A/HRC/31/56 rights law, the Sub-Commission appointed an expert to prepare a working paper on the topic to identify communities in which discrimination based on occupation and descent was ongoing, as well as to make concrete recommendations for the effective elimination of such discrimination. The outcome document (E/CN.4/Sub.2/2001/16) focused on countries in Asia only. Two Special Rapporteurs with the task of preparing a comprehensive study on discrimination based on work and descent were subsequently appointed, which led to the draft United Nations principles and guidelines for the effective elimination of discrimination based on work and descent, yet to be formally endorsed by the Human Rights Council. 106. In 2013, the guidance note of the Secretary-General on racial discrimination and protection of minorities explicitly recommended that United Nations action and policies “reflect the fact that persons targeted for discrimination based on descent, in particular caste-based discrimination and related practices, are in a number of contexts in a particularly marginalized position and in need of focused attention”. 107. In 2014, the United Nations network on racial discrimination and the protection of minorities developed an action plan to support the implementation of those recommendations, including preparing “guidance for the United Nations system on key challenges, priorities and strategic approaches to combat discrimination based on work and descent”. At the time of writing the present report, a guidance tool on descent-based discrimination, including key challenges and strategic approaches to combat caste-based and analogous forms of discrimination, was being finalized. 108. Special procedure mandate holders have also begun to address caste-based discrimination in their communications to States and in thematic and country visit reports. B. National legislation and special measures 109. Progressive and instrumental steps that can be taken by States to protect casteaffected communities include the following: identification of communities who suffer from discrimination on the basis of caste and analogous systems of inherited status; explicit recognition of caste-based discrimination as a human rights violation in national normative frameworks; ad hoc legislation to combat specific forms of discrimination on the grounds of caste and analogous systems; the establishment of special measures, including reservations, quotas and targeted schemes; and the effective implementation of legislation and special measures. Constitutional provisions 110. In South Asia, several constitutions explicitly refer to “caste” as one of the grounds for prohibited discrimination, including those of Bangladesh (art. 28), India (arts. 15 and 16), Nepal (art. 18), Pakistan (arts. 22, 26 and 27) and Sri Lanka (art. 12.2 and 12.3). Furthermore, the constitutions of India (art. 17) and Nepal (art. 24) explicitly outlaw “untouchability”. 111. Outside South Asia, constitutional references to “caste” are limited. Examples include the constitutions of Burkina Faso (arts. 1 and 23) and Mauritius (art. 16.3). Some constitutions do not list “caste” as one of the prohibited grounds for discrimination, but provide specific references to discrimination based on analogous systems of inherited status. For example, in Japan constitutional provisions prohibit discrimination based on, inter alia, “race, social status or family origin” (art. 14). In the Constitution of Somalia, “clan” affiliation is one of the prohibited grounds for discrimination (art. 11). 112. Specific constitutional or legislative provisions establishing reservations or quota systems for caste-affected groups have been adopted in some countries. In India, the 21