A/HRC/7/68 page 14 sexual minorities. In December 2007, in response to a petition from a non-governmental lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender rights organization, a Supreme Court ruling ordered the Government to amend discriminatory laws and enact legislation to uphold the rights of sexual minorities. H. Economic, social and cultural rights 56. In Nepal, the realization of economic, social and cultural rights is intimately linked to discrimination. Enormous disparities in access to land, food, health, shelter, water and other basic needs were among the root causes of the conflict, and continue to be major issues in the transition process. The Comprehensive Peace Agreement contains provisions committing the parties to fulfilling economic, social and cultural rights. However, the focus on the political process leading up to Constituent Assembly elections, as well as instability in the Terai, diverted stakeholders from addressing issues affecting economic, social and cultural rights, particularly in the medium and long term. 57. In May, the Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights presented its concluding observations on its consideration of the second periodic report by the Government of Nepal. It welcomed a number of positive steps taken by the Government, but at the same time regretted that most of its recommendations made in 2001 had not been implemented. Its concerns included extreme poverty, especially in rural areas, continuing gender inequalities in spite of legislative guarantees, human trafficking, high unemployment, domestic violence and child labour. Concerns were also noted at the lack of a national housing policy, caste discrimination, reduced access to primary education and poor health services. The Committee’s report contained numerous recommendations, including the development of a mechanism to evaluate progress in combating poverty. A team of United Nations consultants who visited Nepal in February to examine possible OHCHR strategies with regard to poverty reduction also noted similar findings. Nevertheless, UNICEF reported considerable progress in reducing infant mortality rates, and ILO has announced programmes to assist labour market reform and address child labour. 58. Land issues increasingly came to the fore in 2007, with forced evictions, conflicts between landowners and the landless and land seizures by various organizations, including Tharu-led groups and JTMM. The Comprehensive Peace Agreement included a commitment to establish scientific land reform, but there were delays in setting up an appropriate mechanism. 59. On 25 July, the Government signed an agreement establishing a timetable for the allocation of land and other support measures to ex-Kamaiyas (freed bonded labourers) after protests in the far and mid-western regions and in Kathmandu. Although legislation was passed in 2002 banning the use of bonded labourers and freeing them from debt, compensation and rehabilitation measures have never been fully implemented. I. Internal displacement 60. Many of those internally displaced by the armed conflict have either integrated where they currently reside or have already - mostly spontaneously - returned to their places of origin. In some areas, returning internally displaced persons have been allowed to return unconditionally