CAT/C/VAT/CO/1 Basic legal safeguards 15. The Committee appreciates the information provided by the State party in its report and at the dialogue concerning legal protections for persons deprived of their liberty in the State party provided in the Criminal Code, Code of Criminal Procedure, and 2012 draft regulations of the Department of Security Services and Civil Protection. The Committee regrets that information was not provided as to whether these documents incorporate the particular legal safeguards against torture that the Committee has called on all States parties to ensure for all persons deprived of their liberty (arts. 2, 13, 15 and 16). The State party should ensure that its laws and regulations provide for the right of all persons deprived of their liberty to enjoy the legal safeguards against torture enumerated in the Committee’s General Comment No. 2, including ensuring the right of all detainees to receive independent legal assistance, independent medical assistance, and to contact relatives from the moment of deprivation of liberty. The State party should monitor the provision of such safeguards by its public officials and ensure that any failure to provide such safeguards as required results in disciplinary or other penalties. Complaints and prompt, thorough and impartial investigations 16. The Committee welcomes the amendments to the Criminal Code and Code of Criminal Procedure of the Vatican City State that make it clear that authorities should prosecute allegations of violations of the Convention by citizens and officials. The Committee also welcomes information provided that the Pontifical Commission for the Protection of Minors, established by Pope Francis, will seek to ensure accountability and its members have announced that they plan to make specific proposals on raising awareness “regarding the tragic consequences of sexual abuse and of the devastating consequences of not listening, not reporting suspicion of abuse, and failing to support victims/survivors and their families”. To date there has been no information provided to the Committee as to the Pontifical Commission’s term, investigative powers, and ability to report publicly (arts. 12 and 13). The State party should: (a) Establish an independent complaints mechanisms to which victims of alleged violations of the Convention can confidentially report allegations of abuse and which has the power to cooperate with the State party’s authorities as well as civil authorities in the location where the alleged abuse occurred; (b) Ensure that organs charged with carrying out investigations into allegations of violations of the Convention by public officials of the Holy See, including the Office of the Promoter of Justice, are independent with no hierarchical connection between the investigators and the alleged perpetrators. Ensure that such bodies carry out investigations promptly, thoroughly, and impartially; (c) Clarify whether the Pontifical Commission for the Protection of Minors established in December 2013 should have the full power to investigate cases of alleged violations of the Convention, ensure that the results of any of its investigations are made public and that they are promptly acted upon by officials with a prosecutorial function, within a specific deadline. Concordats and other agreements 17. The Committee is concerned at allegations that concordats and other agreements negotiated by the Holy See with other States may effectively prevent prosecution of alleged perpetrators by limiting the ability of civil authorities to question, compel the production of 6