In urgent situations, the Committee may, after receipt of the communication and before adopting its views, request a State party to take certain interim measures to avoid irreparable damage to the victim of the alleged violation. Interim measures are designed to respond to exceptional or life-threatening situations. For example, in the vast majority of cases before the Human Rights Committee, interim measures have been used in cases concerning the death penalty or deportation that risked violating provisions relating to the right to live and freedom from torture. If the Committee grants interim measures, the final decision may confirm or revoke them.