A/HRC/10/19 page 5 stakeholders during his first mission, and the discussions with relevant authorities on the process of implementation of the four core human rights elements recommended by the Special Rapporteur, to be completed before the elections of 2010. 8. The Special Rapporteur had three constructive meetings with the Government human rights group. Initially, he presented the four core human rights elements to the group. In February, he requested the group to assist the Government in the implementation of the elements. 9. The Special Rapporteur had substantive and fruitful discussions with relevant authorities on the implementation of the four core human rights elements. With regard to the first core element, the Attorney General informed the Special Rapporteur that 380 domestic laws had been sent to the concerned ministries for review, to check compliance with the human rights provisions of the Constitution. On the second core element and the progressive release of prisoners of conscience, the Minister for Home Affairs assured the Special Rapporteur that he would consider his recommendation. Regarding the third core element, the Special Rapporteur discussed with the Head of Police and the Judge Advocate General at the Ministry of Defence the possibility of training sessions on international human rights law and humanitarian law for the armed forces and the police. Since sessions had already been conducted for both forces, it was agreed that they share their curricula with the Special Rapporteur to ensure compliance with international standards and cooperation in future sessions. On the fourth core element, even though the Chief Justice mentioned that the judiciary was independent in Myanmar, he accepted to engage and receive the Special Rapporteur on the independence of judges and lawyers. 10. The Special Rapporteur also met with the Minister for Labour, the Minister for Foreign Affairs, the Chairperson of the Tripartite Core Group, members of the Bar Council, the Myanmar Woman Affairs Federation and the Union Solidarity and Central Development Association. His request to meet with the leaders of various political parties was not met since all the leaders were held in detention, either under house arrest or in prisons in remote areas. 11. The Special Rapporteur visited the areas affected by Cyclone Nargis in August 2008 and his findings were included in his report submitted to the General Assembly. He travelled to Kayin State in February 2009, where he met with two factions of the Karen National Union (KNU) that had concluded a ceasefire with the Government. He noted that the Karen National Union/Karen National Liberation Army (KNU/KNLA) Peace Council had maintained its own armed forces and had its own Constitution, laws, jail and judges; the Democratic Buddhist Karen Army informed the Special Rapporteur that it maintained an armed force of 5,000 fighters. Both factions denied recruiting minors as soldiers and agreed to allow the United Nations Monitoring and Reporting Mechanism task force verification of their troops, as required by the Security Council in its resolution 1612 (2005) on children in armed conflict. 12. The Special Rapporteur also met with the Phayagone Region Peace Group/Phado Aung San group, which has surrendered. He was unable to go to the KNU-controlled areas. 13. The Special Rapporteur intends to return to Myanmar before finalizing his report for the General Assembly.