CAT/C/DNK/CO/6-7 Intersex persons 42. While taking note of the information provided by the delegation on the decisionmaking process related to treatment of intersex children, the Committee remains concerned at reports of unnecessary and irreversible surgery and other medical treatment with lifelong consequences to which intersex children have been subjected before the age of 15, when their informed consent is required. The Committee is further concerned at hurdles faced by these persons when seeking redress and compensation in such cases (arts. 14 and 16). 43. The State party should: (a) Take the necessary legislative, administrative and other measures to guarantee the respect for the physical integrity and autonomy of intersex persons and ensure that no one is subjected during infancy or childhood to unnecessary medical or surgical procedures; (b) Guarantee counselling services for all intersex children and their parents, so as to inform them of the consequences of unnecessary surgery and other medical treatment; (c) Ensure that full, free and informed consent is respected in connection with medical and surgical treatments for intersex persons and that non-urgent, irreversible medical interventions are postponed until a child is sufficiently mature to participate in decision-making and give full, free and informed consent; (d) Provide adequate redress for the physical and psychological suffering caused by such practices to intersex persons. Gender-based violence 44. While welcoming the implementation of several action plans to combat violence against women, the Committee remains concerned that numerous women in the State party have experienced violence or have been exposed to threats thereof, and that the rates of prosecution and conviction remain low (arts. 2, 12, 13 and 16). 45. The State party should assess the effectiveness of action plans in combatting violence against women and address obstacles to the effective prosecution of acts of violence against women so that the judicial remedy is increasingly sought and used successfully. Training 46. While noting the training courses delivered by the Red Cross, the Committee is concerned that the coverage of the issue of torture is elementary in the training programme for medical professionals in the State party. The Committee also regrets the lack of information on the assessment of effectiveness of torture-related training programmes in reducing the occurrence of torture and ill-treatment (arts. 10 and 16). 47. The State party should: (a) Enhance the content of torture-related courses in the curricula of medical students, such as on the use of the Manual on the Effective Investigation and Documentation of Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment of Punishment (the Istanbul Protocol) and on the care for victims of torture; (b) Assess the effectiveness of training programmes, such as those for law enforcement officers, in reducing incidents of torture and ill-treatment. 7