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)

Select target paragraph3