A/RES/51/86 Page 3 9. Commends the office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights/Centre for Human Rights of the Secretariat for the support given to States in the preparation of national reports to the Committee; 10. Urges States parties to take fully into account the conclusions and recommendations made by the Committee after its consideration of their reports; 11. Urges all States parties to the Convention to notify the Secretary-General of their acceptance of the amendments to articles 17 and 18 of the Convention as soon as possible; 12. Encourages the open-ended working group of the Commission on Human Rights on the elaboration of a draft optional protocol to the Convention to intensify its deliberations with a view to an early conclusion of its work; 13. Expresses its gratitude and appreciation to the Governments, organizations and individuals that have already contributed to the United Nations Voluntary Fund for Victims of Torture; 14. Appeals to all Governments, organizations and individuals in a position to do so to respond favourably to requests for contributions to the Fund, if possible on a regular basis and annually before the meeting of the Board of Trustees of the Fund and if possible also with a substantial increase in the level of contributions, so that consideration may be given to the ever-increasing demand for assistance; 15. Requests the Secretary-General to transmit to all Governments the appeals of the General Assembly for contributions to the Fund; 16. Also requests the Secretary-General to continue to include the Fund on an annual basis among the programmes for which funds are pledged at the United Nations Pledging Conference for Development Activities; 17. Expresses its appreciation to the Board of Trustees of the Fund for the work it has accomplished; 18. Requests the Secretary-General to assist the Board of Trustees of the Fund in its appeal for contributions and its efforts to make better known the existence of the Fund and the financial means currently available to it, as well as in its assessment of the global need for international funding of rehabilitation services for torture victims and, in this effort, to make use of all existing possibilities, including the preparation, production and dissemination of information materials; 19. Also requests the Secretary-General to ensure the provision of adequate staff and facilities for the bodies and mechanisms that combat torture, corresponding to the strong support expressed by Member States for combating torture; 20. Invites donor countries and recipient countries that so agree to consider including in their bilateral programmes and projects relating to the training of armed forces and police personnel, as well as health-care personnel, matters relating to the protection of human rights and the prevention of torture; /...