of the Commission, a task force was formed to prepare an outline of the physical resources, budget, necessary personnel and the regulations to be formed by the Commission in order to facilitate the work of the Commission. The task force completed its work within the allocated period and submitted it to the Commission. After doing the necessary homework on the concerned regulations, the Commission sent it to the government for suggestions. The regulations were returned only after a gap of almost nine months. Consequently, the Commission had to face various difficulties in carrying out its functions smoothly. This had an impact on the general public. The amount allocated by the government to the Commission for year 2001/2002, as mentioned in section (m) above, does not appear sufficient to run the office and pay for the salaries and other facilities of the present post holders and staff. As a result, this will negatively impact the implementation of the project to enable to Commission, a project that is being coordinated by the United Nations Development Programme and which is in its final stage. The assistance of His Majesty’s Government is crucial for the activities of the Commission. However, the government and the bodies under it have not always been helpful as they have not provided the facts asked for by the Commission on time and have resorted to unlawful arrests even in the presence of the Commission’s representatives. The day to day activities of the Commission have been hampered as the government did not provide it with a sufficient quantity of vehicles and physical facilities. Despite difficulties, the Commission has succeeded in becoming a member of the Asia Pacific Forum for National Human Rights Institutions. Also, the contacts developed with foreign diplomats and donors have prepared a basis for initiating project for capacity building of the Commission in the near future. As regards the inquiry and investigations on the basis of the complaints received by the Commission, the commission reached its decision on various cases, thus succeeding to some extent in providing compensation to the victim. It also succeeded in making the government more vigilant. The honorable members of the Commission undertook visits of various prisons as well as of Maoist-affected districts. Another significant activity during the period of this report was bringing forward to the concerned bodies the issue of women’s rights by undertaking programs in coordination with various non-governmental organizations. p) Among the various challenges faced by the Commission, the institutional strengthening and capacity building of the Commission is the most significant. For this purpose, there is the necessity of adequate trained human resources, building and other necessary physical facilities, and a documentation centre. The delay by the government in responding to the regulations framed by the Commission created various obstacles. As the Human Rights Commission Act, 1997 was not presented in parliament as a finance bill, the government could not be committed to provide to the Commission the fund required by it. Another significant challenge is the lack of development of an environment of a process of understanding, coordination and institutional cooperation between the commission and His Majesty’s Government. There is also the necessity of making the government sensitive to and responsible for the protection and promotion and the effective implementation of human rights and of taking the human rights education program to the people working in various agencies and sectors as well as to the masses. Making the Commission accessible to the people of remote areas outside the capitals is also necessary. q) As the budget allocated to the Commission by the government is extremely small, there is an urgent necessity to provide adequate financial assistance to pay for the gratuity, medical