A/HRC/4/9/Add.3 page 27 management initiatives and Government-sponsored initiatives that include respect for traditional and customary conflict prevention and resolution mechanisms should be encouraged; − Ensure that civil society groups are free to function without interference, harassment, undue restrictions on their registration, activities, or ability to seek and accept funding. The establishment of civil society groups representing the interests of marginalized or disadvantaged communities should be encouraged as a means to ensure representation of their issues; − Ensure that the activities of the Ethiopian National Defence Forces acting in any region are appropriate for and sensitive to local conditions, including in regard to their ethnic composition; their distribution and the location of their barracks; their duties; and their disciplinary standards. Military forces should be deployed in border areas only and not utilized for policing functions. 99. Additionally the Government should take the following measures: − A national conference on the functioning of the system of ethnic federalism should be convened, open to the participation of all political parties, regional authorities, civil society and nations, nationalities and peoples; − To ensure effective implementation and application of the international human rights instruments to which Ethiopia is a party and that are incorporated into the federal Constitution, the texts of the treaties should be published in the official Gazette. Awareness-raising and training initiatives should be undertaken to educate public officials and the judiciary; − Ensure the independence of judges and lawyers and the impartiality of the judiciary. The right to a speedy trial should be guaranteed in fact as well as in law; − Federal authorities must ensure that regional state constitutions and laws conform fully with the federal Constitution and with international human rights law. In particular, the activities of regional public bodies, and traditional customary and religious courts must be regulated to ensure such compliance; − Without undermining or circumventing the authority or jurisdiction of the regional governments, the federal Government should provide enhanced assistance, training and support appropriate to ensuring the effective functioning of regional authorities; − Make every effort to fulfil its responsibilities to report to United Nations treaty monitoring bodies according to the obligations voluntarily undertaken by Ethiopia;