A/69/44 autopsies; and ensure that the State party’s courts accept the results of such independent autopsies as evidence in criminal and civil cases. Violence against women, including rape and bride-kidnapping (18) While noting various initiatives by the authorities to combat violence against women, the Committee remains concerned at (a) reports of widespread violence against women, including domestic violence, trafficking and bride-kidnapping; and (b) the lack of information provided about prosecutions for such violence. The Committee regrets that existing law prohibiting domestic violence and bride-kidnapping is not implemented in practice, mainly due to the lack of a political commitment and appropriate training for law enforcement officials and the judiciary (arts. 2, 12, 13, 14 and 16). The State party should: (a) Effectively combat violence against women, inter alia by promptly investigating complaints related to such violence, including domestic violence and bride-kidnapping, and institute criminal proceedings against perpetrators and those aiding and abetting the kidnappings, even in the absence of a formal complaint; (b) Protect victims of domestic violence, including by establishing appropriate shelters across the country; and (c) Step up its awareness-raising campaigns to sensitize the population to these problems. Ill-treatment and torture based on sexual orientation and gender (19) The Committee is concerned at (a) reports of police harassment, arbitrary arrest, illtreatment and torture, including through sexual violence, perpetrated against persons on the basis of their sexual orientation or gender identity, including lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) persons; and (b) the authorities’ more general failure to investigate allegations of sexual violence by officials, to punish perpetrators of such violence and to provide effective remedies to victims, as in the case of Ms. Zulhumor Tohtonazarova. Furthermore, it is concerned at the little progress in investigating reports of rape and sexual violence during and after the June 2010 violence (arts. 2, 11 and 16). The State party should ensure prompt, impartial, and thorough investigations of all allegations of ill-treatment and torture committed by police and detention officials against LGBT persons or others on the basis of their sexual orientation or gender identity, and prosecute and, upon conviction, punish perpetrators with appropriate penalties. Conditions of detention (20) While noting some minor improvements in certain detention facilities, both with assistance from international organizations and through the Government’s own programmes, the Committee is concerned at the prevalence of extremely harsh living conditions in places of deprivation of liberty, including prison overcrowding, insufficient food and drinking water, lack of ventilation, lack of hygiene, the prevalence of tuberculosis, and poor health care. It is also concerned at the deplorable conditions of inmates sentenced to life imprisonment (A/HRC/19/61/Add.2, para. 69) (arts. 11 and 16). The State party should intensify efforts to improve the conditions of detention in places of deprivation of liberty, including detention facilities for inmates serving life terms, bringing them into line with international standards, inter alia the Standard Minimum Rules for the Treatment of Prisoners (Economic and Social Council resolutions 663C (XXIV) and 2076 (LXII)). 42 GE.14-12596