United Nations Convention Against Torture and its Optional Protocol 86 41  Where NPMs have not yet been established, States parties should cooperate closely with NGOs and provide them free access to places of detention in order to guarantee independent monitoring.91 Unhindered and unaccompanied access to all places of deprivation of liberty shall be guaranteed92 and recommendations by monitoring mechanisms shall be taken into account and followed up with practical measures by the States parties in order to prevent torture and improve the situation in prisons.93 The Committee has equally encouraged NPMs to avail themselves of the expertise of civil society organizations working in the same area.94 3.1.2.4 Non-​Refoulement and Asylum Procedure 42  Pursuant to the Committee, States parties’ obligations under Article 2 encompass that they adopt all necessary measures to effectively implement its non-​refoulement obligations under the Convention.95 It shall, inter alia, be guaranteed that persons can submit applications for asylum, that all applications are thoroughly examined, and that persons have a genuine opportunity to effectively appeal any adverse decisions adopted, that appeals have suspensive effect, and ensured that ‘all asylum seekers have access to independent, qualified and free-​of-​charge legal assistance during the entire asylum procedure’.96 3.1.2.5 Investigations and Prosecution 43  The Committee has repeatedly emphasized that as part of its obligations under Article 2, States parties are to promptly, impartially and effectively investigate all alleged acts of torture and ill-​treatment,97 eg when traces of torture or ill-​treatment are found during a medical examination,98 in cases of deaths of persons in custody,99 in case of excessive use of force by law enforcement agencies,100 regarding non-​field related deaths in the army,101 in case of summary executions and enforced disappearances,102 in cases of trafficking and sex tourism.103 Those responsible shall be prosecuted and appropriately punished and victims or their families provided with redress.104 In a number of individual complaints the Committee found a violation of Article 2, read in conjunction with Article 1, because no such investigations were undertaken by the State party or these investigations have been dragging for many years without any outcome.105 92   CAT/​C/​MDG/​CO1 (n 82) para  10.   CAT/​C/​MDA/​CO/​2 (n 75) para  13.   CAT/​C/​AUS/​CO/​4-​5 (n 64) para 21, CAT, ‘Concluding Observations: Senegal’ (2013) UN Doc CAT/​ C/​SEN/​CO/​3, para  23. 94   CAT/​C/​ROU/​CO/​2 (n 74) para  16. 95   CAT/​C/​AUS/​CO/​4-​5 (n 64) para 15. Also see CAT/​C/​MRT/​CO/​1 (n 60) para 16, CAT/​C/​MAR/​CO/​4 (n 72) para 25, CAT/​C/​NZL/​CO/​6 (n 60) para 18. See also CAT/​C/​GC/​2 (n 1) para 19; and below Art 3. 96   CAT/​C/​AUS/​CO/​4-​5 (n 64) para 15. Also see CAT/​C/​MAR/​CO/​4 (n 72) para  25. 97   CAT/​C/​MNG/​CO/​1 (n 72) para 11. CAT, ‘Concluding Observations: Mozambique’ (2013) UN Doc CAT/​C/​MOZ/​CO/​1, para 18; CAT/​C/​POL/​CO/​5-​6 (n 72) para 18; CAT/​C/​PRT/​CO/​4 (n 74) para 9. See below Arts 12 and 13. 98   CAT/​C/​ALB/​CO/​2 (n 75) para 16; CAT/​C/​AUT/​CO/​4-​5 (n 72) para 9; CAT/​C/​AZE/​CO/​4 (n 72) para 12. 99   CAT, ‘Concluding Observations: Bolivia’ (2013) UN Doc CAT/​C/​BOL/​CO/​2, para 19; CAT/​C/​AUS/​ CO/​4-​5 (n 64) para 11; CAT/​C/​AZE/​CO/​4 (n 72) para 24; CAT, ‘Concluding Observations: Bulgaria’ (2011) UN Doc CAT/​C/​BGR/​CO/​4-​5, para  23. 100 101   CAT/​C/​BEL/​CO/​3 (n 65) para  13.   CAT/​C/​AZE/​CO/​3 (n 72) para  26. 102 103   CAT/​C/​MDG/​CO1 (n 82) para  8.   CAT/​C/​MDG/​CO1 (n 82) para  12. 104   CAT/​C/​BOL/​CO/​2 (n 99) para 19; CAT/​C/​AUS/​CO/​4-​5 (n 64) para 11. CAT/​C/​BEL/​CO/​3 (n 65) para 13; CAT/​C/​AZE/​CO/​3 (n 72) para 9; Guridi v Spain, No 212/​2002 (n 39) para 6.6. 105   HB v Algeria, No 494/​2012, UN Doc CAT/​C/​55/​D/​494/​2012, 6 August 2015, para 6.5; EN v Burundi, No 578/​2013 (n 42) para 8.3. 91 93 Zach