A/HRC/10/79 Page 14 the media. Experts of the British Broadcasting Corporation visited Turkmenistan and met with representatives of the Ministry of Culture and Telecommunication. They worked with massmedia representatives to plan special seminars, training groups and round tables. Turkmenistan also cited a special programme to make it mandatory for all Government structures, educational and higher education institutions to have guaranteed access to the Internet. There are no prohibitions on access to foreign press, and all State structures are required to subscribe to foreign media outlets. In cooperation with USAID and representation of Internews in Central Asia, Turkmenistan was working on improving legislation governing the media. Turkmenistan has accredited more than 20 representatives of foreign agencies and the list continues to grow. 57. On freedom of religion and belief, a new law was adopted in 2003. At the invitation of the Government, the Special Rapporteur on the freedom of religion visited in September 2008 and the report of her visit includes recommendations on the need to reform legislation regulating the activities of religious organizations. A proposal has been sent to Parliament in this regard, including on the registration of religious groups. Turkmenistan is counting on cooperation, particularly with International Centre of Non-commercial Law in Washington D.C., with the assistance of USAID. Based on the results of the experts’ work, the Government will make recommendations to Parliament in this regard. 58. With regard to torture, an inter-agency commission in Turkmenistan has sent parliamentary proposals on the need to draft a new prison code, in line with the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and other relevant standards, and on trying and incarcerating minors. Turkmenistan is cooperating with European legal experts, particularly from Germany and the United Kingdom, to prepare the new code. With regard to conditions for holding minors in jail, Turkmenistan is cooperating with UNICEF. 59. On the status of non-governmental organizations, the Government is working to reform legislation, aiming at eliminating bureaucratic problems involving their registration. Partners and experts have been identified from the International Centre for Non-Commercial Law and USAID on the issue. In November 2008, special seminars and conferences were held to review international standards on the activities of public bodies. Experts from the Centre are conducting an assessment of the legislation in Turkmenistan and proposals to Parliament will be made in early 2009. 60. On the rights of national minorities, the Government has a policy of promoting understanding between people of different ethnic groups, without limitations and preferences based on race, religious, ethnic or other origin. The policy of non-discrimination is applied consistently in Turkmenistan and is based on the mentality of the Turkmen people. Turkmenistan is a party to the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination and has been cooperating constructively with neighbouring countries in the humanitarian sphere, including in the field of education. During exchanges of visits between the Heads of States of Turkmenistan and the Russian Federation, Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan, agreements have been reached on opening schools for ethnic minorities and on holding years and months of culture in each other’s countries. 61. With regard to questions of the resettlement and movement of people, the new Constitution proclaims the right to freedom of movement and to choose freely one’s residence within Turkmenistan. In 2004, the Government abolished the need for visas to leave Turkmenistan, and cancelled earlier limitations on the freedom of movement within the territories of the State.