   Enhancing the technical skills of Community Policing Councils; Reducing disregard for preventive detention periods; Introducing sentences other than imprisonment, for instance community service, so that one is deprived of liberty in the event of serious offenses. Article 8: Freedom of conscience, occupation and religion 139. Freedom of conscience and the freedom to profess and practice a religion are principles enshrined in the Charter. 140. Mozambique is a secular State. Freedom of religion is a constitutional guarantee provided for in Articles 12 (3) and (4) and 54 of the Constitution: “Religious bodies shall be free to organize themselves and to worship in compliance with with State laws (Article 12 (3) of the CRM); the State shall recognize and enhance the activities of religious bodies with a view to promoting a climate of understanding, tolerance and peace, and to strengthening national unity, spiritual and material well-being of citizens and socioeconomic development (Article 12 (4); citizens shall have the freedom to practice or not to practice a religion (Article 54 (1) of the CRM); no one shall be discriminated against, persecuted, prejudiced, deprived of rights or exempt of obligations because of his faith, belief or religious practice (Article 54 (2)); religious bodies shall have the right to pursue their goals, and own and acquire property to fulfill their goals ((Article 54 (3)); the protection of places of worship shall be guaranteed (Article 54 (4)); and the right of conscientious objection shall be guaranteed in terms of the Law (Article 54 (5))”. 141. Citizens shall, therefore, enjoy the freedom to practice or not to practice a religion, and no one shall be discriminated against, persecuted, prejudiced, deprived of his rights, or be exempt of his obligations because of his faith, belief or religious practice. 142. As for religious bodies, these shall enjoy the right to freely pursue their religious goals, own and acquire property to fulfill such goals, and the protection of every place of worship shall be guaranteed. Moreover, religious bodies shall abide by the State’s laws. The State shall recognize and develop the activities of religious bodies with a view to promoting a climate of understanding, tolerance and peace, and to strengthening national unity, spiritual and material well-being of citizens and socioeconomic development. 143. Religious bodies have ample freedom to operate in Mozambique within the framework of freedom of religion and the secular nature of the State. Statistics show that about 500 (five hundred) religious bodies have been officially registered in the country, working in perfect harmony. 144. Articles 130, 131 and 135 of the Criminal Code include a number of penalties for those who disrespect religion or places of worship. Penalties for offenses committed within the framework of activities carried out by political parties are regulated by the Electoral Law, Law № 7/2004 of 17 June and Law № 7/91 of 23 Combined Report from the Republic of Mozambique to the ACHPR, 1999-2010 26