CAT/C/AZE/CO/3 that led to trials and the outcomes of the trials, including the punishment meted out and the compensation provided to victims. 11. Trafficking 20. While noting with satisfaction the adoption of legislative and policy measures taken regarding trafficking in human beings, the Committee remains concerned at the prevalence of the phenomenon in Azerbaijan (arts. 2, 10, 12 and 16). The State party should ensure that legislation on trafficking is fully enforced and should continue its efforts to investigate, prosecute, convict and punish persons found responsible, including Government officials complicit in trafficking. 12. Violence against journalists and human rights defenders 21. The Committee is concerned about allegations of continuous pressure on the media, particularly at reports of harassment and beatings of journalists and human rights defenders that have not been investigated. The Committee is also concerned at allegations of restraints to due process in the recent conviction of individuals who had allegedly expressed opinions in non-conventional media (arts. 2, 10, 12 and 16). The State party should fully guarantee and protect the right of freedom of opinion and expression of journalists and media representatives, and introduce legal mechanisms and practical measures to that effect. The State party should conduct prompt and impartial investigation into allegations of violence against journalists and human rights defenders, and prosecute and punish perpetrators. The Committee refers to its general comment No. 2 (CAT/C/GC/2, para. 21), that the State party should ensure the protection of members of groups especially at risk of ill-treatment, including by prosecuting and punishing all acts of violence and abuses against such individuals and ensuring implementation of positive measures of prevention and protection. 13. Non-refoulement 22. The Committee is concerned at cases of extraordinary rendition, such as the rendition of Chechens to the Russian Federation, based on bilateral extradition agreements, and Kurds to Turkey, where they may face a real risk of torture. The Committee regrets the lack of data provided on asylum applications and refugees, the number of expulsions, refoulement and extradition cases, as well as on the number of cases subjected to judicial administrative review. The Committee also regrets the absence of information on diplomatic assurances and any post-return monitoring procedure established for such cases (art. 3). The State party should ensure that no person is expelled, returned or extradited to a country where there are substantial grounds for believing that he or she would be in danger of being subjected to torture, and that persons whose applications for asylum have been rejected can lodge an effective appeal with suspensive effect. The State party should compile and provide the Committee with detailed statistical data, disaggregated by country of origin, on the number of persons who have requested asylum or refugee status, and the outcomes of these applications, as well as the number of expulsions, deportations or extraditions that have taken place and the countries where individuals were returned to. The State party should take all measures to ensure that individuals who may face a risk of torture in their countries of origin are not returned, extradited or deported to these countries. The State party should avoid the systematic use of diplomatic assurances, and should provide detailed GE.09-46626 7