A/HRC/10/79 Page 7 24. Italy welcomed the visit to Turkmenistan in 2008 of the Special Rapporteur on freedom of religion, who identified legislative restrictions on registration of religious organizations and limitations related to places of worship and imports of religious material. Italy noted with concern that freedom of expression is seriously limited. Italy recommended that the Government adopt adequate measures for the protection and promotion of religious freedom to ensure effective freedom of worship for all religious communities; comply with its international obligations in this field, ensuring the right to seek, receive and impart information and ideas, including by electronic means and from foreign sources, and act against any form of harassment and intimidation of journalists; and consider positively the request of the Special Rapporteur on the question of torture to visit the country as a matter of priority. In the light of the concerns expressed in 2006 by the Special Representative of the Secretary-General on the situation of human rights defenders, Italy also recommended that Turkmenistan strengthen cooperation with OHCHR with a view to building capacity in the area of human rights. 25. Brazil welcomed the establishment of the National Institute for Democracy and Human Rights and the Inter-Institutional Commission for Human Rights. It stressed the importance of continuing to exchange information with OHCHR and the United Nations system on the realization of civil, political, economic, social and cultural rights. Brazil requested information on concrete measures taken to promote and protect the rights of children and women, to eliminate all forms of discrimination, to prevent and combat torture and to address the issue of refugees. Brazil also enquired about the most pressing needs for the full enjoyment of human rights, including in the areas of cooperation, capacity-building and technical assistance. Brazil recommended that Turkmenistan (a) reach the human rights goals set by the Council in its resolution 9/12; (b) consider ratifying the Rome Statue of the International Criminal Court, the Optional Protocol to the Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment, the Convention for the Protection of all Persons against Enforced Disappearance and the Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women; (c) consider adopting a standing invitation to special procedures; and (d) strengthen its policy on the prevention and the combating of child labour and on the full guarantee of the rights of the child, with special attention to children without parental care. 26. While commending Turkmenistan for having ratified most human rights treaties, the Netherlands stressed that their implementation and translation into national law needs further improvement. It welcomed the visit of the Special Rapporteur on freedom of religion, and recommended that the Government agree to visits of other special rapporteurs who have requested access to Turkmenistan in the last five years. The Netherlands recommended, as had the High Commissioner for Human Rights had, that the State establish an independent national institute for human rights, according to the Paris Principles, which could advise the Government and receive and investigate complaints by the public. Many cases of political prisoners in the past have been critically assessed internationally, and the circumstances of their convictions remain unclear. The Netherlands enquired about plans to review these cases and measures to prevent torture in prisons and detention centres. Although the law allows for the free establishment of parties or non-governmental organizations, the relatively limited number of registered non-governmental organizations indicates that this is difficult in practice. It recommended that the Government reform the registration process to make it easier for organizations to register and work freely. 27. India noted with interest the reforms introduced in the sectors of education, health care and social security. It welcomed the activities conducted by the Government to sensitize and educate State officials and the population on the promotion and protection of human rights. India