CAT/C/GAB/CO/1 (d) Put an end to impunity by conducting systematic investigations into allegations of trafficking, prosecuting perpetrators and imposing appropriate punishments upon them; (e) Offer victims protection, sufficient compensation and rehabilitation services as necessary and step up its awareness campaigns; (f) Train investigators and other personnel who come into contact with trafficking victims, including immigration service staff, and provide shelters with sufficient funding. Ritual crimes 20. The Committee takes note of the information provided by the State party on the steps taken to put an end to ritual crimes. Nonetheless, the Committee remains concerned about the persistence of ritual crimes involving children in the State party. The Committee is also concerned by the lack of accurate, detailed information on the scale of this problem, the investigations undertaken, the legal proceedings initiated, the trials held, the sentences handed down to perpetrators of such crimes, the redress offered to victims and awarenessraising measures. (arts. 2, 12, 13, 14 and 16) The State party should, as a matter of urgency, adopt preventive and protective measures with regard to ritual crimes. It should carry out a study to determine the scale of the problem and step up its efforts to raise the population’s awareness of it. The State party should continue to conduct investigations, to prosecute, bring to justice and punish those guilty of such crimes and to inform the Committee about the outcomes of the judicial action taken in cases now pending. In addition, the State party should take steps to provide redress, compensation or rehabilitation services to victims. Female genital mutilation 21. While taking note of the measures adopted by the State party, particularly Act No. 0038/2008 of 29 January 2009, which is designed to combat and prevent female genital mutilation, as well as the information provided by the State party’s delegation on the reasons underlying this practice, the Committee remains concerned by the fact that girls continue to be subjected to female genital mutilation in the State party. It is equally concerned by the absence of detailed information on the complaints that have been filed and the investigations conducted into those complaints, on the legal proceedings brought against those responsible for this practice and on the penalties imposed upon them. (arts. 2, 12, 13, 14 and 16) The State party should strengthen its laws and other measures for the prevention and elimination of the practice of female genital mutilation by, inter alia, ensuring that its existing laws on the subject are effectively enforced in accordance with the Convention. To this end, it should assist victims to file complaints, conduct the corresponding investigations, prosecute those responsible, impose appropriate penalties upon the guilty parties and provide victims with appropriate redress, compensation or rehabilitation services. It should also increase the scope of campaigns to raise awareness, particularly among families, of the harmful effects of this practice. Complaints of torture 22. The Committee is concerned by the fact that article 31 of the Code of Criminal Procedure is not in line with article 12 of the Convention, inasmuch as article 31 provides for the opening of an inquiry into allegations of torture and the initiation of judicial investigation proceedings “if the victim requests that these steps be taken in accordance 8 GE.13-40305