A/HRC/21/13 89. With regard to the constraints reportedly placed on freedom of worship, he again pointed out that decisions had been made to facilitate the granting of visas to members of religious orders. 90. In response to the fears expressed by some delegations that there were prisoners of conscience, he denied the existence of such cases in Algeria, recalling the provisions of the Information Act, which had decriminalized press offences. 91. The Minister then gave the floor to another member of the delegation, Mr. Rezzag Bara, to address the issue of disappeared persons. Mr. Rezzag Bara first placed the issue in the context of the wave of terrorism that had gripped the country between 1992 and 1996. The acts of terrorism had been perpetrated by a host of armed groups who had often been confused with the security forces by the civilian population. 92. The situation had given rise to a large number of enforced disappearances, which were currently being looked into by Algeria together with the Working Group on Enforced or Involuntary Disappearances. Several situations could lead to people disappearing. In most cases, relatives had reported a person as missing and accused the security forces of being involved at the request of that person, when in fact he or she had voluntarily joined a group of armed terrorists. Nevertheless, all families of victims of enforced disappearances had been taken into account under the provisions of the Charter for Peace and National Reconciliation. 93. The compensation provided under the Charter could take the form of a monthly payment or a one-off payment depending on the family’s situation. A total of 2,960 cases had been listed by the Working Group on Enforced or Involuntary Disappearances. In over 1,700 of those cases, the person had been declared legally disappeared and compensation had been awarded to the survivors; in over 215 cases, the person in question had been identified as a terrorist killed by the security forces, and in over 65 the person had been found alive, either in prison or at home. Investigations were under way to resolve the 500 cases still pending before the Working Group. The Working Group had been invited to visit Algeria to examine the documentation related to those cases and possibly to meet with the relatives of the persons who had been found alive, as well as with the relatives of those who had been declared legally dead and whose family members had thus been awarded compensation. A meeting had been scheduled with the Working Group for the following July to discuss the arrangements for the visit. 94. Chile pointed to Algeria’s process of constitutional, political and socio-economic reforms undertaken so far and its commitment to implement the UPR recommendations. It made recommendations. 95. China congratulated Algeria for its recent National People’s Assembly elections. It noted its fight against terrorism, in conformity with the law, and its measures to protect women’s rights and to combat violence against women and children. It highlighted its promotion of education and public health. It made a recommendation. 96. Congo welcomed the lifting of the state of emergency; death penalty moratorium; decriminalization of press offenses; and laws regarding the establishment of political parties and associations. It noted achievements in fighting against poverty, supporting persons with disabilities and improving public health services. It highlighted the laws devoting women’s quotas on electoral lists and the program for gender equality. 97. Costa Rica congratulated Algeria achievements regarding MDGs. It highlighted the measures to promote women and children’s rights. It stressed legislative reforms to improve the political participation of women and the institutional mechanisms to strengthen the education against violence. It made recommendations. 12 GE.12-14978