CAT/C/HND/CO/1 page 8 Impunity and absence of prompt, thorough and impartial investigations 20. The Committee notes with concern the existence of widespread impunity, acknowledged even by the State party, as one of the main reasons for its failure to eradicate torture. It is particularly concerned at the absence of an independent body to investigate allegations of ill-treatment and torture. The Committee is concerned at reports of several cases of serious allegations against members of the National Police that remain at the investigation stage and for which perpetrators have not effectively been brought to justice and at reports that alleged perpetrators continue exercising their duties. Moreover, the Committee is concerned at the killing of two environmentalists, whose perpetrators escaped from prison after being sentenced, and at the absence of any investigation or conviction of the instigators of the crime (arts. 12, 13 and 16). The Committee urges the State party to take swift measures to counter impunity, including by: (a) Ensuring prompt, thorough, impartial and effective investigations into all allegations of torture and ill-treatment committed by law enforcement officials. In particular, such investigations should not be undertaken by or under the authority of the police, but by an independent body. In connection with prima facie cases of torture and ill-treatment, the alleged suspect should as a rule be subject to suspension or reassignment during the process of investigation, especially if there is a risk that he or she might impede the investigation; (b) Bringing the perpetrators to justice and imposing appropriate sentences on those convicted in order to eliminate impunity for law enforcement personnel who are responsible for violations prohibited by the Convention; (c) Ensuring that an investigation is lodged against the instigators of the murder of the two environmentalists and that they are sentenced accordingly once identified. Furthermore, the State party should thoroughly investigate the escape from prison of the convicted perpetrators, ensure that they serve their sentence according to their conviction and, in general, take measures to prevent further escapes. Violence against women 21. The Committee notes the establishment, in 2006, of the Inter-institutional Commission on Femicide and the Special Investigation Unit to investigate violent deaths of women within the Public Prosecutor’s Office. It also notes the creation of a gender unit within the National Police. Nonetheless, the Committee is very concerned at the prevalence of many forms of violence against women and girls, including sexual abuse, domestic violence and femicide, and at the absence of thorough investigations into the incidence of violence against women (arts. 12, 13 and 16).