149. It also notes that a very constructive step has been taken in authorizing the publication of the report prepared by the European Committee for the Prevention of Torture further to a visit to Italy. 150. The significant increase in Italy’s contribution to the United Nations Voluntary Fund for Victims of Torture is very gratifying. 151. Also encouraging are the provisions of Law No. 296, pertaining to work by prisoners, the new alternative measures to imprisonment, such as house arrest, and the rules of Law No. 492, relating to the transfer of prisoners. 152. Lastly, the State party is to be congratulated on fully abolishing the death penalty. C. Factors and difficulties impeding implementation 153. Like the Human Rights Committee, this Committee notes something of a tendency to discriminatory treatment by sectors of the police force and prison warders with regard to foreigners, entailing violation of their rights. Furthermore, the existence of a large number of public officials involved in acts of corruption is not a positive contribution. D. Subjects of concern 154. The Committee notes with concern the persistence of cases of ill treatment in prisons by police officers. It even notes a dangerous trend towards some racism, since the victims are either from foreign countries or belong to minorities. 155. Non-governmental organizations of proven reliability have informed the Committee of a series of serious acts of torture, and in some cases deaths, of detainees. The penalties on the members of the forces of law and order are not commensurate with the seriousness of these acts. 156. Similarly, a matter of some concern is the number of unconvicted prisoners, the overcrowding in prisons and the suspension, even temporary, of humanitarian rules on the treatment of prisoners. E. Recommendations 157. The Committee suggests that the State party should: (a) Continue to examine the possibility of including in its criminal law the concept of torture set out in the Convention; (b) Better guarantee the right of a victim of torture to be compensated by the State and to provide some programme of rehabilitation for him; (c) Monitor effective compliance with safeguards during preliminary custody, especially access to a doctor and legal counsel; (d) Make sure that complaints of ill treatment and torture are promptly and effectively investigated and, where appropriate, impose an appropriate and effective penalty on the persons responsible; -22-