The Death Penalty in the OSCE Area Information to families Relatives are not informed in advance of the date of execution. The body is not returned, and the place of burial is not disclosed.83 In its conclusions and recommendations regarding the third periodic report of Uzbekistan, the Committee against Torture expressed concern “about the past practice of the State party resulting in failure to inform families of persons sentenced to death about the time and place of executions and the location of the bodies, which causes them distress”.84 The Committee said that Uzbekistan “should ensure that relatives of persons sentenced to death are treated in a humane manner to avoid further suffering due to the secrecy surrounding executions and that remedial measures are taken”.85 This call was reiterated by the special rapporteur on torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment.86 83  This information is regarded as a state secret in accordance with Resolution of the Cabinet of Ministers of the Republic of Uzbekistan No. 239-33 “On measures of protection of state secrets of the Republic of Uzbekistan”, 5 May 1994, and Article 140 of the Criminal Execution Code. 84  Conclusions and Recommendations of the Committee against Torture: Uzbekistan, op. cit., note 80, para. 26. 85  Ibid. 86  See the report of the special rapporteur on torture and other cruel, inhuman, or degrading treatment or punishment, UN Doc. A/HRC/7/3/Add.2, 18 February 2008. 16