A/56/253 “The Independent Television Commission’s programme code states that every attempt must be made to ensure that the belief and practice of religious groups are not misrepresented and that programmes about religion are accurate and fair. Programmes and follow-up material to programmes must not denigrate others’ beliefs.” 26. The Special Rapporteur thanks the Government of the United Kingdom for the detailed and specific information which is of admirable quality and relevance. However, while underlining the necessity to respect press freedom he would like to draw attention to the stereotypes and clichés which continue to figure in certain media outlets with respect to particular minorities, including the Muslim minority. The State must remain vigilant in that connection and take action in the event of any lapses by the organs concerned. Ukraine 27. In connection with a communication from the Special Rapporteur (para. 145), Ukraine has replied as follows: “In Ukraine, it is possible to perform alternative (civilian) service instead of military service; the purpose of civilian service is to enable those concerned to fulfil their duties to society and, by its nature, is not punitive. “Alternative service, in terms of its complexity and the responsibilities involved must be equivalent to compulsory military service. In that connection we consider it proper to introduce a balance between the two forms of service by specifying for each of them a different legal duration (for conscripts, active military service is 18 months or, for the holders of higher education degrees, 12 months; in the case of alternative service, these periods are 27 months and 18 months, respectively). In most cases, civilian service is performed in the area where the person concerned resides, in other words in a place from which he can return home every day. “The labour relations between the people concerned and the State are defined by a written contract of employment of a specific duration and are governed by labour legislation. Civilian service takes the form of a period of general employment. Anyone choosing this option may be offered work corresponding to his profession or trade. He may also enrol in a secondary or higher education establishment or engage, inter alia, in a correspondence course or in extramural studies. “These few examples suffice to show that alternative service is an activity of a professional nature governed by labour legislation and that its duration makes it a proper alternative solution and not a supposed punishment for refusing to bear arms on grounds of religious conviction. “Article 2 of the Ukrainian Alternative (Civilian) Service Act acknowledges the right of anyone belonging to a religious organization whose activities are in keeping with domestic legislation and for whom a prohibition on bearing arms is an article of faith to perform civilian service. “Under article 8 of the Ukrainian Freedom of Conscience and Religious Organizations Act, religious organizations established in Ukraine, including those that have not been constituted in the country, are free to register their 69