discrimination against women and other groups. Germany recommended that Nepal criminalise discrimination against women and other historically vulnerable groups. Chile recommended that Nepal ensure, without discrimination, the rights of women, persons with disabilities, and other vulnerable groups. These recommendations were also accepted by Nepal. 14. Relatedly, Nepal received recommendations on citizenship, namely, to enact legislation to ensure citizenship rights to lesbian, gay bisexual, transgender and intersex people.9 Additionally, OHCHR raised concerns over the failure of Nepal to implement a Supreme Court ruling that upholds equal rights in the granting of citizenship and identity documents to members of sexual minorities.10 15. In its response, Nepal stated that it is: “Committed to the promotion of the rights of minorities, including gender minorities. It has pursued the policy of recognising 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”.11 16. France recommended that the new Constitution be aligned with international conventions ratified by Nepal, while Azerbaijan recommended that Nepal continue efforts to bring legislation in line with international standards. Both recommendations were accepted. 17. Nepal also received recommendations to accede to a number of treaties including the 1951 Convention relating to the Status of Refugees and its 1967 Protocol (Refugee Convention), the International Convention for the Protection of All Persons from Enforced Disappearance (CED) and the Rome Statute. Nepal did not support these recommendations.12 18. Notably, during the first cycle, the OHCHR Compilation of UN information highlighted concerns by the United Nations Country Team (UNCT) regarding access to citizenship certificates for marginalised communities, “including impoverished and landless persons”.13 They also noted that persons lacking citizenship certificates were prevented from having basic rights, such as owning property or acquiring travel documentation. 19. The OHCHR Compilation of UN information also expressed concerns from UNCT and CEDAW regarding the obstacles faced by Nepali women who marry a foreign husband in transferring their nationality to family members: “UNCT was concerned that the draft citizenship provisions proposed as part of the new Constitution did not achieve gender equality by bolstering the rights of women, but rather by reducing the rights of Nepali men to convey citizenship to family members. In this context, UNCT alerted to the risk that such restrictions could lead to statelessness in many cases.”14 9 Ibid. p 13. Recommendation made by the United States of America. United Nations Human Rights Council, Compilation prepared by the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights in accordance with paragraph 15 (b) of the annex to Human Rights Council resolution 5/1, 10th sess, UN Doc A/HRC/WG.6/10/NPL/2 (1 January 2009) p 7. 11 Ibid. p 12. 12 Ibid. p. 22. Recommendations made by Algeria, Moldova, Slovenia, and the Netherlands. 13 United Nations Human Rights Council, Compilation prepared by the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights in accordance with paragraph 15 (b) of the annex to Human Rights Council resolution 5/1, 10th sess, UN Doc A/HRC/WG.6/10/NPL/2 (1 January 2009), p 7. 14 Ibid. N 6. 10 3