CAT/C/RWA/CO/1 Non-governmental organizations, human rights defenders and journalists 17. While noting the information provided by the State party’s delegation on its relationship with the civil society, the Committee is concerned about reports of intimidation and threats which impede the effective participation of non-governmental organizations in human rights activities. The Committee is especially concerned about information regarding the arrest and detention of human rights defenders and journalists, and regrets the lack of information on investigations into such allegations. The Committee notes the information provided that international non-governmental organizations are currently authorized to register for 5 years, instead of one, and that local organizations are exempted from registration. Nevertheless, the Committee is concerned about reports of obstacles regarding the registration and work of non-governmental organizations (arts. 2, 12, 13 and 16). The State party should remove the obstacles affecting the work of non-governmental organizations and provide effective protection against intimidation, threats, arrest and detention of human rights defenders and journalists, including by prosecuting and punishing those responsible for such acts. For this purpose, the State party should effectively implement its decision to grant a five-year registration permit to international non-governmental organizations, and to exempt local non-governmental organizations from registration. Non-refoulement 18. The Committee expresses its concern at the fact that a foreigner “who compromises or threatens to compromise public security,” is expelled, extradited or returned to his or her country and may be in danger of being subjected to torture, in violation of the principle of non-refoulement, due to the lack of an effective mechanism to adequately assess his or her situation with regard to the risk of torture in the country of destination (art. 3). The State party should ensure that persons are not expelled, extradited or returned to States where there are substantial grounds for believing that they would be in danger of being subjected to torture. The State party should take steps to guarantee that the principle of non-refoulement is properly applied by the High Court when it decides on such cases. The State party should further ensure that the draft law on extradition, currently under discussion in Parliament, incorporates international obligations under article 3 of the Convention. Prison conditions 19. While noting efforts made by the Government, the Committee is concerned about the inadequate prison conditions in the State party, in particular with regard to hygiene, access to health care and food. It is concerned about the high rate of overcrowding and that people may be held in detention after having completed their sentences. The Committee also expresses concern at reports that a high number of mothers are detained with their babies in extremely difficult conditions (arts. 2, 11 and 16). The State party should strengthen its efforts to improve prison conditions and ensure that they are in conformity with the Standard Minimum Rules for Treatment of Prisoners, by: (a) Reducing the high rate of overcrowding, in particular through the wider use of non-custodial measures as an alternative to imprisonment, in the light of the United Nations Standard Minimum Rules for Non-custodial Measures (the Tokyo Rules); (b) Releasing detainees who have completed most of their prison sentences and for whom reintegration into society is considered appropriate by the competent authorities; 6