CAT/C/BEL/CO/3 Training for public officials regarding the absolute prohibition of torture 17. The Committee takes note of the information provided by the State party in its report and during the dialogue concerning the training sessions, seminars and courses on human rights organized for judges, prosecutors, police officers, prison officials and members of the military. Nonetheless, the Committee is concerned by the absence of a direct reference to the Convention and to the prohibition of torture in training courses for members of the national police force, as well as in other training courses for civil servants and public and administrative officials. Recalling its previous concluding observations (CAT/C/BEL/CO/2, para. 15), the Committee also regrets that the Police Service Code of Ethics does not yet explicitly prohibit torture and that no mention is made of the sanctions to which police officials may be liable if they fail to meet their obligations (arts. 2, 10 and 16). The State party should further develop and strengthen training programmes to ensure that all officials, above all judges and law enforcement officials, members of the military and prison personnel, are familiar with the provisions of the Convention and, in particular, that they are fully aware of the absolute prohibition of torture. Furthermore, all relevant personnel, including health-care professionals, who are in contact with prisoners and asylum seekers should receive specific training on how to identify signs of torture and ill-treatment. This should include an introduction to the use of the Manual on the Effective Investigation and Documentation of Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment (the Istanbul Protocol). In addition, the State party should develop evaluation mechanisms to assess the effectiveness and impact of such training and educational programmes. The Committee also invites the State party to take the necessary steps to include an explicit prohibition of torture in the Police Service Code of Ethics and to ensure that police officers observe the absolute prohibition of torture when performing their duties. Agreement between the State party and the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) 18. The Committee takes note that in April 2010 the State party reached an agreement in principle with ICRC to allow ICRC staff to visit persons detained in connection with the fight against terrorism and to evaluate their conditions of detention or internment. It regrets, however, that the agreement is not yet operational (arts. 2, 11 and 16). The Committee encourages the State party to make the agreement with ICRC operational as soon as possible in order to enable this international humanitarian organization to objectively evaluate the conditions of detention of persons held in connection with the fight against terrorism. Mental health care for detainees 19. The Committee reiterates its concern about the conditions in which inmates with serious mental health problems are held in the State party’s prison system. The Committee regrets that the mental health services available in prisons remain inadequate owing to the lack of qualified staff and suitable facilities (arts. 11 and 16). The Committee recalls its previous recommendation (CAT/C/BEL/CO/2, para. 23) and invites the State party to take all the measures necessary to ensure that detainees with mental health problems receive suitable care. To this end, the State party should increase the capacity of its psychiatric hospital services and facilitate access to mental health services in all prisons. 6 GE.14-40046