support the allegations, the African Commission sees no basis to conclude
that the both Institutions lacked impartiality and independence.
225.
The Complainants also allege that the Victims did not have an impartial
and objective investigation. They aver that the Victims reported the
alleged incidences to the police after the alleged assault, but the police was
unwilling to interview potential witnesses, take down statements, or assist
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them in any way. They also submit that the PPO‟s decision to halt the
investigations due to amongst other reasons, discrepancies in the Victims‟
Statements is immaterial because according to them, these discrepancies
were mere omissions which have no material bearing on the present
Communication.
226.
According to the Respondent State, the investigations carried out by the
PPO have all the specified safeguards for criminal investigation according
to the Egyptian legal regime, particularly the impartiality and
confidentiality of the investigations.85 Furthermore, according to the
Respondent State, the decision reached by the PPO, after its detailed and
scrupulous investigations which showed that there were no grounds for
initiating criminal proceedings "temporarily" due to the inability to
identify the perpetrators was logical and sound.
227.
The UN Human Rights Committee has shown that complaints must be
investigated promptly and impartially so as to make the remedy effective.
In its General Comment No. 20, the Committee provides that:
85
It explains the investigative procedures carried out by the PPO in paragraph 101 of this
Communication.
66
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