already done so to request the automatic publication of future CPT visit reports and related government responses.3 Selected publications 28. This section takes a closer look at some of the visit reports and government responses published in 2018. Special publication of reports and responses on seven visits to Azerbaijan (dating from 2004 to 2017) 29. During 2018, the CPT published, at the request of the Azerbaijani authorities, seven reports on its visits to Azerbaijan (in 2004, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2015, 2016 and 2017), together with the responses of the Azerbaijani Government. This means that all of the CPT’s reports on its visits to Azerbaijan to date are in the public domain. The publication, which followed a period of particularly intense on-going dialogue between the CPT and the Azerbaijani authorities (including two sets of high-level talks in Baku, in February 2017 and May/June 2018) was a major breakthrough and a clear indication of the authorities’ resolve to enhance their dialogue with the Committee. The CPT welcomed this decision, which could signal a new commitment to transparency in confronting many of the serious issues described by the CPT. 30. On the substance, the findings of the CPT’s visits suggest that torture and other forms of physical ill-treatment by the police and other law enforcement agencies, corruption in the whole law enforcement system and impunity remain systemic and endemic. The CPT has repeatedly observed, most recently during its ad hoc visit in October 2017, that torture and other forms of severe physical ill-treatment of persons detained by the police, other law enforcement agencies and the army remain widespread, and there is a serious problem of impunity (lack of effective investigations) and inoperative legal safeguards for detained persons (in particular when it comes to the provision of information on rights, notification of custody, access to a lawyer and access to a doctor). Moreover, the findings during the 2017 ad hoc visit suggest the existence of a generalised culture of violence towards persons deprived of their liberty among the staff of various law enforcement agencies. 31. Further, despite legislative reforms (following the adoption of the Executive Order by the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan “On improvement of operation of the prison system, humanisation of criminal policies and extension of application of alternative sanctions and non-custodial preventive measures”) and efforts to renovate old and build new prisons, there is an on-going problem of prison overcrowding, poor material conditions, lack of activities (especially for remand and life-sentenced prisoners), inadequate medical care and insufficient and poorly 3. Parliamentary Assembly Resolution 2160 (2017) adopted on 26 April 2017, and Committee of Ministers’ reply to Recommendation 2100 (2017), adopted at the 1301st meeting of the Ministers’ Deputies of 29 November 2017. Page 18 ►General Report of the CPT, 2018