A/HRC/8/52 page 34 (c) To study, in a comprehensive manner, trends, developments and challenges in relation to combating and preventing torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment, and to make recommendations and observations concerning appropriate measures to prevent and eradicate such practices; (d) To identify, exchange and promote best practices on measures to prevent, punish and eradicate torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment; (e) To integrate a gender perspective throughout the work of his or her mandate; (f) To continue to cooperate with the Committee against Torture, the Subcommittee for the Prevention of Torture and relevant United Nations mechanisms and bodies and, as appropriate, regional organizations and mechanisms, national human rights institutions, national preventive mechanisms and civil society, including non-governmental organizations; (g) To report on his or her activities, observations, conclusions and recommendations to the Council, in accordance with its programme of work, and annually on the overall trends and developments with regard to his or her mandate to the General Assembly; 4. Welcomes the report of the Special Rapporteur (A/HRC/7/3) and the recommendations contained therein; 5. Urges States: (a) To cooperate with and assist the Special Rapporteur in the performance of his or her task, to supply all necessary information requested by him or her and to react appropriately and expeditiously to his or her urgent appeals, and those Governments that have not yet responded to communications transmitted to them by the Special Rapporteur to answer without further delay; (b) To give serious consideration to responding favourably to the Special Rapporteur’s requests to visit their countries; (c) To ensure appropriate follow-up to the recommendations and conclusions of the Special Rapporteur; 6. Also urges States: (a) To implement effective measures to prevent torture 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 education and training for personnel, who may be involved in the custody, interrogation or treatment of any individual subjected to any form of arrest, detention or imprisonment; (b) To take persistent, determined and effective measures to have all allegations of torture or other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment promptly and impartially examined by the competent national authority, to hold persons who encourage, order, tolerate or perpetrate acts of torture responsible, to have them brought to justice and severely punished,