A/67/44 Violence against women (23) The Committee takes note of the legislative and other measures adopted by the State party to combat violence against women, including the enactment of Law 3500/2006 for combating domestic violence and the adoption of a National Action Plan on Violence against Women (2009–2013). However, the Committee remains concerned at the persistence of violence against women and children, including domestic and sexual violence, and at the limited number of prosecutions and convictions of the perpetrators. While noting that the State party has established a Standing Committee to elaborate a draft law on combating gender-based violence against women, the Committee is concerned that the State party’s Criminal Code currently does not explicitly include rape and other forms of sexual violence as a form of torture (arts. 2, 12 and 16). The State party should take urgent and effective protective measures to prevent and combat all forms of violence against women and girls, particularly domestic and sexual violence, including by investigating and punishing these offences. Such measures should include the amendment of article 137A of the State party’s Criminal Code so as to explicitly include rape and other forms of sexual violence as a form of torture rather than “a serious breach of sexual dignity”. The State party should also undertake broad awareness-raising campaigns and provide training courses on the prevention of violence against women and girls for officials who are in direct contact with victims (law enforcement officers, judges, lawyers, social workers, etc.) and for the general public. Trafficking in persons (24) The Committee recognizes the efforts made by the State party to address trafficking in persons. However, it expresses its concern at persistent reports of trafficking in women and children for sexual and other exploitative purposes and is concerned at the very few prosecutions and convictions of the offenders of such crimes. The Committee is also concerned that obstacles to the access to justice of the victims of such crimes include the insufficient knowledge by judges and prosecutors of the Palermo Protocol and that no interpretation services are reportedly available to the victims in trafficking trials. The Committee regrets that the support services provided to victims of trafficking with respect to health as part of their possible rehabilitation are inadequate (arts. 2, 10, 12 and 16). The State party should ensure that all allegations concerning trafficking of persons are investigated promptly, impartially and effectively and that the offenders are prosecuted and punished for such crimes. The State party should also ensure that the victims are provided effective legal and social assistance as well as access to interpretation in the context of trials. The State party should continue to conduct nationwide awareness-raising campaigns and provide adequate programmes of assistance, recovery and reintegration for victims of trafficking. Furthermore, the State party should offer training to law enforcement officers, judges, prosecutors, migration officials and border police on the causes, consequences and repercussions of trafficking and other forms of exploitation, as well as on the Palermo Protocol. Training (25) The Committee takes note of the information provided in the State party’s report and by the delegation on training schemes for law enforcement officials but it regrets that very little information is available on the evaluation of such schemes and their effectiveness in reducing the incidence of torture and ill-treatment. The Committee also regrets the lack of information on the training provided to border guards, and on the “Manual on Effective Investigation and Documentation of Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment” (Istanbul Protocol) to personnel involved in the investigation and identification of torture and ill-treatment (art. 10). GE.12-44492 147