In the present report, the Special Rapporteur on torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment, Alice Jill Edwards, examines the obligations of States to criminalize, investigate and prosecute acts of torture and other ill-treatment, identifies major challenges standing in the way of impartial, prompt, transparent and effective investigations and presents a range of State practices. The Special Rapporteur places a special emphasis on the participation and protection of victims and witnesses and presents a range of actionable recommendations. The report also presents an overview of the activities of the Special Rapporteur since taking up her mandate on 1 August 2022.