E/CN.4/1998/6 page 5 The Special Rapporteur considers that the United Nations should, as far as human rights are concerned, be sufficiently familiar with the bodies of law of the various States and be in a position to follow their development and to publicize both the positive contributions which they can make to human rights and the limits or obstacles which they may constitute. 17. To date, although the request was made only a few weeks ago, the Special Rapporteur has obtained information from the following 22 States, which he would particularly like to thank for their cooperation: Algeria, Armenia, Bolivia, Cambodia, Cape Verde, Czech Republic, Ethiopia, Finland, Indonesia, Israel, Japan, Korea, Namibia, Pakistan, Poland, Saudi Arabia, Seychelles, Sudan, Sweden, Switzerland, Uruguay and Federal Republic of Yugoslavia. 18. Saudi Arabia transmitted a set of documents entitled “The basic law of Government, the law of the Council of Ministers, the laws of Majlis Ash Shura and the orders attached thereto and the law of the provinces”. 19. Armenia, Cambodia, Cape Verde, the Czech Republic, Ethiopia, Finland, Indonesia, Namibia, Pakistan, Sweden, Switzerland and Uruguay sent the text of their constitutions. Algeria sent a copy of its Constitution and of the Act establishing public holidays, including religious holidays. Bolivia transmitted the text of its Constitution and the amendments of 1994, while Korea transmitted the text of its Constitution, articles 6 to 13 of the Act concerning Assembly and Demonstration and article 5 of the Education Act. The Republic of Seychelles sent extracts from the relevant articles of its Constitution. Israel replied that it had no formal Constitution and transmitted copies of the texts of the Basic Laws, the Declaration of Independence of the State of Israel and laws concerning religious freedom (Protection of Holy Places Law; Hours of Work and Rest Law; Hours of Work and Rest Law - Amendment No. 6; Youth - Care and Supervision - Law; Succession Law; Rules of Evidence Amendment - Warning of Witnesses and Abolition of Oath Law; Declaration of the Establishment of the State of Israel; Prisons Ordinance, New Version; Equal Employment Opportunities Law; Penal Law art. 7). Japan sent the text of its Constitution and an extract from the Religious Judicial Person Law. Poland transmitted the text of its Constitution, legislation in the field of religious freedom and freedom of worship, and a list of the other regulations in that field (in Polish). The Sudan sent the text of the Sudan Peace Agreement and of the fourteenth Constitutional Decree. The Federal Republic of Yugoslavia transmitted constitutional provisions relating to religious freedom, priority provisions of the Criminal Code and legislation concerning religious holidays. The other States are urged to send in their contributions. III. IN SITU VISITS AND FOLLOW-UP 20. The Special Rapporteur regards in situ visits as being of great importance, and has given priority to this activity since he took up his duties. 21. He considers it necessary to recall the objectives of these in situ visits as established by the Commission on Human Rights and the General Assembly, namely: