A/HRC/13/48 reform of the judiciary to assure independence and impartiality; and specific measures by the military and police including respecting international human rights and humanitarian law and establishing a permanent and meaningful training programme on human rights. A. Situation of prisoners of conscience and conditions of detention 15. The Special Rapporteur has repeatedly expressed grave concerns about the house arrest of Daw Aung San Suu Kyi and the high number of prisoners of conscience and has called for the release of all prisoners of conscience without delay and without conditions. He recalls that one of the four core human rights elements that he proposed to the authorities is the progressive release of prisoners of conscience before the announced 2010 elections. Nevertheless, during his recent mission, the Special Rapporteur did not receive any indication that the Government is willing to release all prisoners of conscience. The Government of Myanmar does not accept that there are any prisoners of conscience in Myanmar. While there was a release of 131 prisoners of conscience in September 2009 and 29 prisoners in February 2009, these figures lack proportionality to the more than 2,100 prisoners of conscience who remain detained. In fact, the number of prisoners of conscience has nearly doubled in the past two years. These prisoners come from all walks of life, and include monks, students, teachers, lawyers, journalists and political activists. Some have spent many years in prison and continue to suffer under long sentences. 16. In order to move forward concretely and urgently on the release of prisoners of conscience, the Special Rapporteur reiterates the proposal he put forward to the authorities to begin with certain categories of prisoners such as the elderly, those with health limitations, long-serving prisoners and women who have children. The Special Rapporteur wishes to underline the utmost urgency of the release of those prisoners whose lives are at risk if proper medical attention is not received, including those who have endured torture and ill-treatment during years in detention in harsh conditions. There are reportedly 130 prisoners of conscience in poor health, 19 of them requiring urgent medical treatment. 17. Over 260 sentenced prisoners have been transferred to prisons far from their hometowns, in isolated areas around the country, making it difficult for their families to ensure regular visits. At least 47 of them — including Htay Kywe, Min Ko Naing, Su Su Nway and Zarganar — have been transferred to prisons over 1,000 km away from their families. The impossibility to see each other on a regular basis can have a psychological impact on both the prisoners and their families. A number of prisoners have been transferred to other prisons without their families being notified, such that the families lose track of the prisoner’s whereabouts. There are serious concerns for the health and wellbeing of prisoners of conscience who are unable to receive family visits as they do not receive important supplementary food or medicines. 18. The Special Rapporteur has noted previously the importance of financial support that the International Committee of the Red Cross provides families so they can visit their detained relatives. He again invites the authorities to re-engage with the International Committee in order for it to conduct prison visits, in accordance with its established mandate, which have been suspended since December 2005. 19. On his latest mission, the Special Rapporteur was allowed to visit three prisons — Sittwe, Buthidaung and Insein — where he met with 14 prisoners of conscience and one former child soldier. While serious concerns on prison conditions remain, such as inadequate water and food rations and extortion by prison staff, the Special Rapporteur understands that the conditions in both Buthidaung and Insein had improved over the past few months. The Special Rapporteur would like to encourage the authorities to continue these efforts throughout the prison system. He invites the authorities to address effectively 6 GE.10-11915