CAT/C/70/2
United Nations
Convention against Torture
and Other Cruel, Inhuman
or Degrading Treatment
or Punishment
Distr.: General
8 March 2021
Original: English
Committee against Torture
Seventieth session
Item 2 of the provisional agenda
Organizational and other matters
Fourteenth annual report of the Subcommittee on Prevention
of Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading
Treatment or Punishment
Summary
In the present report, the Subcommittee on Prevention of Torture and Other Cruel,
Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment describes the work it undertook in 2020.
Following a brief introduction, the Subcommittee provides an update on
developments relating to the system of the Optional Protocol to the Convention against
Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment, including visits,
the increase in the number of States parties and in designated national preventive
mechanisms, and details concerning the operation of the Special Fund established under the
Optional Protocol (sect. II).
The Subcommittee provides substantive information concerning developments in its
working practices and comments on any issues it has faced when undertaking its work during
the year under review (sects. III and IV).
The Subcommittee concludes the report by reflecting on future challenges and
describing its plan of work (sects. V and VI), taking into consideration the limitations
imposed by the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic.
A statement adopted by the Subcommittee on 25 March 2020, entitled “Advice of the
Subcommittee to States parties and national preventive mechanisms relating to the
coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic”, is contained in an annex to the present report.
GE.21-03161(E)