CAT/C/GTM/CO/5-6 (b) Ensure the prompt, thorough and effective investigation of all threats and attacks targeting human rights defenders, and ensure that those responsible are tried and punished in accordance with the seriousness of their acts; (c) Guarantee the continued existence of the Unit for the Analysis of Attacks on Human Rights Defenders. Violent deaths and lynchings 15. The Committee notes with concern the persistent levels of violence in the State party, which appear to be largely linked to organized crime, despite the measures taken to reduce this. It is concerned, in particular, about the large number of violent deaths —a large number of which are committed against women and children, the persistence of lynching and the reportedly low percentage of cases of violence that are investigated and of perpetrators who are tried and punished (arts. 2, 12, 13 and 16). The Committee, recalling its previous recommendation (para. 16), urges the State party to redouble its efforts to prevent and punish all acts of torture or other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment inflicted on persons within its jurisdiction. The Committee recommends that the State party ensure that all acts of violence, including killings and lynchings, are investigated promptly, effectively and impartially, that the perpetrators are tried and punished, and that the victims receive appropriate redress. The Committee also recommends that the State party step up its campaigns in schools, the media and elsewhere to raise awareness of lynchings. Internal security 16. The Committee notes with concern that, despite its previous recommendations and the State party’s efforts to strengthen the National Civil Police, the latter still does not have sufficient resources to perform it s duties effectively. The Committee is also concerned about reports that the army is playing a greater role in civil security tasks, that it has even been called on in social conflicts related to, for example, the complaints of indigenous communities, and that its intervention has in some cases led to deaths or injuries. In this connection, the Committee deplores the events of October 2012 in Totonicapán, when soldiers fired on a group of indigenous demonstrators who had blocked a road, killing six of them and wounding more than 30, and hopes that progress is being made in identifying those responsible for these acts and bringing them to trial. The Committee takes note of the delegation’s statement that cooperation between the army and the National Civil Police will continue until the latter has the number of officers it needs. The Committee is also concerned about the growing number of private security officers, who reportedly outnumber National Civil Police officers (art. 2). The Committee: (a) Reiterating its previous recommendation (para. 11), urges the State party to redouble its efforts to strengthen the National Civil Police as soon as possible, in particular by allocating adequate human and financial resources to it, with a view to ensuring a prompt end to army intervention in public security activities; to ensure that there are no longer any legal provisions that allow the army to be involved in activities of law enforcement or the prevention of ordinary crime, which should be carried out exclusively by the National Civil Police; (b) Recommends that the State party ensure that all private security firms are registered, as required by law, and that their activities are properly monitored and they are held accountable; 6 GE.13-44736