CAT/C/GAB/CO/1 with the laws in force”. The Committee is equally concerned by the absence of a specific mechanism for filing complaints of torture committed by police officers and/or in any place of detention, including prisons. The Committee has some concerns as to the independence and impartiality of inquiries into allegations that members of the police force have committed acts of torture in view of the fact that, as provided for in article 3 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, they may be conducted by criminal investigation police officers. (arts. 12 and 13) The State party should revise its Code of Criminal Procedure so that a prompt, impartial inquiry can be opened ex officio where there is reason to believe that an act of torture has been committed in any territory under its jurisdiction. It should establish an independent mechanism for lodging complaints against members of the police force and ensure that prompt, impartial, independent investigations into such complaints are conducted. The State party should also take the necessary steps to enable victims of torture, including those in detention, to file complaints without fear of reprisal and to ensure that such complaints are investigated promptly and impartially. Redress, compensation, rehabilitation 23. While noting that a complainant can bring a civil suit for compensation for harm suffered as the result of a crime or offence under article 2 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, the Committee regrets the absence of precise, detailed information about the mechanisms available in the State party for seeking fair and adequate compensation, including rehabilitation services, for victims of torture, including those who have not entered a claim for redress. The Committee is equally concerned by the lack of information about cases involving torture or ill-treatment in which the State party has paid out compensation in order to redress harm suffered by victims of torture or has provided rehabilitation services, where necessary. (art. 14) The State party should clarify its legislation and ensure that it provides guarantees that will allow victims of torture to claim and receive fair and adequate compensation, particularly in cases where public officials are implicated, and that it offers them rehabilitation services in accordance with article 14 of the Convention. It should supply the Committee with detailed statistics on the cases in which the State party has compensated victims of torture or ill-treatment and on the exact amounts of compensation paid to them. The Committee draws the State party’s attention to its recently adopted general comment on the implementation of article 14 (CAT/C/GC/3), which clarifies the content and scope of States parties’ obligations with respect to the provision of full redress to victims of torture. Confessions made under duress 24. The Committee is concerned by the fact that while, according to the information provided by the State party in its report, the freedom to provide evidence does not encompass illegal means, there is no clearly stated provision in its criminal legislation that explicitly prohibits the courts from admitting evidence or confessions obtained under torture. (art. 15) The State party should amend its legislation in order to make it clear that confessions, statements and other evidence obtained through torture or ill-treatment may not be invoked as evidence in legal proceedings, except against a person accused of torture as evidence that the statement was made. The State party should investigate all allegations that confessions have been obtained under torture and ensure that the GE.13-40305 9

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