(17) The Committee has taken note of the announcement by the delegation of the State party that the Government of Burundi has obtained assistance from the European Union in improving conditions of detention and bringing them into line with international standards. However, the Committee remains deeply concerned at the appalling detention conditions prevailing in Burundi, which amount to inhuman and degrading treatment. Such conditions include overcrowding, lack of food and medical care that puts lives at risk, poor hygiene and a shortage of material, human and financial resources. The treatment of prisoners remains a matter of concern for the Committee, in particular the fact that minors and women are not segregated from adults and men respectively, and that those awaiting trial are not segregated from convicted prisoners, except in Ngozi prison, where the men’s quarters are separate from the women’s and children’s quarters (arts. 11 and 16). The State party should adopt practices that are in conformity with the United Nations Standard Minimum Rules for the Treatment of Prisoners. It should also take immediate steps to reduce overcrowding in prisons, including through the release of first-time offenders or suspects held in connection with petty offences, particularly if they are under 18 years of age, and the construction of new prison facilities. The State party should also ensure that minors and women are segregated from adults and men respectively, and that those in pretrial detention are segregated from convicted prisoners. The State party should also ensure that women prisoners are guarded exclusively by female prison staff. (18) The Committee is deeply concerned about the widespread sexual violence against women and children, particularly in places of detention (art. 11). The State party should establish and promote an effective mechanism for receiving complaints of sexual violence, including in custodial facilities, investigating these complaints and providing victims with psychological and medical protection and care. The State party should consider adopting a national plan of action to eradicate violence against women and children. (19) The Committee is concerned at the lack of systematic and effective monitoring of all places of detention, notably through regular unannounced visits by national inspectors and a mechanism for legislative and judicial monitoring. The Committee is also concerned at reports that non-governmental organizations have limited access to places of detention (art. 11). The State party should consider establishing a national system to monitor all places of detention and follow up on the outcome of such systematic monitoring. It should also ensure that forensic doctors trained in detecting signs of torture are present during such visits. The State party should also strengthen the role of non-governmental organizations in this process by facilitating their access to places of detention. (20) The Committee is deeply disturbed at reports of the murder of several people suspected of being supporters of the National Liberation Forces between November 2005 and March 2006, including Ramazani Nahimana, Jean-Baptiste Ntahimpereye and Raymond Nshimirimana. According to information received, those responsible for the murders are agents of the National Intelligence Service (art. 12). The State party should inform the Committee in writing of steps taken to institute a prompt and impartial investigation of these murders and to punish the perpetrators, in accordance with article 12 of the Convention. (21) The Committee takes note of the negotiations under way between the State party and the United Nations with regard to the implementation of the recommendation of the assessment mission dispatched by the Secretary-General to Burundi in May 2004, adopted by the Security Council in resolution 1606 (2005) and aimed at creating a truth commission of mixed composition and a special chamber within Burundi’s court system. The Committee is nevertheless concerned at the absence of impartial inquiries to establish the individual responsibility of perpetrators of acts of torture and cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment, a situation that fosters a general climate of impunity. 12