A/68/44 Q. Rapporteurs on reprisals 27. At its forty-ninth session, the Committee decided to adopt a mechanism to prevent, monitor and follow up cases of reprisal against civil society organizations, human rights defenders, victims and witnesses after their engagement with the treaty body system, further to the recommendation made by the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights in her report on the strengthening of the human rights treaty bodies (A/66/860, pp. 68–69). 28. The Committee recalls that, under article 13 of the Convention, “each State party shall ensure that any individual who alleges he has been subjected to torture in any territory under its jurisdiction has the right to complain to, and to have his case promptly and impartially examined by, its competent authorities” and that “steps shall be taken to ensure that the complainant and witnesses are protected against all ill-treatment or intimidation as a consequence of his complaint or any evidence given”. States parties should adopt all necessary measures to prevent any form of reprisals against persons because of their engagement with the Committee. When reprisals occur, they should be fully investigated and prosecuted and those found responsible should be punished accordingly. Victims of reprisals should receive appropriate forms of protection and redress. 29. The Committee, at its forty-ninth session, decided to establish two rapporteurs on reprisals, one for reprisals under article 19 of the Convention and one for reprisals under article 22. It designated Mr. George Tugushi as rapporteur for reprisals under article 19 and Mr. Bruni for reprisals under article 22. A rapporteur for reprisals under article 20 will be designated at a later stage. Guidelines for the execution of the mandates of the rapporteurs will be discussed and adopted in future sessions. 30. At its fiftieth session, the Committee received information with regard to allegations of reprisals under article 19 concerning the Russian Federation. Letters on allegations of reprisals were sent to the State party on 17 and 28 May 2013. The Committee also decided to establish a dedicated webpage to post the letters on allegations of reprisals of the rapporteurs as well as the respective replies of States parties (http://www2.ohchr.org/ english/bodies/cat/reprisalsLetters.htm). R. Treaty body strengthening process 31. At its forty-ninth session, the Committee adopted a statement on the report of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights on the strengthening of the human rights treaty bodies (see annex XI). It welcomed the report of the High Commissioner (A/66/860), published in June 2012, and expressed its appreciation for the efforts of the High Commissioner following an extensive participatory process involving all the system’s stakeholders. The Committee stressed that efforts to strengthen the treaty body system, including adequate resourcing, were essential for the effective functioning of a system based on treaty obligations and assessments of compliance by independent supervisory bodies composed of independent experts. It noted that a majority of the proposals made had already been implemented by the Committee, including the simplified reporting procedure, which it initiated in 2007 through its new optional reporting procedure of lists of issues prior to reporting.2 2 6 Official Records of the General Assembly, Sixty-second Session, Supplement No. 44 (A/62/44), para. 23. GE.13-46043