CAT/C/69/3
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 prepares an annual report on its activities
as a public document. Pursuant to these provisions, the Subcommittee, in the present report,
addresses its activities from 1 January to 31 December 2019. The Subcommittee considered
and adopted the report at its fortieth session, in February 2020.
II. Year in review
A.
Participation in the Optional Protocol system
2.
As at 31 December 2019, 90 States were a party to the Optional Protocol and 13 States
were signatories. In 2019, the Optional Protocol was ratified by Iceland (20 February 2019)
and South Africa (20 June 2019).
The pattern of regional participation was as follows:
African States
23
Asia-Pacific States
12
Eastern European States
19
Latin American and Caribbean States
15
Western European and other States
21
The regional breakdown of the 13 signatory States was as follows:
B.
African States
8
Asia-Pacific States
1
Eastern European States
1
Latin American and Caribbean States
1
Western European and other States
2
Organizational and membership issues
3.
During the reporting period, the Subcommittee held three one-week sessions in
Geneva: the thirty-seventh session (18–22 February), the thirty-eighth session (17–21 June)
and the thirty-ninth session (18–22 November).
4.
The membership of the Subcommittee changed in 2018.1 In accordance with rule 9 of
the rules of procedure of the Subcommittee, the eight newly elected members of the
Subcommittee – Patricia Arias, Carmen Comas-Mata Mira, Hameth Saloum Diakhate,
Suzanne Jabbour,2 Nika Kvaratskhelia, María Luisa Romero, Juan Pablo Vegas and Sophia
Vidali – assumed their duties as members upon taking their solemn oath at the thirty-seventh
session.
5.
Also at its thirty-seventh session, the Subcommittee re-elected Sir Malcolm Evans as
its Chair and elected the following members as Vice-Chairs and members of the Bureau:
Suzanne Jabbour (Vice-Chair for external relations); Abdallah Ounnir (jurisprudence and
Subcommittee Rapporteur); Nora Sveaass (Vice-Chair for visits); and Victor Zaharia (ViceChair for national preventive mechanisms). The Subcommittee designated Satyabhooshun
Gupt Domah as Rapporteur for reprisals for a term of two years.
1
2
The list of members is available at www.ohchr.org/EN/HRBodies/OPCAT/Pages/Membership.aspx.
Member of the Subcommittee from 2008 to 2016.
3