E/CN.4/1997/7 page 44 from security personnel. A project to provide training for practitioners in 31 provinces had been initiated and the Ministry of Health had issued instructions that all hospitals with over 100-bed capacity should have forensic medicine available. 195. By the same letter, the Government asserted that it attached great importance to the prevention of ill-treatment during periods of detention in cases within the purview of the State Security Courts (SSC). A programme introduced by the Government on 22 March 1995 had established an Under-Secretariat for Human Rights and had proposed legislation of some 20 bills to reinforce human rights protection. Pending the consideration of the bills, written directives issued by the Prime Ministry on 13 February 1995 would remain in force, including the following: that under no circumstances may suspects be subjected to ill-treatment; during detention, all time limits and measures prescribed by law shall be strictly observed; modern methods which are used in European countries and the United States shall be applied during interrogation; all medical reports shall be drawn in strict conformity with the circulars issued by the Ministry of Health; suspects shall have access to legal counsel as per relevant laws; police detention centres shall be controlled periodically; all detainees shall be registered; detainees shall be placed in sufficiently large units conforming to health standards; all law enforcement officials who ill-treat detainees shall immediately be subjected to legal action; all governors and security authorities shall constantly supervise their subordinate police departments and inform the Ministry of Interior of the result of their controls so as to ensure strict adherence to the aforementioned measures. 196. With a view to implementing the European Convention on Human Rights and preventing torture and ill-treatment, 20 police officers had been sent to member countries of the Council of Europe for training and seminars on human rights issues had also been organized for security personnel. Human rights had been introduced as a compulsory course in the curricula of primary and secondary schools and as an elective for high schools. At the request of the Prime Minister, the High Advisory Council for Human Rights had prepared a study on effective and humane interrogation methods and the Ministry of Interior had initiated studies for the application of the report. During 1995, 291 cases had been registered against public officials under articles 243 and 245 of the Turkish Penal Code prohibiting torture and ill-treatment. Of these cases, 20 had resulted in convictions, 49 in acquittals and the remaining cases were pending. 197. On 9 October 1996 the Government informed the Special Rapporteur that in accordance with changes that had been made to article 8 of the Anti-Terror Law calling for the revision of sentences passed under its former provisions, 269 persons had been released and 1,408 persons had seen their sentences reduced. On 23 October 1996 the Government informed the Special Rapporteur that the periods of detention in State Security Courts would be reduced to fall into line with other democratic countries in Europe. Additional reforms would also be made to the State Security Court system. 198. By letter dated 11 November 1996 the Special Rapporteur, on behalf of himself and of the Chairman of the Board of the United Nations Voluntary Fund for Victims of Torture, expressed concern to the Government over information