A/67/44 C. Principal subjects of concern and recommendations Allegations of torture and ill-treatment in police custody (8) The Committee is seriously concerned by numerous and consistent allegations, corroborated by various sources, of routine use of torture and ill-treatment of suspects in police custody, especially to extract confessions to be used in criminal proceedings (arts. 2, 4, 12 and 16). As a matter of urgency, the State party should take immediate and effective steps to prevent acts of torture and ill-treatment throughout the country. The Committee urges the State party to promptly, thoroughly and impartially investigate all incidents of torture, ill-treatment and death in custody; prosecute those responsible; and report publicly on the outcomes of such prosecutions. In addition, the State party should unambiguously reaffirm the absolute prohibition of torture and publicly warn that anyone committing such acts or otherwise complicit or acquiescent in torture will be held personally responsible before the law for such acts and will be subject to criminal prosecution and appropriate penalties. Hazing and ill-treatment in the armed forces (9) The Committee remains concerned by allegations that suspicious deaths continue to occur in the Armenian Armed Forces under non-combat conditions and that the practice of hazing and other mistreatment of conscripts by officers and fellow soldiers continues, conducted by or with the consent, acquiescence or approval of officers or other personnel. While noting the information provided by the delegation, the Committee remains concerned about reports that investigations carried out into many such incidents have been inadequate or absent, including the investigations into the deaths of Vardan Sevian, Artak Nazerian, and Artur Hakobian. The Committee is further concerned at the reported absence of effective investigations into allegations of abuse, such as those made against Vardan Martirosian, and the inadequate punishments of those convicted for the abuses (arts. 2, 4, 12, 13 and 16). The State party should reinforce measures to prohibit and eliminate hazing in the armed forces and ensure prompt, impartial and thorough investigation of all allegations of hazing and non-combat deaths in the military. Where evidence of hazing is found, the State party should ensure prosecution of all incidents and appropriate punishment of the perpetrators, make the results of those investigations public, and provide compensation and rehabilitation for victims, including through appropriate medical and psychological assistance. Definition, absolute prohibition and criminalization of torture (10) The Committee is concerned that national legislation criminalizing “torture” (article 119 of the Criminal Code) does not conform to the definition of torture in accordance with article 1 of the Convention, and that torture, as presently defined by the State party, does not include crimes committed by public officials, only by individuals acting in a private capacity, with the result that no public official has ever been convicted of torture by the State party. It is also concerned by reports that officials have closed cases of allegations of torture on the basis of reconciliation of the defendant with the victim. It is further concerned that current sanctions (a minimum of three years’ imprisonment, and up to seven years’ imprisonment with aggravating circumstances) do not reflect the gravity of the crime. Finally, it is concerned that several individuals convicted of torture or ill-treatment under other articles of the Criminal Code have been granted amnesty (arts. 1 and 4). While appreciating the delegation’s oral statement that it intends to amend the Criminal Code, the Committee recommends that the State party ensure that the definition of torture is in full conformity with articles 1 and 4 of the Convention. The 108 GE.12-44492