date; we do welcome the fact though that, as the Ministry of Corrections informed us, Minister agrees with the recommendation and has started elaboration of new forms for registration of prisoner injuries. Along with documenting injuries, it is equally important, in the interests of torture prevention, to immediately report possible cases of ill-treatment to the relevant authorities,. Reporting to the relevant authorities of and subsequently launching an investigation into what might constitute ill-treatment is mandatory under both the national legislation and the international standards. Prison doctors must bear in mind the best interests of the patient and their duty of confidentiality to that person, but the moral arguments for the doctor to denounce evident maltreatment are strong. Where prisoners agree to disclosure, no conflict arises and the doctor’s moral obligation is clear. If a prisoner refuses to allow disclosure, doctors must weigh the risk and potential danger to that individual patient against the benefits to the general prison population and the interests of society in preventing the perpetuation of abuse.21 The inspection visits paid by the National Preventive Mechanism during the reporting period have shown that prisoner injuries discovered on admission get reported by prison authorities to the Prosecution Office, while injuries occurred while in prison are reported to the Investigation Department of the Ministry of Corrections. During its inspection of the Institution no. 3 of the Penitentiary Department, the Special Preventing Group discovered that two cases of injured prisoners were not reported to the Investigation Department of the Ministry of Corrections and that happened against the background that all other cases of injuries were reported. 2.2.2.  PROVISION OF LEGAL AID TO POSSIBLE VICTIMS OF ILL-TREATMENT Article 14(1) of the United Nations Convention against Torture stipulates that “Each State Party shall ensure in its legal system that the victim of an act of torture obtains redress and has an enforceable right to fair and adequate compensation including the means for as full rehabilitation as possible.” The United Nations Committee against torture highlights the importance of affirmatively ensuring by the States Parties that victims and their families are adequately informed of their right to pursue redress. In this regard, the procedures for seeking reparation should be transparent. The States Parties should moreover provide assistance and support to minimise the hardship to complainants and their representatives. Such proceedings should not impose a financial burden upon victims that would prevent or discourage them from seeking redress. The Committee recommends implementing mechanisms that are readily accessible. Judicial remedies must always be available to victims, irrespective of what other remedies may be available. States Parties should 21 The Istanbul Protocol, par. 72. 24 NATIONAL PREVENTIVE MECHANISM OF GEORGIA