harassment of political opponents, human rights defenders and civilians. The Committee is particularly concerned about the fate of Mr. Ibni Oumar Mahamat Saleh, a political opponent and former minister who was arrested on 3 February 2008 and who has since disappeared; (d) Reports that torture and ill-treatment are commonly used on prisoners of war and political opponents (arts. 2 and 12). The State party should: (a) Take immediate steps to guarantee in practice that all allegations of torture and ill-treatment are the subject of a thorough, prompt and impartial investigation and that the perpetrators of such acts are brought to trial and, if found guilty, sentenced to penalties proportional to the seriousness of the acts committed; (b) Investigate the involvement of government agents, members of the armed forces and government security forces and allies of the Government in acts of torture, rape, enforced disappearance and other abuses committed during the events of February 2008; (c) Investigate the activities of the environmental protection brigade and the brigade responsible for searching for weapons and ensure effective control over their future actions; (d) Implement, as soon as possible, the recommendations of the commission of inquiry into the events of February 2008; (e) Offer full reparation, including fair and adequate compensation for the victims of such acts, and provide them with medical, psychological and social rehabilitation. Secret detention centres (18) The Committee notes that secret places of detention are prohibited, but nevertheless expresses concern about the conclusions in the report of the commission of inquiry into the events of February 2008, which reveal the existence of secret places of detention run by State agents (arts. 2 and 11). The State party should identify and order the closure of all illegal places of detention, order the immediate handover of anyone still detained in such places to the judicial authorities, and ensure that they enjoy all the fundamental guarantees for the prevention of and their protection from any act of torture and ill-treatment. (19) The Committee takes note of the Government’s assurance regarding respect for general human rights principles by the National Security Agency (ANS), set up in 1993 to replace the Documentation and Security Directorate (DDS), a political police force described as “an engine of oppression and torture” by the commission of inquiry into former President Habré’s crimes and abuses of power. The Committee notes with concern, however, that all the Agency’s activities are treated as classified information and are not subject to any controls or evaluation (arts. 2 and 11). In view of the traumatic memories left by the political police force that preceded the National Security Agency, the State party should ensure full transparency and should exercise effective control over the Agency’s activities. The Committee recalls that the activities of all public institutions, including the National Security Agency, regardless of who carries them out, their nature or the place where they are carried out, are acts of the State party which fully engage its international obligations. Sexual violence and abuse (20) The Committee is seriously concerned at the extent of sexual violence, including rape, against women and children, particularly in and around sites for displaced persons and refugee camps, committed with impunity whether by militias, armed groups, the armed forces or any other person. The Committee is also concerned that 74