1st reading on 17th June 2009, and (ii) the Prevention of Trafficking in Persons Act, which was passed by Parliament on 2nd April 2008. 2.1.8 Progress has also been made with wider stakeholder consultations to finalise the Principles and Objectives of the proposed law on prohibition of Female Genital Mutilation. This has been forwarded to the First Parliamentary Counsel for drafting. Draft regulations to operationalise the Persons with Disability Act, 2006 and the draft Community Mobilisation and Empowerment Bill are being finalised. The Children‟s Act, Cap 59 of 1997 is being reviewed through wide stakeholder consultations to address the gaps identified over the period. 2.1.9 Further to this, progress has been registered through development of several policies to promote and protect human rights including the National Policy and the draft plan of Action for Older Persons, the draft National Employment Policy, and the draft National List of Hazardous Work for Children in Uganda. Uganda also ratified the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disability on 25th September 2008 as a means to reaffirm its commitment to the promotion of the rights of the marginalised groups. 2.1.10 The appointment of members of the Equal Opportunities Commission was in progress and proposed names of the members had been forwarded to H.E. the President for approval. In due course, he would sign their instruments of appointment. 2.1.11 Some progress has been made in upholding the principle of separation of powers between the key organs of the state. The legislature is administratively and functionally independent. The Parliamentary Commission has been significantly strengthened to enhance financial autonomy. Concerning the independence of the judiciary, government has made a commitment to institutionalise the independence of the judiciary. Courts of judicature have also been provided with requisite resources for the judiciary to carry out its mandate effectively. 2.1.12 Progress has also been achieved in the fight against corruption in the political sphere. An inter-agency forum against corruption has been formed and operationalised. The forum spearheaded the formulation of the National Anti Corruption Strategy, a framework designed to fight corruption and rebuild ethics and integrity in Uganda, and is also monitoring its implementation. Work to harmonise all laws, policies and