A/HRC/10/79 Page 12 to promote and protect freedom of religion or belief, including by safeguarding personal access to, and use and ownership of, religious literature and materials. Furthermore, it was concerned by reports that hundreds of political prisoners remain detained in Turkmen prisons after unfair trials. It recommended conducting a nationwide, transparent review of all potentially political cases of past years and releasing all those found to have been incarcerated on politically motivated charges. 44. The Islamic Republic of Iran appreciated the Government’s positive approach to the review process. It noted that the Government has ratified most major human rights instruments and cooperated with United Nations human rights machinery. It recommended that the Government further develop and strengthen a culture of human rights, intensify human rights capacity-building and promote public awareness-raising of human rights. 45. Qatar noted the State’s considerable accomplishments since its independence in 1991, in particular its first pluralistic, transparent elections in 2007, improvements for Turkmen citizens regarding the constitutional and legal guarantees of their fundamental freedoms and human rights, and the institutional mechanisms made available. Qatar further noted that Turkmenistan recognizes that international human rights standards and agreements have precedence over domestic law and that many instruments have been ratified, and that further work is necessary to develop and promote these rights. 46. China noted with appreciation that Turkmenistan provides its citizens with free natural gas, electricity, water, salt, medical services and free and universal education. China asked how Turkmenistan ensures free education for children in remote and isolated areas. It welcomed measures to protect the rights of women and children. It asked whether women participated in the formulation of these measures and how Turkmenistan will increase the participation of women in decision-making. Being a developing country faced with similar challenges, China wished to exchange views and experiences with Turkmenistan. Lastly, China called on the international community to provide economic and technical assistance to Turkmenistan so that it could implement a strategy for economic, political and cultural development until 2020. 47. Romania enquired whether the State was considering signing and ratifying the Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women, and whether institutions in Turkmenistan include a specialized structure to coordinate work on countering discrimination against women. Concerning freedom of movement, Romania enquired whether such freedom is applicable to social groups, including political groups, and asked about recent relevant developments. 48. Argentina noted that women’s participation is limited in the political and public spheres, particularly in decision-making on the local level and reportedly in elections to Parliament. Argentina enquired whether Turkmenistan is envisaging taking measures, such as quotas, to increase the participation of women in these bodies; to increase the proportion of women receiving secondary education; and to encourage women to engage in professions which are today generally held by men. 49. Hungary recommended that Turkmenistan bring the provisions of its domestic laws into conformity with the international obligations laid down in the human rights instruments it has ratified. It stressed that the Committee on the Rights of the Child had noted with concern that trafficking in persons was not expressly prohibited by law. Hungary recommended taking steps to fight trafficking in human beings and to comply with the conclusions of the Committee of the