CAT/OP/27/1 46. For instance, in the case of sexual orientation, the Subcommittee has observed that, in some establishments, involvement in lesbian relationships, whether between adult women or teenage girls, is considered an offence and is therefore punished. In some cases, any sign of affection results in the imposition of solitary confinement. Other indications of discrimination against lesbians include the prohibition of physical contact, denial of the right to intimate visits and segregation in religious and cultural activities. 47. The Subcommittee has also found cases in which a large number of persons deprived of their liberty belong to an ethnic group that has historically suffer ed discrimination. Although there were special units in some men ’s prisons to address the situation of this group, no such arrangements existed in women ’s prisons. 48. In the course of some visits, the Subcommittee heard consistent allegations that women with mental disabilities were ill-treated, allegedly to keep them subdued. V. Prevention of torture and ill-treatment of women deprived of their liberty 49. The purpose of this review of the Subcommittee’s experiences during its visits to places of deprivation of liberty where women are present has been to offer a systematic overview of its findings with regard to this particular group as a means of identifying the particular issues to be taken into account during visits by any national or international body involved in the prevention of torture and ill-treatment. which will serve as a basis for the formulation of relevant and effective recommendations. 50. It is vital that the unequal power relationships between men and women that remain entrenched to a greater or lesser extent in nearly all parts of the world are borne in mind when visiting centres of deprivation of liberty and drafting reports and recommendations in that connection. 51. It should be recalled that gender asymmetries are expressed throug h genderbased violence and through discrimination in the provision of access to the rights to work, education, health, recreation, sexuality and family relations, among others. Such forms of violence and discrimination are exacerbated when combined with o ther factors, such as social class, ethnicity, age, sexual orientation, nationality, migration status, health status, type of offence committed and exceptional regimes of detention. In each case, consideration will be given to whether or not such forms of violence and discrimination, which may amount to torture and ill-treatment, are in evidence, and situation-specific recommendations will be made. 52. The Subcommittee has included a broad recommendation in several of its visit reports regarding the development of a gender-sensitive prison policy in accordance with the Bangkok Rules. The Rules are without doubt a vital benchmark for the implementation of the minimum international standards for the protection of women deprived of their liberty and the prevention of their ill-treatment and torture. 53. When, in response to allegations of torture and ill-treatment of women deprived of their liberty, such bodies make recommendations to the States parties concerned, it is important for them to stress the duty of States parties to investigate such claims of human rights violations, punish the perpetrators and provide reparation to the victims and to uphold the prohibition of discrimination on the basis of gender. 54. The Subcommittee recalls that, among the basic guarantees that apply to all persons deprived of their liberty, including women, are the availability of judicial and other remedies that may be used by persons at risk of torture and ill -treatment in order 8/9 GE.16-00603