CCPR/CO/79/LVA page 3 10. While acknowledging the State party’s admission that the average length of pre-trial detention is unsatisfactory and its attempt to remedy the situation in the proposed code of criminal procedure, the Committee is concerned about the length of pre-trial detention, which is often incompatible with articles 9, paragraph 3, and 14. While being aware of the draft criminal procedure law intended, inter alia, to speed up trials, the Committee remains concerned at the length and frequency of pre-trial detention, particularly with regard to juvenile offenders. The State party should take all legislative and administrative measures to ensure compliance with articles 9, paragraph 3. and 14 as a matter of priority. 11. The Committee notes the information provided by the delegation regarding the improvement of the situation of overcrowding in prisons, as well as measures envisaged by the State party to increase use of alternative forms of punishment. However, in view of reports that overcrowding in prisons continues to be a concern, the Committee should be provided with specific information to indicate to what extent overcrowding in prisons is a problem (rt. 10). The State party should continue to take measures to address overcrowding in prisons and to ensure compliance with the requirements of article 10. 12. The Committee notes the efforts made by the State party to address the situation regarding trafficking in persons, in particular by amending legislation, the adoption of a preventive strategy by providing information to potential victims, and through international cooperation. However, the Committee is concerned about the slow progress made in implementing those policies and notes that it has received only limited statistical information from the State party (arts. 3 and 8). The State party should take measures to combat this practice, which constitutes a violation of several Covenant rights, including article 3 and the right under article 8 to be free from slavery and servitude. Strong measures should be taken to prevent trafficking and to impose sanctions on those who exploit women in this way. Protection should be extended to women who are victims of this kind of trafficking so that they may have a place of refuge and an opportunity to give evidence against the persons responsible in criminal or civil proceedings. The Committee encourages the State party to continue its cooperative efforts with other States to eliminate trafficking across national borders. The Committee wishes to be informed of the measures taken and their result. 13. While noting the efforts made by the State party to combat domestic violence, particularly in the area of legislative reform, the Committee regrets the lack of detailed information on the nature of the problem. The Committee is concerned at reports that domestic violence persists (arts. 3, 9 and 26). The State party should adopt the necessary policy and legal framework to combat domestic violence, as envisaged, inter alia, by the draft programme on the implementation of gender equality. Furthermore, the Committee recommends that the State party establish crisis-centre hotlines and victim-support centres offering medical, psychological, legal and emotional support. In order to raise public awareness, it should disseminate information on this issue through the media.