A/HRC/19/3 question of torture, on extrajudicial, summary or arbitrary executions and on the right of everyone to the enjoyment of the highest standard of physical and mental health. 9. The Constitution guarantees everyone the freedom of speech and press, and censorship and persecution for expressing critical views are prohibited. The delegation informed about a number of independent and private media outlets functioning in the country, including 127 newspapers, 20 private television channels and 9 private radio stations. 10. Eight political parties and over 2,000 public associations have been registered. To enhance the role of women in society, a number of laws and measures for their implementation have been adopted, including the 2005 Law on the State guarantees of equality of men and women and equal opportunities for their realization. 11. The delegation informed about several developments in the area of human rights, including the adoption of the National Action Plan on Juvenile Justice Reform (2010– 2015); the adoption of the Comprehensive Programme on Combating Human Trafficking (2011–2013) and the 2004 Law on combating human trafficking. 12. Since independence, significant results have been achieved in respect of the enjoyment of the freedom of religion. In 2009, the Law on freedom of conscience and religious associations was adopted to regulate the relations between the State and religious associations and the legal status of religious associations. The legal system does not give preference to any religious movement or tendency and it does not allow anyone to impose their ideology on the whole of society. 13. The social protection of the population remained the primary task of the Government. In the past five years, the minimum wage and pension have increased by 3 and 4 times, respectively and 582,000 new jobs have been created. Furthermore, Tajikistan was one of the pilot countries in the implementation of the Millennium Development Goals and thus, under the auspices of the United Nations, a comprehensive evaluation of the country’s needs had been conducted. As a result, the National Development Strategy for 2006–2015 and National Poverty Reduction Strategies were adopted to ensure stable economic progress and enhance the quality of life of the population. 14. In 2010, the new Law on the social protection of persons with disabilities was adopted and the Government allocates additional funds on an annual basis for the higher education of persons with disabilities. 15. Free secondary public education is guaranteed and despite the economic difficulties, the Government has continually increased financing of the education sector. In 2011, 17 per cent of the national budget has been allocated to the education sector. In 2001, human rights was introduced as a subject in secondary schools. 16. The delegation reported on the reforms to the criminal codes and the implementation of a State programme aimed at making the policy in respect of criminal law more humane. The new Criminal Procedure Code was adopted in 2010 to bring it in line with international human rights standards, including the principles of presumption of innocence and equality of arms. The new Code provides a mechanism for consideration by a court of the legality and justification of detention. The status of the defender in the criminal process has also been strengthened. 17. A moratorium on the use of death penalty was introduced and life imprisonment is intended only as an alternative to the death penalty for serious offences. A working group has been established by Presidential order to study the social and legal aspects of the abolition of the death penalty. In August 2011, the Law on amnesty was adopted and about 4,000 prisoners were granted amnesty and released from the prisons. 4