A/HRC/8/19 Page 10 44. Canada was struck by the innovative idea of using the Internet in the preparation of the report. It asked for more information on what Bahrain is doing to promote freedom of expression and association. 45. Mauritania indicated that Bahrain is moving toward increased compliance in areas such as health, education, women’s rights and freedom of expression, and that Bahrain occupies a significant place in the human development index of the UNDP report, showing efforts to promote and protect human rights. In regard to the situation of women, Mauritania inquired about achievements in this area since 2001. 46. In its responses, Bahrain referred to significant progress with regard to freedom of expression, referring to eight newspapers and 66 publications reflecting the concerns of the population. An association of journalists was set up in 2003 to deal with the needs of journalists. Bahrain referred to modernizing legislation, particularly to ensure greater transparency, all with a view to ensuring constitutional rights. It also referred to considerable variety of the media, without interference of the State. TV and radio have undergone significant developments in regard to international programmes. Bahrain also submitted to the legislative authority amendments to its legislation in the area of freedom of expression. Bahrain indicated that article 104 of the Constitution provides for the independence of judges in their decisions and verdicts and in the exercise of their functions, also highlighting the fact that judges can only be removed, in accordance with the law and on the basis of judicial verdict, by Royal Decree. 47. Morocco indicated the great strides in the areas of democracy, state of the law and guaranteeing all human rights and fundamental freedoms, while respecting Islamic law, as stated in the Vienna Declaration. The policy of attaching as much importance to economic, social and cultural rights, as to civil and political rights, is manifested in the importance Bahrain attaches to the right to health, crystallized by a tenfold increase in its budget, as well as the promotion of the right to work as a fundamental right. Morocco asked Bahrain to provide statistics on coordination of the management of complaints between the Ministry of Interior and the royal diwan. 48. The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland indicated that Bahrain has travelled a long way on the road to democracy since 1999 and welcomed the participation of the Shia political party, Al Wefaq, in the 2006 elections. This move towards democracy has been accompanied by an improvement in the human rights situation, particularly as regards civil and political rights. It also noted that there were no political prisoners in Bahrain. It hoped to continue regular bilaterals on press freedom, the elimination of discrimination, and all obligations under the ICCPR. It (a)requested details on steps taken to ensure that counter-terrorism legislation complies with the ICCPR; (b) asked whether Bahrain was willing to set a deadline to introduce its press law; (c) requested further information on equalizing parliamentary constituencies; and (d) recommended that Bahrain consider inviting the United Nations to a workshop on follow-up to the UPR. 49. The representative of Kuwait noted that Bahrain’s report indicates the indivisibility of human rights, pursuant to the Vienna Declaration, and that Bahrain was granted the highest award of the United NationsHABITAT programme. It requested information on effective steps taken to widen and enhance freedom of expression and opinion in Bahrain. 50. In its responses, Bahrain indicated that the Ministry of Education has developed a new school subject dealing with citizenship, human rights and democracy, which is taught from primary school through to secondary school, and explains the content of relevant international human rights instruments, in particular the rights of children and women. There were also human rights subjects in all curricula. Bahrain also referred to a programme ensuring computer and Internet access, aimed