A/HRC/46/26/Add.1 E. Intimidation and harassment of civil society 90. A vibrant and proactive civil society fully exercising and enjoying all relevant rights and liberties is one of the best guarantors of the effective implementation of human rights in any context. Intimidation and harassment of human rights defenders, civil society organizations, critics, dissidents, political opponents and defence lawyers have proven to be conducive to serious human rights violations, including torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment. It is therefore with alarm that the Special Rapporteur takes note of the suspension of the Maldivian Democracy Network, one of the most well established and influential civil society organizations working for the respect of human rights, democracy and the rule of law in Maldives. According to information received, the leaders of that organization have been subjected to serious threats of violence, including on social media, which could have a chilling effect on the indispensable advocacy work accomplished by human rights defenders throughout the country. X. Domestic violence 91. According to information received, domestic violence and sexual abuse of children constitutes a major problem throughout Maldives. It is the Special Rapporteur’s considered view that, from a substantive perspective, abuse occurring in the home or among family members always amounts to cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment, and may even amount to torture, thus triggering the State’s international legal obligation to prevent, investigate and redress such abuse. Given the often complex and delicate environment within which domestic violence occurs, the Special Rapporteur strongly welcomes the recent establishment of community social groups on 181 islands, mandated to respond to and intervene in situations involving domestic violence. However, most people the Special Rapporteur asked during his visit were not aware of the existence, competence and work of those groups. XI. Conclusions 92. The Special Rapporteur is pleased to report that he was able to conduct his visit in full compliance with the terms of reference of his mandate. Throughout the visit, he enjoyed excellent cooperation and support from all the authorities involved and from the United Nations Resident Coordinator and the United Nations Development Programme. 93. In principle, Maldives is equipped with the necessary legal, structural and procedural framework and a suitable political environment to achieve the full eradication of torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment. In the view of the Special Rapporteur, the biggest challenges faced by Maldives are overincarceration, poor conditions of detention and impunity. 94. The Special Rapporteur therefore strongly appeals to the Government to reduce overincarceration by employing alternative measures to deprivation of liberty, which will alleviate overcrowding in prisons and places of detention. In turn, with the reduction of detainees, the current places of detention will become fit for purpose. The most serious concerns regarding conditions of detention can also be easily rectified with structural improvements and by providing basic necessities such as bedding, access to telephone calls and frequent family visits, and institutionalizing complaints procedures, as well as introducing educational and vocational programmes, which are already in place in other institutions. There is also the need to reinforce a zero-tolerance policy for any form of torture or ill-treatment, making unequivocally clear to State officials at all levels that they are expected and, indeed, obliged to report and investigate all allegations of torture and to bring perpetrators to justice. 95. In line with his findings, and reiterating and building on the preliminary observations made at the conclusion of his visit, the Special Rapporteur respectfully submits the following, more detailed recommendations to the Government. His 14