(b) The new Military Penal Code (Act No. 522/1999), which excludes the offences of torture, genocide and forced disappearance from the jurisdiction of the military criminal courts and regulates the principle of due obedience; (c) Act No. 548/1999, which prohibits the conscription of persons under 18 years of age; (d) The new Code of Penal Procedure (Act No. 600/2000), title VI whereof provides that illegally obtained evidence will be inadmissible. 63. The Committee also welcomes: (a) Act No. 742/2000 approving the ratification of the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court, the instrument whereof was deposited on 5 August 2002; (b) Act No. 707/2001 approving the ratification of the Inter-American Convention on Forced Disappearance of Persons. 64. Similarly, the Committee expresses its satisfaction at: (a) The statement by the State party’s representative that there neither has been nor will be any amnesty or clemency in the State party for acts of torture; (b) The positive role of the Constitutional Court in the defence of the rule of law in the State party; (c) The ongoing cooperation between the office in Colombia of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights and the Government of Colombia. C. Factors and difficulties impeding the application of the Convention 65. The Committee is aware of the difficulties with respect to human rights and international humanitarian law arising from the current complex situation in the country, especially in a context characterized by the activities of illegal armed groups. The Committee nonetheless reiterates that, as stated in article 2 of the Convention, no exceptional circumstances whatsoever may be invoked as a justification of torture. D. Subjects of concern 66. The Committee reiterates its concern at the numerous acts of torture and ill-treatment reported widely and systematically committed by the State security forces and organs in the State party both during and outside armed operations. It also expresses its concern at the high number of forced disappearances and arbitrary executions. 67. The Committee expresses its concern that measures adopted or being adopted by the State party against terrorism and illegal armed groups could encourage the practice of torture. In this regard the Committee expresses its concern, in particular, at: 34