The Reporting Procedure 4 Follow-up procedure Word limits: ¡¡ Replies from the State party: 3,500 words Excerpt from a State party follow-up report to CAT concluding observations 1. (The State party) wishes to thank the Committee against Torture for the comprehensive work and observations made on the fifth periodic report of the State party, adopted by the Committee at its (number) session in (date) (document number). 2. (The State party) herewith submits the follow-up information as requested in paragraph (number) of the Committee’s concluding observations. Conducting prompt, impartial and effective investigations 3. (The State party) would like to state that, according to the Code of Criminal Procedure, investigation is started if there is a suspicion of brutality or excessive use of force by law enforcement personnel. Victims of such brutality can make a complaint to the police or the Prosecutor’s Office. In order to prevent possible abuse and brutality, these issues are systematically addressed by the Chancellor of Justice, also by means of visits of the Chancellor to police stations and detention facilities. Victims of domestic violence receive help through victim support services and the system is regulated by the Victim Support Act. A victim of domestic violence has the opportunity to forward his or her complaint either as formal allegation to the police or to the victim support services. Also they can call a 24/7 helpline free of charge in case they feel unsure about starting a formal criminal procedure. It is possible to contact the victim support services and helpline anonymously. 4. … Ensuring or strengthening legal safeguards for persons detained 5. As regards the legal safeguards for detained persons, (the State party) would like to provide the following detailed information. The rights and obligations of a suspect shall be immediately explained to him or her. Every suspect has, inter alia, the right: (a) to know the content of the suspicion and give or refuse to give testimony with regard to the content of the suspicion; (b) to know that his or her testimony may be used in order to bring charges against him or her; (c) the assistance of a counsel; (d) to confer with the counsel without the presence of other persons; (e) to be interrogated and participate in confrontation, comparison of testimony to circumstances and presentation for identification in the presence of a counsel. 6. – 11… Prosecuting suspects and sanctioning perpetrators of torture or ill-treatment 12. (The State party) authorities take very seriously every allegation of denial of fundamental legal safeguards of persons deprived of their liberty. All complaints of violations are promptly and independently investigated. 13 – 15… ii. State party follow-up and implementation The first step of a State party towards implementation of the concluding observations is to make those observations widely known to the Government entities, parliament, judiciary, civil society, the media and the public by translating, if necessary, the concluding observations into their national or local language(s) and disseminating them, including through posting them on the relevant websites. 57