CCPR/CO/79/LVA page 2 4. The Committee welcomes the significant progress in legislative and institutional reform since the review of the first periodic report in 1995, in particular the inclusion in the Constitution of chapter VIII on fundamental human rights, as well as the establishment of a Constitutional Court and the introduction of the right of individuals to launch a constitutional complaint. The Committee notes with great interest the rulings by the Constitutional Court removing from the national legal system norms conflicting with international human rights standards. Other positive legislative reforms include in particular the adoption and entry into force of a new Asylum Law, dealing with the question of non-refoulement; the labour law; amendments to the election law, removing the language requirement to stand for election and to legislation on trafficking in human beings. The Committee also welcomes the creation of the National Programme for Integration of Society in Latvia and the Society Integration Fund. 5. The Committee welcomes the establishment of the National Human Rights Office and particularly its use of the mandate to submit complaints to the Constitutional Court. 6. The Committee welcomes amendments to national legislation to harmonize it with the provisions of the Second Optional Protocol. It encourages the State party to accede to the Second Optional Protocol. C. Principal subjects of concern and recommendations 7. The Committee is concerned about allegations of ill-treatment of persons by police officers, as well as the lack of statistical data on the number, details and outcome of cases of ill-treatment by police officers. Although it notes that, as of 2003, statistics on physical ill-treatment by police officers are being systematized (art. 7). The State party should take firm measures to eradicate all forms of police illtreatment, including prompt investigations, prosecution of perpetrators and the provision of effective remedies to the victims. 8. The Committee is concerned that no independent oversight mechanism exists for investigating complaints of criminal conduct against members of the police, which could contribute to impunity for police officers involved in human rights violations (arts. 2, 7 and 9). The State party should establish an independent body with authority to receive and investigate all complaints of excessive use of force and other abuse of power by the police. 9. While welcoming the entry into force of the new asylum law, the Committee remains concerned at the short time limits, in particular for the submission of an appeal under the accelerated asylum procedure, which raises concerns regarding the availability of an effective remedy in cases of refoulement (arts. 6, 7 and 2, paragraph 3). The State party should ensure that the time limits under the accelerated asylum procedure are extended, in particular for the submission of an appeal.