The mandate of the Committee against Torture
Under article 19 of the Convention against Torture (the Convention), the Committee against Torture (CAT) is mandated to examine reports on the measures that States parties are taking to implement the provisions of the Convention. CAT's mandate also includes the possibility, among other functions, to undertake confidential inquiries when reliable information is received with well-founded indication that torture is being systematically practiced in a State party is received (article 20) and to consider individual complaints (article 22) which is only applicable with regard to States parties that have recognized the competence of the Committee to receive such complaints.
CAT meets for a three to four-week session three times a year in Geneva, in April-May, July-August and November-December and is examining up to 8 or 9 reports per session. During these sessions, the Committee meets with NGOs, NHRIs and National Preventive Mechanisms (NPMs) before meeting with the State party's delegation to examine the report. Following the examination of a State party's report, in a dialogue with the State party's delegation, the Committee adopts concluding observations. These include concerns and recommendations, some of which are to be followed-up within one year. The concluding observations reflect the Committee's position with respect to the status of the implementation of the Convention in the State party as well as of its previous recommendations. They are transmitted to the State party for implementation, made public on the last day of the session and posted on the website.
Participation of NGOs
The Committee receives information from NGOs at different stages of the reporting process and also meets with them during the session examining the report for which they have submitted information. These briefings take place prior to the examination of the State party's report by the Committee. CAT has long recognized the work of NGOs and expresses its appreciation for their reports and participation in these briefings, especially with regard to local and national NGOs, which provide direct country-specific information to the members of the Committee. ECOSOC status is not required for NGOs neither to submit information to the Committee nor to participate to the briefings.
57 Session:
States Parties Reports:
France, Israel, Philippines, Saudi Arabia, Tunisia, Turkey
List of Issues:
Sri Lanka, Turkmenistan
List of Issues Prior to Reporting:
Cyprus, Lithuania, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, Uruguay
Link to OHCHR: http://tbinternet.ohchr.org/_layouts/treatybodyexternal/SessionDetails1....