Missing persons (12) The Committee notes the acknowledgement by the State party of the enforced disappearance of thousands of persons in Algeria since the start of the 1990s. It also notes that the figures put forward by the Government concerning persons who have disappeared since the 1990s range from 4,000 to 7,000. The Committee expresses its concern that despite these facts the competent judicial authorities have not initiated proceedings to investigate the fate of missing persons and to identify, prosecute and punish the perpetrators of enforced disappearances. This constitutes a violation of articles 12, 13 and 14 of the Convention. The Committee is also concerned that the report of the ad hoc National Commission on Missing Persons has not been made public to date. The publication of these facts would enable anyone with information which could help to locate the missing persons to communicate it to the competent authorities (arts. 12, 13 and 14). The competent judicial authorities have the responsibility to launch investigations spontaneously without requiring individual complaints to be registered in order to shed light on the fate of missing persons, identify, prosecute and punish the perpetrators of acts of enforced disappearance and adequately compensate the families of missing persons. The State party should make a commitment to investigate every case of enforced disappearance and communicate the results of investigations to the families of missing persons, including by immediately making public the final report of the ad hoc National Commission on Missing Persons. The Committee also considers that the publication of the names of missing persons registered since 1990 could be very useful during the gathering of information from persons who could provide facts to help move the investigation forward. The Committee also hopes that the State party will submit to it as soon as possible the list of missing persons registered since the 1990s. (13) The Committee expresses its concern over the provisions of order No. 06-01 implementing the Charter for Peace and National Reconciliation which require the families of missing persons to certify the death of the family member in order to receive compensation, which could constitute a form of inhuman and degrading treatment for such persons by laying them open to additional victimization. The Committee is concerned that the criteria established for compensating the families of missing persons have not been made public (art. 14). The State party should abolish the rule obliging families to certify the death of the missing person in order to receive compensation. The Committee reminds the State party that the enforced or involuntary disappearance of persons may constitute inhuman treatment for the members of families of missing persons. The State party should also guarantee the right of such families to seek redress or be fairly and adequately compensated, including by giving them the necessary psychological, social and financial support so that they may make the fullest possible readjustment. The Committee hopes that the State party will communicate to it as soon as possible the criteria for compensating the families of missing persons. Impartial investigation (14) While noting the explanations of the Algerian delegation concerning the death of Mounir Hammouche in police custody and the autopsy report which concluded that he committed suicide, the Committee remains concerned at information that the family of the deceased did not have access to the autopsy report. According to information received by the Committee, the family also noted that the body bore signs of a head wound and bruises on the hands and feet (art. 12). The State party should launch prompt and impartial investigations spontaneously and systematically wherever there is reasonable ground to believe that an act of torture has been committed, including in the event of the death of a detainee. The State party should also ensure that the results of the investigation are communicated to the families of the victims. 44