national unity, territorial integrity, national independence, and the components of national identity. 228. Regarding the creation of political parties, Organic Law No. 12-04 on political parties provides that “the Administration’s silence beyond the required period shall be considered as an approval” (Article 34) and guarantees persons applying to create political parties, at every stage of the process, the right to lodge an appeal with the State Council. 229. Moreover, the administration does not interfere in the internal organisation of political parties as stipulated in Organic Law No. 12-04 on political parties which, in its provisions, simply lays down the obligation to establish, in the statutes of political parties, democratic rules to govern political parties, and also to promote women’s participation in party decision-making structures and ensure transparency in finance management in order to combat corruption. 230. Organic Law No. 12-04 of 12 January 2012 on political parties also establishes a political party as a mechanism for promoting and protecting human rights, since it stipulates under Article 11 that political parties “shall strive to promote human rights and the values of tolerance”. 231. There are fifty-seven (57) registered political parties in Algeria (as at 30 November 2012), representing the various political movements. More than half of these parties were registered following the new Organic Law No. 12-04 on political parties that was promulgated on 12 January 2012. 232. Moreover, in its constant effort to bring the administration closer to citizens in the management of public affairs, Algeria developed a strategy combining openness and new technologies. Several measures have been taken towards attaining the goal of the strategy. 233. Connecting community centres to the Internet: the aim of the project is to enable Algerian citizens, in particular the youth and the underprivileged, to have access to the Internet in community centres (youth centres, cultural centres, public libraries, mosques, etc.). 234. Through this initiative, more than one thousand nine hundred (1,900) community institutions were connected to the Internet during the first phase of 2010-2012. The target is to connect more than three thousand (3,000) institutions during the second phase of 2012-2015. 235. Creation of the ‘‘ELMOUWATIN’’ portal: the ‘‘Citizen’’ portlet is aimed at facilitating citizens’ access to administrative information, including online procedures and services. The portlet is frequently consulted, and it receives 518,471 visitors a year since it was created in August 2011. The portlet targets: Citizens for their personal use; All government employees responsible for relations with citizens for established procedures;  Professionals (enterprises). It contains the following headings: Citizenship (National sovereignty – Rights and duties – Civil status residents in Algeria - Civil status residents abroad - Solidarity – Religious practices - Public service missions - Justice - Elections - National service); Family (Birth - Marriage - Residence – Health - Death); Facilities (Housing - Water - Electricity/ Gas - Transport - Internet and Telephone Post - Consumer); 38