CAT/C/KHM/CO/2 Fundamental legal safeguards 14. The Committee expresses its serious concern at the State party’s failure in practice to afford all detainees, including juveniles and pretrial detainees, with all fundamental legal safeguards from the very outset of their detention. Such safeguards comprise the right to have prompt access to a lawyer and an independent medical examination, preferably by a doctor of one’s own choice, to notify a relative, and to be informed of their rights at the time of detention, including about the charges laid against them, as well as to appear expeditiously before a judge. The Committee is particularly concerned that the Penal Procedure Code only includes the right for a detainee to consult a lawyer 24 hours after his or her apprehension, and that access to a doctor is reportedly left to the discretion of the relevant law enforcement or prison official. The Committee also expresses its concern at the very limited number of defence lawyers, including legal aid defence lawyers, in the country which precludes many defendants from obtaining legal counsel. The Committee is further concerned at reports that persons deprived of their liberty are held for significant periods of time in police custody without being registered and that a significant number of police facilities and prisons are failing to adhere to the regulations governing detainee registration procedures in practice. (arts. 2, 11 and 12) The State party should promptly implement effective measures to ensure that all detainees are afforded, in practice, all fundamental legal safeguards from the very outset of their detention. To this end, the State party should amend the Penal Procedure Code so as to guarantee detainees the right to have prompt access to a lawyer from the very outset of their deprivation of liberty and throughout the investigation phase, the whole of the trial and during appeals, as well as access to an independent medical examination, preferably by a doctor of one’s own choice, to notify a relative, and to be informed of their rights at the time of detention, including about the charges laid against them, and the right to appear expeditiously before a judge. The State party should, as a matter of urgency, expand the number of defence lawyers, including legal aid defence lawyers, in the country and remove unjustified barriers to entry for individuals who wish to be admitted to the Bar Association. The State party should ensure prompt registration of persons deprived of their liberty and ensure that custody records at police and prison facilities are periodically inspected to make sure that they are being maintained in accordance with procedures established by law. Impunity for acts of torture and ill-treatment 15. The Committee remains deeply concerned by the numerous, ongoing and consistent allegations of torture against and ill-treatment of detainees in detention facilities, in particular in police stations. In this respect, the Committee is further concerned at numerous allegations of cases of sexual violence against women in detention by law enforcement and penitentiary personnel. The Committee is also concerned that such allegations are seldom investigated and prosecuted and that there would appear to be a climate of impunity resulting in the lack of meaningful disciplinary action or criminal prosecution against persons of authority accused of acts specified in the Convention. While noting the information provided by the State party that its national laws, especially the Penal Procedure Code, do not contain any provisions that can be used as a justification or means for an excuse for torture, under any circumstances, the Committee is concerned at the lack of a provision in domestic legislation expressly prohibiting the invocation of exceptional circumstances as a justification for torture. (arts. 2, 4, 12 and 16) As a matter of urgency, the State party should take immediate and effective measures to prevent acts of torture and ill-treatment, including sexual violence in detention, throughout the country, including through the announcement of a 5