CAT/C/JOR/CO/2 The State party should also strengthen its efforts in respect of research and data collection on the extent of domestic violence and it is requested to provide the Committee with statistical data on complaints, prosecutions and sentences in its next periodic report. Protective custody 21. The Committee notes with concern that the Suppression of Offences Act of 1954 authorizes “protective custody” for women at risk of violence, which according to reports is akin to administrative detention, and that some women are still retained in such custody (arts. 2, 11 and 16). The Committee urges the State party to replace the practice of “protective custody” with other measures that ensure the protection of women without jeopardizing their liberty, and to accordingly transfer all women currently held in “protective custody” to other safe and rehabilitative shelters. To this end, the Committee encourages the State party to adopt a national plan for the protection of women in danger. Trafficking 22. While welcoming the adoption, in 2009, of the Human Trafficking Prohibition Act No. 9 which criminalizes all forms of human trafficking, the Committee expresses its concern at reports of trafficking in women and children for sexual and other exploitative purposes. The Committee is also concerned at the general lack of information on the extent of trafficking in the State party, including the number of complaints, investigations, prosecutions and convictions of perpetrators of trafficking, and on the practical measures adopted to prevent and combat such phenomena (arts. 1, 2, 4, 12 and 16). The State party should increase its efforts to prevent and combat trafficking of women and children, including by implementing the current laws combating trafficking, providing protection for victims and ensuring their access to medical, social, rehabilitative and legal services, including counseling services, as appropriate. The State party should also create adequate conditions for victims to exercise their right to make complaints, should conduct prompt, impartial and effective investigations into all allegations of trafficking and should ensure that perpetrators are brought to justice and punished with penalties appropriate to the nature of their crimes. Refugees, violations of article 3 and lack of investigations 23. The Committee regrets the absence of domestic legislation in the State party that guarantees the rights of refugees and asylum-seeking persons. The Committee expresses its concern at the absence of legal provisions, including in the Fugitive Offenders Act of 1927 or the Residence Alien Affairs Act No. 2 of 1973 that would explicitly prohibit the expulsion, refoulement or extradition of a person to another State where there are substantial grounds for believing that he or she would be in danger of being subjected to torture. The Committee is also concerned at reports that individuals have not been afforded the full protection provided for by article 3 of the Convention in cases of expulsion, return or deportation. Such cases include those of Maher Arar, Mohamed Farag Bashamilah and Salah Naser Salem Ali Darwish. The Committee is further concerned at reports that the cooperation of Jordan with other Governments in the context of the “war on terror” has resulted in additional human rights violations, including secret detentions and renditions of terrorism suspects, in breach of the Convention. In this respect, the Committee regrets the lack of information as to whether the State party is considering the establishment of an independent investigation to follow up on such allegations (arts. 3, 12 and 13). 8

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