Initial reports to the Committee
For the initial report, areas of particular interest to the Committee include the current legislative and institutional
frameworks relevant to the prevention of torture and ill-treatment or punishment, any practical measures in
place, as well as plans for how the State intends to implement UNCAT. Specific examples and statistics are useful
to illustrate the implementation of UNCAT at the domestic level. When preparing initial reports, States may find
that they can re-use information included in their reports under the Universal Periodic Review (UPR) or to other
treaty bodies when such information is directly relevant for UNCAT.
TIMELINE FOR REPORTING
STATE
RATIFIES
UNCAT
INITIAL
REPORT
DUE
First year
Every four years
PERIODIC
REPORT
DUE
Common core document – for all treaty body reports
To help streamline reporting, States submit one basic document to all treaty bodies, called the “common
core document”, which sets out general and factual information about the State’s geography, demography,
constitutional and legal framework, as well as the general framework for the protection and promotion of human
rights. This information does not need to be repeated for reports to the Committee against Torture.
Opting for the simplified reporting procedure
States parties can now take advantage of a simplified reporting procedure introduced by the Committee to help
States meet their reporting obligations. Under this procedure a list of issues is sent to a State party at least one
year before their periodic report is due and the State’s written responses to the list is then considered to be their
actual report. States that accept this procedure no longer need to submit both a report and written replies to a list
of issues. The Committee may also offer this procedure to States with long overdue initial reports.
THE SIMPLIFIED REPORTING CYCLE
Procedure to follow
up on implementation
of the Committee's
recommentations
A report is no
longer required
REPORT
01
05
LIST OF
ISSUES
The Commitee presents list
of issues to the State party
FOLLOW-UP
02
WRITTEN
REPLIES
The Committee
issues its concluding
observations on the
report, including
recommendations
State Party submits
written replies
to list of issues
04
CONCLUDING
OBSERVATIONS
03
DIALOGUE
TOOL: Reporting to the UN Committee against Torture
Constructive dialogue
between the Committee
and State party delegation
during session of the
Committee
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