E/CN.4/2004/56/Add.3 page 49 298. The Tashkent City Church of Jesus Christ and the Social Rehabilitation Centre for Youth regularly provide convicts with humanitarian and legal assistance, organize meetings with psychologists and representatives of the intelligentsia and arrange performances by singers, concert programmes and stage performances by convicts. 299. In the course of 2003 a number of penal institutions (namely No. 64/18 in Tashkent, No. 64/7 in Tashkent, No. 64/71 in Zhaslyk, No. 64/3 in Bostanlyk district, Tashkent oblast, and others) were visited by correspondents and journalists from international news agencies accredited in Uzbekistan - Agence France Presse, the Associated Press, the BBC, Reuters and Libération. 300. Recommendation (i) stated: Magistrates and judges, as well as procurators, should always ask persons brought from MVD or SNB custody how they have been treated and be particularly attentive to their condition, and, where indicated, even in the absence of a formal complaint from the defendant, order a medical examination. 301. Recommendation (j) stated: All measures should be taken to ensure in practice absolute respect for the principle of inadmissibility of evidence obtained by torture in accordance with international standards and the May 1997 Supreme Court resolution. 302. Recommendation (k) stated: Confessions made by persons in MVD or SNB custody without the presence of a lawyer/legal counsel and that are not confirmed before a judge should not be admissible as evidence against persons who made the confession. Serious consideration should be given to video and audio taping of proceedings in MVD and SNB interrogation rooms. 303. Recommendation (l) stated: Legislation should be amended to allow for the unmonitored presence of legal counsel and relatives of persons deprived of their liberty within 24 hours. Moreover, law enforcement agencies need to receive guidelines on informing criminal suspects of their right to defence counsel. 304. Recommendation (m) stated: Given the numerous reports of inadequate legal counsel provided by State-appointed lawyers, measures should be taken to improve legal aid service, in compliance with the United Nations Basic Principles on the Role of Lawyers. 305. Recommendation (n) stated: Medical doctors attached to an independent forensic institute, possibly under the jurisdiction of the Ministry of Health, and specifically trained in identifying sequelae of physical torture or prohibited ill-treatment should have access to detainees upon arrest and upon transfer to each new detention facility. Furthermore, medical reports drawn up by private doctors should be admissible as evidence in court. 306. Recommendation (o) stated: Priority should be given to enhancing and strengthening the training of law enforcement agents regarding the treatment of persons deprived of liberty. The Government should continue to request relevant international organizations to provide it with assistance in that matter.