CRC/C/MMR/CO/3-4 (c) Take measures to encourage children to form associations on their own initiatives outside the framework of Government-controlled NGOs. Access to appropriate information 49. While noting the recent steps taken to lift censorship, the Committee is concerned about the very limited access of children to internet, new technologies and appropriate information. The Committee is further concerned that young people continue to be prevented from freely accessing information and communicating with others. 50. The Committee recommends that the State party improve children’s access to information, inter alia by providing greater access to newspapers, libraries, radio, television and Internet, and to ensure that children are protected from harmful information. The Committee also urges the State party to ensure that children have the right to seek, receive and impart information and ideas of all kinds, regardless of frontiers, either orally, in writing or in print, through any media of the child's choice. Torture or other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment 51. The Committee is deeply concerned about reported cases of torture of children political prisoners, and cases of children victims of cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment when arrested. 52. In the light of article 37 (a) of the Convention, the Committee urges the State party to: (a) Take all necessary measures to prevent, prohibit and protect children from all forms of torture or other cruel, inhuman and degrading treatment or punishment in all settings; (b) Ensure prompt, independent and effective investigation of all alleged cases of torture or ill-treatment of children and, as appropriate, prosecute offenders; (c) Provide care, recovery, compensation and rehabilitation for victims; and (d) Ratify the Optional Protocol to the Convention against Torture and other Cruel, Inhuman and Degrading Treatment or Punishment. Corporal punishment 53. While noting the legal provisions prohibiting corporal punishment in schools and welcoming the ongoing discussion in the State party with a view to prohibiting corporal punishment in all settings, the Committee is concerned that corporal punishment is still lawful within the family and in alternative care settings and is a disciplinary measure in prisons, including for children under 16 years of age. 54. With reference to the Committee’s general Comment No. 8 (2006) on the right of the child to protection from corporal punishment and other cruel or degrading forms of punishment, the Committee recalls its previous concluding observations (CRC/C/15/Add.237) and urges the State party to: (a) Ensure that legal provisions prohibiting corporal punishment in school are effectively implemented and that legal proceedings are systematically initiated against those responsible for ill-treating children; (b) Withdraw provisions of the Child Law and the Penal Code authorizing corporal punishment and prohibit unequivocally by law and without any further delay corporal punishment in all settings, including the family, penal institutions, and alternative care settings; 10