A/68/295 persons deprived of liberty with respect for their dignity is a fundamental and universal rule, the application of which cannot be dependent on resources. Prisoners’ safety and prison violence 47. Incidents of abuse among prisoners, from subtle forms of harassment to intimidation and serious physical and sexual attacks, are a regular occurrence in all prisons. 6 The Special Rapporteur observes that although Rule 28 (1) prohibits employing prisoners in a disciplinary capacity, in some States guards delegate the authority for maintaining discipline and protecting detainees from exploitation and violence to privileged detainees who, in turn, often use this power to their own benefit. In this context, special consideration should be given to the aggravated risk of violence that women and those from vulnerable groups, including persons with disabilities, people living with HIV/AIDS, drug-dependant individuals, lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex persons and sex workers might suffer. 48. The Special Rapporteur recalls that inter-prisoner violence may amount to torture or other ill-treatment if the State fails to act with due diligence to prevent it (A/HRC/13/39/Add.3, para. 28). As stated by the Special Rapporteur on extrajudicial, summary or arbitrary executions, the State assumes a heightened duty of protection by severely limiting an inmates’ freedom of movement and capacity for self-defence (A/61/311, para. 51). Despite the unambiguous wording of the Convention against Torture, there is a lack of awareness of the obligation of prison administration to intervene in inter-prisoner violence. The Special Rapporteur on torture notes that acquiescence in inter-prisoner violence is not simply a breach of professional responsibilities but that it amounts to consent or acquiescence to torture or other ill-treatment. 49. The fundamental role of authorities to exercise effective control over places of deprivation of liberty and ensure the personal safety of prisoners from physical, sexual or emotional abuse should be further strengthened as one of the most important obligations (see the United Nations Standard Minimum Rules for the Treatment of Women Prisoners and Non-custodial Measures for Women Offenders, para. 9, and the European Prison Rules, rule 52.2). In this respect, preventive measures include increasing the number of personnel sufficiently trained in using non-violent means of resolving conflicts (see CAT/C/BGR/CO/4-5, para. 23 (c), and A/HRC/7/3/Add.3, para. 90 (t)); promptly and efficiently investigating all reports of inter-prisoner violence and prosecuting and punishing those responsible; and offering protective custody to vulnerable individuals without marginalizing them from the prison population more than is required for their protection. Given the intrusive nature of internal surveillance devices as a control and early warning mechanism, such devices should be administered by specialized security personnel trained to strike a balance between exercising security functions and treating persons with respect for their dignity, including by demonstrating respect for and being sensitive to cultural and religious diversity. __________________ 6 12/23 Eleventh general report on the activities of the European Committee for the Prevention of Torture and Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment (CPT/Inf (2001)16, para. 27). 13-42285