(c) Carry out prompt, impartial and effective investigations, try the perpetrators of such acts and, when convicted, impose appropriate sentences, and adequately compensate victims; (d) Ensure that the complainant and witnesses are protected against all ill-treatment and intimidation as a consequence of the complaint or any evidence given; (e) Establish a monitoring mechanism to investigate and deal with cases of sexual violence in the country. (20) The Committee is concerned about the reports regarding the high number of cases of domestic violence in the country. The State party should take urgent measures to reduce cases of domestic violence, including training of police, law enforcement personnel and health personnel, in order to investigate and deal with instances of domestic violence. The State party should make more effective use of the Domestic Violence Act of 1996. (21) While the Committee expresses satisfaction for the creation of institutions for the promotion and protection of human rights, such as the Human Rights Commission, the Women and Gender Commission, the Indigenous Peoples Commission, the Rights of the Child Commission, it regrets the fact that the necessary appointments to enable these institutions to begin work have not yet been made by Parliament, apparently due to political reasons (art. 13). The State party is strongly encouraged to take effective steps to expedite appointments to these institutions for the promotion and protection of human rights. (22) The Committee expresses its concern about the inability of the Office of the Ombudsman to continue functioning as a result of the non-appointment, since January 2005, of an Ombudsman by Parliament apparently due to political reasons (art. 13). The State party is urged to take the necessary measures to ensure the resumption of the activities of the Office of the Ombudsman and provide it with the human and financial resources in order to allow it to carry out its mandate. (23) The Committee expresses its concern about the deplorable conditions of detention of those persons held on death row, which could amount to cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment (art. 16). The State party should take all necessary measures to improve conditions of detention of persons on death row in order to guarantee their basic needs and fundamental rights. (24) The Committee notes with concern the lack of statistics, especially with regard to cases of torture, in relation to complaints, convictions of perpetrators and compensation provided to victims of torture. The State party should provide in its next periodic report detailed statistical data, disaggregated by crime, ethnicity and gender, on complaints relating to torture and ill-treatment allegedly committed by law enforcement officials, and on the related investigations, prosecutions and criminal and disciplinary sanctions. Information is further requested on any measures taken to compensate and provide rehabilitation services for the victims. (25) The Committee encourages the State party to consider ratifying the Optional Protocol to the Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment. (26) The State party is encouraged to disseminate widely the reports submitted by Guyana to the Committee and the latter’s conclusions and recommendations, in appropriate languages, through official websites, the media and non-governmental organizations. 18