(25) The Committee notes with concern allegations of reprisals, serious acts of intimidation and threats against human rights defenders, particularly those who report acts of torture and ill-treatment (arts. 2 and 16). The State party should take effective steps to ensure that all persons reporting torture or ill-treatment are protected from intimidation and from any unfavourable consequences that they might suffer as a result of making such a report. The Committee encourages the State party to strengthen its cooperation with civil society in its efforts to prevent and eliminate torture. (26) The Committee is concerned at reports that hospitalized patients, including children, who are unable to pay their medical expenses are detained in hospitals for several months until they are able to pay. The Committee is alarmed at the conditions under which such patients are held, particularly the fact that they are denied food and medical treatment (art. 16). The State party should take urgent steps to release persons detained in hospitals, in accordance with article 16 of the Convention and article 11 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, to which Burundi is a party, and which states that “no one shall be imprisoned merely on the ground of inability to fulfil a contractual obligation”. (27) The Committee encourages the State party to continue to request technical cooperation from the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights in Burundi and from the United Nations Integrated Office in Burundi, which is to replace the United Nations Operation in Burundi on 1 January 2007. (28) The State party should provide in its next periodic report detailed statistical data, disaggregated by crime, ethnicity and gender, on complaints relating to torture and ill-treatment allegedly committed by law enforcement officials, and on the related investigations, prosecutions and criminal and disciplinary sanctions. Information is further requested on measures taken to compensate and provide rehabilitation services for the victims. (29) The Committee is encouraged to ratify the Optional Protocol to the Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment as soon as possible. (30) The State party is encouraged to disseminate widely the reports submitted by Burundi to the Committee and the latter’s conclusions and recommendations, in appropriate languages, through official websites, the media and non-governmental organizations. (31) The Committee requests the State party to provide, within one year, information on measures taken in response to the Committee’s recommendations, as contained in paragraphs 9, 10, 19, 20, 21, 23 and 25 above. (32) The State party is invited to submit its second periodic report on 31 December 2008. 33. Guyana (1) The Committee considered the initial report of Guyana (CAT/C/GUY/1) at its 734th and 737th meetings (CAT/C/SR.734 and 737), held on 13 and 14 November 2006, and adopted, at its 748th meeting on 22 November 2006 (CAT/C/SR.748), the following conclusions and recommendations. A. Introduction (2) The Committee welcomes the presentation of the initial report of Guyana, which complies partly with the Committee’s guidelines on the form and content for the preparation of initial reports, but nevertheless regrets that it was submitted with a 17-year delay. (3) The Committee commends the report’s frankness and the State party’s acknowledgement of shortcomings in the implementation of the Convention. The Committee welcomes the constructive and frank dialogue conducted with the representative of the State party and appreciates the answers provided to the questions raised during the dialogue. 14