88
United Nations Convention Against Torture and its Optional Protocol
children, including corporal punishment, and violence against persons with disabilities.117 The UNSRT has emphasized that by not acting with due diligence to protect
victims of domestic violence, trafficking, female genital mutilation, and similar practices,
States may commit torture or ill-treatment by acquiescence.118
47 According to the Committee, States parties should adopt legislation that criminalizes all forms of violence against women and children, including domestic violence,
marital rape, forced marriages, and sexual harassment.119 They should enact comprehensive anti-trafficking legislation, including a definition for trafficking, as well as labour
legislation that legally protects migrant domestic workers and effectively implement this
legislation.120 Legislation has to be in conformity with international standards, including
the CEDAW and the General Recommendation No 19 of 1994 on violence against
women of the Committee on the CEDAW Committee.121
48 States parties should make sure that victims can lodge a complaint, that all complaints are registered, eg in a special record-keeping system,122 and that all allegations of
trafficking, rape, domestic violence are appropriately investigated, while witnesses should
be protected.123 In its Concluding Observations the Committee recommended to ensure
that rapists cannot avoid criminal responsibility by marrying their victims.124 Generally
the Committee ‘strongly discourages’ the settlement of sexual violence cases outside the
formal justice system.125
49 According to the Committee, research should be undertaken on the causes and
extent of trafficking, violence, including sexual and domestic violence, as well as the
impact of preventive measures, National Action Plans, and criminal justice responses
in order to increase their efficiency.126 States should make sure that law enforcement
officials, lawyers, prosecutors, judges, social workers or migration officials or labour
inspectors are familiar with legislation, are sensitized to all forms of violence against
women, can detect domestic violence or trafficking victims, sexual violence, violence
against children, and adequately respond.127 Awareness raising shall also address the
117
CAT/C/MEX/CO/5-6 (n 72) para 13; CAT, ‘Concluding Observations: Monaco’ (2011) UN Doc
CAT/C/MCO/CO/4-5, para 11. CAT/C/PRY/CO/4-6 (n 72) para 21; CAT, ‘Concluding Observations: Peru’
(2013) UN Doc CAT/C/PER/CO/5-6, paras 14 and 20; CAT/C/SEN/CO/3 (n 93) para 15.
118
SRT (Nowak) ‘Report of the Special Rapporteur on Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading
Treatment or Punishment’ (2010) UN Doc A/HRC/13/39, para 62.
119
CAT/C/MUS/CO/3 (n 73) para 16; CAT/C/MDG/CO1 (n 82) para 13, CAT/C/MNG/CO/1 (n
72) para 20; CAT/C/MAR/CO/4 (n 72) para 23; CAT/C/MOZ/CO/1 (n 97) para 23; CAT/C/POL/CO/5-6
(n 72) para 22; CAT/C/SAU/CO/2 (n 81) para 36.
120
CAT/C/MNG/CO/1 (n 72) para 21; CAT/C/MAR/CO/4 (n 72) para 27; CAT/C/MOZ/CO/1 (n
97) para 26; CAT, ‘Concluding Observations: Namibia’ (2017) UN Doc CAT/C/NAM/CO/2, para 40; CAT/
C/NZL/CO/6 (n 60) para 25; CAT/C/POL/CO/5-6 (n 72) para 24; CAT/C/QAT/CO/2 (n 66) para 20;
CAT/C/SAU/CO/2 (n 81) para 38.
121
CAT/C/PRY/CO/4-6 (n 72) para 21.
122
CAT/C/SRB/CO/1 (n 109) para 16; CAT/C/PER/CO/5-6 (n 117) para 14.
123
�� CAT/C/MDG/CO1 (n 82) para 12; CAT/C/MRT/CO/1 (n 60) para 23; CAT/C/MAR/CO/4 (n
72) para 27; CAT/C/NLD/CO/5-6 (n 60) para 25; CAT/C/PRY/CO/4-6 (n 72) para 23; CAT/C/PHL/CO/2
(n 72) para 26; CAT/C/SEN/CO/3 (n 93) para 16; CAT/C/MUS/CO/3 (n 73) para 16; CAT/C/MEX/CO/
5-6 (n 72) para 13; CAT/C/MNG/CO/1 (n 72) para 20; CAT/C/NZL/CO/6 (n 60) para 11; CAT/C/RUS/
CO/5 (n 67) para 14. See also Art 13 below.
124
125
CAT/C/MAR/CO/4 (n 72) para 23.
CAT/C/NAM/CO/2 (n 120) para 28.
126
CAT/C/NLD/CO/5-6 (n 60) para 25; CAT/C/PRT/CO/4 (n 74) para 19; CAT/C/SRB/CO/1 (n
109) para 17; CAT/C/MAR/CO/4 (n 72) para 23; CAT/C/PRT/CO/4 (n 74) para 17.
127
CAT/C/BLR/CO/4 (n 72) para 20; CAT/C/MUS/CO/3 (n 73) para 16; CAT/C/MDG/CO1 (n
82) para 13; CAT/C/MNG/CO/1 (n 72) para 20; CAT/C/NOR/CO/6-7 (n 60) para 12; CAT/C/PER/CO/
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