CAT/C/66/2 I. Introduction 1. Reflecting article 16 (3) of the Optional Protocol to the Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment, and in accordance with rule 33 of its rules of procedure, the Subcommittee “shall prepare an annual report on its activities which shall be a public document”. Pursuant to these provisions, the twelfth annual report addresses the activities of the Subcommittee from 1 January to 31 December 2018. The report was considered and adopted by the Subcommittee at its thirty-seventh session, in February 2019. II. Year in review A. Participation in the Optional Protocol system 2. As at 31 December 2018, 88 States were party to the Optional Protocol and 15 States were signatories. In 2018, the Optional Protocol was acceded to by Afghanistan (17 April 2018) and was signed by Slovakia (14 December 2018). The pattern of regional participation was as follows: African States 22 Asia-Pacific States 12 Eastern European States 19 Latin American and Caribbean States 15 Western European and other States 20 The regional breakdown of the 15 signatory States was as follows: B. African States 9 Asia-Pacific States 1 Eastern European States 1 Latin American and Caribbean States 1 Western European and other States 3 Organizational and membership issues 3. During the reporting period, the Subcommittee held three one-week sessions in Geneva: the thirty-fourth session (12–16 February), the thirty-fifth session (18–22 June) and the thirty-sixth session (19–23 November). 4. The membership of the Subcommittee changed during 2018. 1 At the thirty-fifth session, Daniel Fink succeeded to the place vacated by the resignation of Hans-Jörg Bannwart. On 25 October 2018, at the seventh meeting of States parties to the Optional Protocol, 13 members were elected to fill the vacancies arising in respect of members whose terms of office were expiring on 31 December 2018. The terms of office of all the newly elected members will commence on 1 January 2019 and are for a period of four years, expiring on 31 December 2022. 5. In the light of the increasing number of States parties to the Optional Protocol, the Subcommittee decided to restructure the membership of its regional teams and to restructure and reorganize the composition of its working groups. 6. The heads of the regional teams were revised as follows: Africa – Abdallah Ounnir, Asia and the Pacific – June Caridad Pagaduan Lopez, Europe – Mari Amos, and Latin 1 The list of members is available at www.ohchr.org/EN/HRBodies/OPCAT/Pages/Membership.aspx. 3

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