CAT/C/GUY/CO/1 page 5 (b) Take effective steps to guarantee the accountability of the Guyana Police Force and, to this effect, carry out prompt, impartial and effective investigations, try the perpetrators of acts of abuse and, when convicted, impose appropriate sentences and adequately compensate the victims. 16. The Committee is concerned about allegations of extrajudicial killings by the police and the ineffective efforts made by the police in investigating those killings and apprehending the perpetrators (arts. 11 and 12). The State party is urged to take immediate steps to prevent acts such as the alleged practice of extrajudicial killings by members of the police. The State party should take the necessary measures to guarantee that prompt and impartial inquiries are conducted, perpetrators are prosecuted and effective remedies are provided to victims. 17. The Committee is concerned at the Constitutional provision that allows the employment of part-time judges could jeopardize their independence and impartiality. The Committee is also concerned about reports that indicate that this provision has been used to deal with the backlog of cases awaiting trial (arts. 12 and 13). While the Committee takes note of the statement made by the representative of the State party that the Constitutional provision allowing for the use of part-time judges has not been applied, the Committee encourages the State party to amend the Constitution and delete this provision. 18. The Committee is concerned at the provision in the Criminal Code that establishes the minimum age of criminal responsibility, which is set at 10 years of age (art. 13). The State Party should take the necessary measures to raise the minimum age of criminal responsibility to an internationally acceptable level, as previously recommended by the Committee on the Rights of the Child (CRC/C/15/Add.224). 19. The Committee is concerned about reports of widespread sexual violence, including in places of detention, and about the extremely low rate of convictions in such cases. The Committee is also concerned about reports of numerous cases of intimidation and threats against victims of sexual violence and of the absence of a witness protection programme. The State party is urged to take effective and comprehensive measures to combat sexual violence in the country, inter alia (arts 12 and 13), to: (a) Establish and promote an effective mechanism for receiving complaints of sexual violence, including in custodial facilities; (b) Ensure that law enforcement personnel are instructed on the absolute prohibition of violence and rape in custody as a form of torture as well as trained to deal with charges of sexual violence;