mainly reside in underdeveloped neighbourhoods in the outskirts of Sana’a, Aden, Taizz, Lahij, Al-Abyan, Al-Hudaydah and Al-Mukalla. According to a national statistical and population monitoring survey conducted in 2012, the illiteracy rate among the Muhamasheen community is around 90 per cent. Women and children are forced to beg in rural areas, and to work as entertainers at weddings or community ceremonies. The Government has also failed to adopt legislation criminalizing abuses against them, which serves to reinforce discriminatory practices. The Muhamasheen community successfully advocated for its rights during the National Dialogue Conference, particularly with regard to participation in the public sphere.18 The Working Group on Rights and Freedoms of the Conference recommended a 10 per cent participation of persons from the Muhamasheen community in employment in public services, as well as equal access in leadership and decision-making positions. Despite the community’s advocacy efforts, supported by OHCHR and other actors, this minimum participation quota was not included in the first draft Constitution. H. Accountability and transitional justice 78. Progress in setting up accountability and transitional justice mechanisms was severely hampered by instability and violence. Throughout the period under review, governance and security continued to be affected, a situation compounded by the ongoing denial of social equity and justice, and a lack of basic services. 79. In 2014, the draft law on transitional justice and national reconciliation was further amended to bring it into line with the outcomes of the National Dialogue Conference. The final draft did not, however, include any provisions on accountability and therefore did not comply with international norms and standards. It sought rather to further strengthen immunities for high officials and to establish a mandate for a transitional justice commission. As the end of the period under review, the draft law had not been adopted. 80. Furthermore, a commission of inquiry mandated at the National Dialogue Conference to investigate allegations of human rights violations committed during the events of 2011 has still not become operational, given that its members have never been appointed by the President. In addition, the work of the Land and Dismissals Commissions 18 See A/HRC/24/34, paras. 4-5. 15