CAT/C/TJK/CO/2 (c) Take concrete steps, as a matter of priority, to ratify the Optional Protocol to the Convention and establish an effective National Preventative Mechanism which is resourced and permitted to conduct regular, independent, unannounced and unrestricted visits of inspection to all places of deprivation of liberty, with opportunity for inspectors to speak privately with individual detainees. In the meantime, grant unimpeded access to the ICRC and independent nongovernmental organizations to all places of detention, and ensure that the Ombudsman undertakes regular, unannounced visits to all places of deprivation of liberty, accompanied by medical professionals, including to places of police custody, and that the findings are made available publicly; (d) Establish an effective, accessible and confidential system for receiving and processing complaints regarding torture or ill-treatment in all places of detention, and ensure that: (i) every detainee has unimpeded and unsupervised access to the prosecutor upon request; (ii) all complaints are promptly, impartially and effectively investigated; (iii) perpetrators are punished with appropriate penalties; and (iv) complainants do not suffer any reprisals; (e) Make the number, location, capacity, and the number of detainees in detention facilities available publicly, taking note of the statement made by the delegation to consider doing so in the future. Complaints, reprisals and protection of victims, witnesses and human rights defenders 15. The Committee is concerned about reports that victims of, and witnesses to torture and ill-treatment do not file complaints with the authorities for fear of reprisals and lack of adequate follow-up. Additionally, while noting the removal of libel and insult from the Criminal Code in July 2012, the Committee remains concerned about reports of harassment and intimidation of journalists and human rights defenders who report on torture and illtreatment. In particular, the Committee is concerned about the information received that victims of alleged torture and their families, journalists, lawyers, medical experts and human rights defenders who raised concerns with the Special Rapporteur on torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment during his visit to Tajikistan in May 2012 have subsequently faced harassment and intimidation from authorities. Furthermore, while the Committee takes note of the information provided by the delegation, it is nevertheless concerned about the recent closure of the Association of Young Lawyers of Tajikistan (Amparo), a member of the Coalition Against Torture that engaged with the Special Rapporteur during his visit, pursuant to a motion filed by the Ministry of Justice to dissolve the organization on administrative grounds and a decision taken by the Khujand City Court on 24 October 2012 to this effect (arts. 12 and 13). The Committee urges the State party to establish a fully resourced, effective, independent and accessible mechanism to investigate and facilitate the submission of complaints by victims and witnesses of torture and ill-treatment to public authorities, as pledged by the State party following the universal periodic review in March 2012. It should also ensure in practice that complainants and civil society organizations are protected against any ill-treatment, intimidation or reprisals as a consequence of their complaint, and that appropriate disciplinary, or where relevant, criminal measures, are taken against law enforcement officials for such actions. Violence against women and children 16. The Committee is deeply concerned about the lack of any domestic legislation criminalizing acts of violence against women, despite the existence since 2009 of a draft law on “social and legal protection against domestic violence”; reports of high prevalence of domestic violence; difficulties in filing complaints; and the reluctance of law 6