A/65/44 international non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and the International Committee of the Red Cross perform periodic and regular visits to investigation and detention centres and rehabilitation facilities. However, it is concerned at the lack of systematic and effective monitoring and inspection of all places of detention, especially the facilities of the General Intelligence Directorate, and is concerned that visits to such places by national monitors, including the National Centre for Human Rights, have to be announced and carried out in response to prior requests, often accompanied by representatives of the Public Security Department following the memorandum of understanding concluded between the two institutions in March 2009. The Committee is also concerned that the Special Rapporteur on torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment was reportedly denied access to such facilities during his visit to Jordan in June 2006 (arts. 2, 11 and 16). The Committee calls upon the State party to establish a national system to effectively monitor and inspect all places of detention, including the facilities of the General Intelligence Directorate, and follow up to ensure systematic monitoring. This system should include regular and unannounced visits by national and international monitors, in order to prevent torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment. General Intelligence Directorate (16) Further to the Committee’s previous concluding observations (A/50/44, para. 168), it expresses its concern at reports of torture and ill-treatment in the facilities of the General Intelligence Directorate and remains concerned that the General Intelligence Directorate continues to detain suspects arbitrarily and incommunicado, often for prolonged periods of time, and that detainees are reportedly deprived of access to judges, lawyers or doctors (arts. 2, 11 and 16). The Committee calls upon the State party to place all State security departments, and primarily the General Intelligence Department, under civilian authority and oversight, to establish an independent audit of these services, to limit the powers of the Directorate and to ensure separation of powers, in law and practice, between the authorities responsible for detention of suspects and those responsible for preliminary investigations. Anti-terrorism measures (17) Recalling the absolute prohibition of torture, the Committee is concerned that the Prevention of Terrorism Act 2006 has a vague and overly broad definition of “terrorist activities”. It is also concerned at the reported enhancement of the already excessive powers of the security officers (arts. 2 and 16). The Committee recalls that no exceptional circumstances whatsoever can be invoked as a justification for torture and, in accordance with relevant Security Council and other resolutions, anti-terrorism measures must be implemented with full respect for international human rights law. To this end, the State party should review the Prevention of Terrorism Act 2006 and amend it, as necessary, to bring it into conformity with international human rights standards. Impunity for crimes committed in the name of honour, and rape (18) The Committee notes with concern that violence against women, as a form of discrimination against women, is a deeply rooted problem in Jordan and, as a result, a culture of impunity towards domestic and gender-based violence has evolved. In this respect, the Committee expresses its serious concern that crimes, where a family’s “honour” is thought to be breached, often go unpunished, and when they are punished, the sentences are far less than for equally violent crimes without this “honour” dimension (arts. 1, 2, 4, 13 and 16). GE.10-44721 105