A/RES/66/150 upon States parties to the Optional Protocol to the Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment 5 to fulfil their obligation to designate or establish truly independent and effective national preventive mechanisms; Emphasizes the importance of States ensuring proper follow-up to the 4. recommendations and conclusions of the relevant treaty bodies and mechanisms, including the Committee against Torture, the Subcommittee on Prevention of Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment and the Special Rapporteur of the Human Rights Council on torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment; Condemns any action or attempt by States or public officials to legalize, 5. authorize or acquiesce in torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment under any circumstances, including on grounds of national security or through judicial decisions, and urges States to ensure accountability of those responsible for all such acts; Encourages States to consider establishing or maintaining appropriate 6. national processes to record allegations of torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment; Stresses that an independent, competent domestic authority must promptly, 7. effectively and impartially investigate all allegations of torture or other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment, as well as wherever there is reasonable ground to believe that such an act has been committed, and that those who encourage, order, tolerate or perpetrate such acts must be held responsible, brought to justice and punished in a manner commensurate with the severity of the offence, including the officials in charge of any place of detention, or other place where persons are deprived of their liberty, where the prohibited act is found to have been committed; Recalls, in this respect, the Principles on the Effective Investigation and 8. Documentation of Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment (the Istanbul Principles) 6 as a useful tool in efforts to prevent and combat torture and the updated set of principles for the protection and promotion of human rights through action to combat impunity; 7 Calls upon all States to implement effective measures to prevent torture 9. and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment, particularly in places of detention and other places where persons are deprived of their liberty, including legal and procedural safeguards, as well as education and training of personnel who may be involved in the custody, interrogation or treatment of any individual subjected to any form of arrest, detention or imprisonment; 10. Urges States, as an important element in preventing and combating torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment, to ensure that no authority or official orders, applies, permits or tolerates any sanction or other prejudice against any person or organization for having been in contact with any national or international monitoring or preventive body active in the prevention and combating of torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment; _______________ 5 United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 2375, No. 24841. Resolution 55/89, annex. 7 See E/CN.4/2005/102/Add.1. 6 3