CAT/C/ECU/CO/7 48. The Committee reiterates its previous concluding observations (see CAT/C/ECU/CO/4-6, para. 18) and urges the State party to continue taking the necessary measures to prevent and eliminate abuse and sexual violence against minors in schools. The Committee also urges the State to ensure that all such acts are investigated promptly, effectively and impartially, that the perpetrators are brought to justice and that victims obtain redress. The State must also ensure that the victims are provided with the necessary protection and support. Finally, the State party should provide comprehensive statistical data on the number of complaints received and investigated, and on the number of prosecutions and convictions in such cases. Violence against individuals based on their sexual orientation or gender identity 49. The Committee is concerned at allegations of involuntary placement and illtreatment of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender persons in private centres in which “sexual reorientation or dehomosexualization therapies” are practised. Despite the closure of 24 such centres, the Committee notes with concern that the proceedings initiated by the Attorney General’s Office have, to date, not yielded any convictions. The Committee also strongly condemns the killings of gay and transgender persons that occurred in the State party during the period under review (arts. 2 and 16). 50. The State party should ensure that all cases of violence against persons on the basis of sexual orientation or gender identity are investigated with the aim of prosecuting and punishing the perpetrators of such acts. It should also carry out awareness-raising activities for the general public in order to combat the social stigmatization of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender persons. Coerced confessions 51. While the Committee takes note of the guarantees set forth in the Constitution and the provisions of the Comprehensive Organic Criminal Code regarding the inadmissibility of evidence obtained in violation of fundamental rights and guarantees, it regrets that the State party has not provided it with examples of recent cases that have been dismissed by the courts because of the submission of evidence or testimony obtained by means of torture or ill-treatment (art. 15). 52. The State party should take effective steps to ensure in practice that confessions obtained under torture or ill-treatment are ruled inadmissible. It should also expand vocational training programmes for judges and prosecutors so as to ensure the latter’s ability to effectively identify torture and ill-treatment and investigate all allegations of such acts. Training 53. The Committee acknowledges the efforts made by the State party to develop and implement training programmes in human rights, including modules on the provisions of the Convention, for members of the National Police and prison security officers. However, it regrets that no information has been provided on specialized training activities for professionals directly involved in the investigation and documentation of torture, as well as for medical and other personnel who deal with prisoners, on how to detect and document physical and psychological sequelae of torture and ill-treatment (art. 10). 54. The State party should: (a) Continue to conduct and review mandatory continuing education programmes in order to ensure that all public officials, particularly members of the National Police and prison security officers, fully understand the provisions of the 10 GE.17-00413