A/HRC/44/54 area, and efforts to address criminal activity, authorities have failed to prevent, investigate and sanction human rights violations, abuses and crimes linked to mining. 70. Moreover, the establishment of the Arco Minero del Orinoco region and the expansion of mining have had considerable negative effects on the right to selfdetermination of indigenous peoples; their rights to their land, territories and resources; and their rights to the conservation and protection of the environment and to live in peace and security. OHCHR has serious concerns about the lack of free, prior and informed consent on the part of indigenous lands with regard to the establishment of the Arco Minero del Orinoco region encompassing their traditional territories. VI. Recommendations 71. OHCHR calls upon the Government of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela to: (a) Undertake and complete the reforms of the justice system announced by the Government in January 2020 to guarantee its independence, impartiality, transparency, accessibility and effectiveness; (b) Establish an independent, impartial and transparent mechanism to increase the number of tenured judges and prosecutors through a transparent public process; (c) Publish the legal authority and mandate of the counter-terrorism courts and take all necessary measures to guarantee their independence, impartiality and transparency, as well as their strict compliance with international human rights standards; (d) Put an end to the trial of civilians by military tribunals, and ensure that the jurisdiction of military tribunals is limited to military offences committed by active members of the military; (e) Conduct prompt, effective, thorough, independent, impartial and transparent investigations into allegations of human rights violations, including deprivation of life, enforced disappearance, torture, and sexual and gender-based violence involving members of the security forces, bring perpetrators to justice and provide victims with adequate reparation; (f) Cease immediately any acts of intimidation, threats and reprisals by members of security forces against relatives of victims of human rights violations who seek justice; (g) Guarantee that lawyers’ associations recover their independence and full autonomy by allowing free internal elections; (h) Guarantee the independence of the Public Defender, through the provision of sufficient resources and training, and ensure the rights of defendants to appoint a lawyer of their own choice; (i) Review the protocols and methods of the Office of the Attorney General to provide gender-sensitive attention and support for victims of human rights violations and their families; (j) Restore the capacity of the criminal unit against the violation of fundamental rights of the Office of the Attorney General to conduct independent forensic investigations into cases of alleged human rights violations by security forces; (k) Publish a comprehensive report on the investigations and criminal proceedings of deaths that occurred in the context of protests in 2014, 2017 and 2019; (l) Adopt the necessary regulations and protocols to fulfil all rights and obligations enshrined in the Organic Law on the right of women to a life free of violence, and also adopt effective measures to assist and protect victims of all forms of violence, including women and children; 14