CZECH REPUBLIC* 82. The Committee considered the third periodic report of the Czech Republic (CAT/C/60/Add.1) at its 594th and 597th meetings, held on 4 and 5 May 2004 (CAT/C/SR.594 and 597), and adopted the following conclusions and recommendations. A. Introduction 83. The Committee welcomes the submission of the third periodic report of the Czech Republic submitted in conformity with the guidelines of the Committee, and the inclusion of self-critical information therein, as well as the frank and open dialogue with the State party. 84. While noting that the report covers the period from 1 January 1998 to 31 December 2001, the Committee appreciates the update provided by the delegation of the Czech Republic and the detailed replies to the list of issues and to the questions raised by the Committee members during the dialogue. B. Positive aspects 85. The Committee welcomes the ongoing efforts by the State party to revise its legislation in order to safeguard human rights in general and, more specifically, those related to the implementation of the Convention against Torture. The Committee welcomes in particular: (a) The amendments to the Residence of Aliens Act No. 222/2003 Coll., effective 1 January 2004 establishing an independent judicial second instance body to review asylum cases; (b) The amendment to the Act on Serving Prison Terms (Act No. 52/2004 Coll.), and certain related acts, which define conditions in prison in accordance with the standards required and offer greater protection to detainees; (c) The Law on Probation and Mediation and the creation of a Probation and Mediation Service (Act No. 257/2000 Coll.), resulting, inter alia, in the decrease in the number of prisoners; (d) The Law on the Special Protection of Witnesses (Act. No. 137/2001 Coll.); (e) Amendments to the Penal Code (No. 265/2001 Coll.) providing for the direction of investigation of criminal offences allegedly committed by members of the police to the State Prosecuting Attorney instead of the police investigator, as was previously the case; (f) The introduction in 2003 of the National Strategy on Combating Trafficking in human beings; * Also published as CAT/C/CR/32/2. 42