240. With respect to article 10 of the Convention, members of the Committee wished to know what efforts were being made to disseminate information on the Convention in the population and among detainees; what training was being provided to jurists, to prison staff in corrective labour institutions and to the medical personnel; and whether there had been any exchanges in the courses taught in faculties of law to include questions of human rights and, in particular, efforts to combat torture. 241. Concerning article 14 of the Convention, members of the Committee wished to know what results had been achieved in terms of rehabilitation of the victims of repression during the period of the personality cult. They also requested further details on the compensation of victims of repression. In addition, they asked who was responsible for compensation; whether the victim could initiate proceedings to obtain compensation, and to bring an action against the State and against the person who had tortured him; what measures were being taken to bring former torturers to justice; what measures had been taken to ensure medical rehabilitation of the victims of torture. 242. With reference to article 16 of the Convention, members of the Committee wished to know under what circumstances a person could be held in isolation; what the relevant legal provisions were in this respect and whether the isolation was a preventive measure or was applied once a final judgement had been pronounced; what the minimum and maximum period of detention in isolation cells was and who decided whether to place persons in isolation cells. 243. In reply, the representative of the State party described his country’s three categories of courts, remarking in particular that in judicial matters an effort was being made to avoid a sudden break with the past and to emphasize the gradual reform of institutions, phased over a period of one or two years. Now judges were elected for life and their independence was guaranteed, which had not been the case in the past. The competence of the Public Security Committee had been strictly defined and limited and measures had also been taken to restrict the possibilities of intervention by the Ministry of the Interior. The Government Procurator’s Office was being transformed into an independent organization that would no longer be able to bring pressure on the courts. However, the entire reform process was complicated by the difficult economic situation and its consequences, especially the increase in criminality. Under a draft law currently before Parliament, the constitutional court would consist of 10 judges elected by the Parliament. Should that court detect any irregularity or incompatibility, it could amend the texts in question and it would even be empowered to annul any unlawful decisions of the Supreme Council of the Republic. At its first session, the Supreme Council had established a Standing Parliamentary Commission on transparency, the media and human rights. 244. Since 1975, the number of capital offences had declined considerably; capital punishment was rarely carried out and was regarded above all as a deterrent. Under the draft criminal code currently being examined, capital punishment would be retained for a total of four major crimes, namely homicide with aggravating circumstances, high treason, genocide and acts of terrorism. 245. International law took precedence over domestic law. In the event of a conflict between international rules and the provisions of domestic law, international law prevailed. That principle was embodied in the Republic’s declaration of sovereignty. The law of 25 August 1991 contained a declaration that international instruments were applied directly. The courts were required to use ratified international conventions as models and to ensure that they were applied. He would not fail to raise with his country’s competent authorities the question of the Committee’s concern regarding the declarations provided for under articles 21 and 22 of the Convention. -42-