A/HRC/8/52 page 36 (b) Intimidation and coercion, as described in article 1 of the Convention against Torture, including serious and credible threats, as well as death threats, to the physical integrity of the victim or of a third person, can amount to cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or to torture; (c) Prolonged incommunicado detention or detention in secret places may facilitate the perpetration of torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment and can in itself constitute a form of such treatment, and urges all States to respect the safeguards concerning the liberty, security and the dignity of the person; 8. Welcomes the reports of the Committee against Torture, submitted in accordance with article 24 of the Convention; 9. Takes note of the reports of the Secretary-General on the United Nations Voluntary Fund for Victims of Torture and calls upon the Board of the Fund to report to the Council in accordance with the annual programme of work; 10. Requests the Secretary-General to ensure, within the overall budgetary framework of the United Nations, the provision of an adequate and stable level of staffing, as well as the necessary technical facilities for the bodies and mechanisms involved in combating torture and assisting victims of torture, in order to ensure their effective performance commensurate with the strong support expressed by Member States for combating torture and assisting victims of torture; 11. Recognizes the global need for international assistance to victims of torture, stresses the importance of the work of the Board of Trustees of the Fund and appeals to all Governments, organizations and individuals to contribute annually to the Fund, preferably with a substantial increase in the contributions, and encourages contributions to the Special Fund established by the Optional Protocol to the Convention to help finance the implementation of the recommendations made by the Subcommittee on Prevention, as well as education programmes of national preventive mechanisms; 12. Calls upon all Governments, the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights and United Nations bodies and agencies, as well as relevant intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations, to commemorate, on 26 June, the United Nations International Day in Support of Victims of Torture, as proclaimed by the General Assembly in its resolution 52/149 of 12 December 1997; 13. of work. Decides to continue to consider this matter in conformity with its annual programme 28th meeting 18 June 2008 Adopted without a vote.