CAT/C/ECU/CO/7 (c) Supply updated information on redress and compensation provided to victims of torture or their families. Human rights defenders and journalists at risk 43. While taking note of the scope for protection afforded by the Special Agreement on the Enforcement of Temporary Precautionary Measures and Urgent Action, the Committee expresses its concern at reports of acts of harassment and intimidation perpetrated against human rights defenders, journalists and other members of civil society. The Committee is also concerned at the extensive powers granted the National Secretariat for Communication to monitor and disband NGOs by means of executive decrees Nos. 16, of 4 June 2013, and 739, of 21 August 2015 (arts. 13 and 16). 44. The Committee urges the State party to: (a) Ensure that journalists, human rights defenders and other representatives of civil society are protected from acts of intimidation and violence to which they may be exposed because of their activities; (b) Ensure that all incidents involving threats or attacks directed at journalists, human rights defenders and members of civil society organizations are promptly and impartially investigated; (c) Take the necessary measures to ensure that human rights NGOs and other members of civil society can operate freely, and refrain from any unjustified interference in or restriction of their activities. Criminalization of voluntary interruption of pregnancy resulting from rape 45. In view of the high rates of gender-based violence and sexual violence registered in the country (see CEDAW/C/ECU/CO/8-9, paras. 20 and 21), the Committee is concerned about the restrictions on abortion that are laid down in the criminal legislation of the State party, which permits the voluntary interruption of pregnancy only when it endangers the life or health of the woman and the danger cannot be prevented by other means or when the pregnancy results from the rape of a woman with a mental disability. The Committee notes with concern the grave risk that such restrictions present for the health of women victims of rape who decide to have an abortion and the criminal consequences that may ensue, including the possibility of a prison sentence for women who undergo an abortion and for the medical practitioners who perform such operations (arts. 2 and 16). 46. The Committee recommends that the State party ensure that women victims of rape who voluntarily decide to terminate their pregnancy have access to safe, legal abortions. Abuse and sexual violence against minors in schools 47. The Committee reiterates its consternation at the persistence of cases of abuse and sexual violence against minors in schools in Ecuador. While noting the various legislative and other measures taken by the State party in this regard, the Committee notes with concern that, between 2012 and 2014, there were 343 complaints of sexual offence in schools. The Committee regrets that official statistical data on the number of complaints investigated and the number of prosecutions and convictions in such cases during the period under review are not available. It is grateful for the information provided by the State party’s delegation on the sentence handed down in the criminal case against Jorge Glas Viejó and for the details concerning the proceedings of the Paola Guzmán v. Ecuador case before the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights. In this regard, the Committee notes the clear lack of protection for victims from possible reprisals (arts. 2, 12, 13 and 16). GE.17-00413 9