United Nations
CAT/OP/3
Distr.: General
Optional Protocol to the Convention against Torture and Other
Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment
22 February
2013
Original: English
Subcommittee on Prevention of Torture
and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading
Treatment or Punishment
Rules of procedure
In accordance with article 10, paragraph 2, of the Optional Protocol to the Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or
Degrading Treatment or Punishment (hereinafter “the Optional Protocol”), the Subcommittee on Prevention of Torture and Other
Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment (hereinafter “the SPT”) adopted the following rules of procedure at its
eighteenth session held in Geneva from 12 to 16 November 2012.
Part oneGeneral rules
I. Sessions
Rule 1Dates of sessions
1.Regular sessions of the SPT shall be convened at dates decided by the SPT, in consultation with the Secretary General of the
United Nations (hereinafter “the Secretary-General”), taking into account the calendar of conferences as approved by the
General Assembly.
2.The SPT shall set the dates of future regular sessions in advance on an ongoing basis, in consultation with the Secretary-General.
Amendments to the agreed dates of future regular sessions shall be possible only after consultation with members at least six months
in advance of the set date.
3.The SPT and the Committee against Torture shall hold at least one session a year simultaneously, in accordance with article 10,
paragraph 3, of the Optional Protocol.
4.In addition to regular sessions, special sessions shall be held at dates agreed by the SPT, in consultation with the SecretaryGeneral.
Rule 2Place of sessions
Sessions of the SPT shall normally be held at the United Nations Office at Geneva. Another venue for a session may be designated
by the SPT, in consultation with the Secretary-General, taking into account the calendar of conferences approved by the General
Assembly and rule 16 of the SPT rules of procedure.
Rule 3Notification of sessions
The Secretary-General shall notify the members of the SPT of the date, duration and place of each session as early as possible, but
no later than two months prior to the beginning of the session concerned, such date being in accordance with the dates agreed in
advance by the SPT (see rule 1).
Rule 4Provisional agenda and draft order of business
1.The provisional agenda and the draft order of business for a session shall be prepared by the secretariat of the SPT (hereinafter
“the Secretariat”), in consultation with the Bureau of the SPT, no later than one month prior to the beginning of the session. They shall
be transmitted in the working languages of the SPT at least two weeks prior to the opening of the session, and shall contain the issues
agreed for discussion by the SPT at the previous session, as well as other issues proposed by the Chairperson, the Bureau or the
Secretariat.
2.The first item on the provisional agenda and draft order of business of any session shall be amendments to and adoption of the
agenda and order of business.
3.The agenda and order of business may be revised by the SPT in the course of the session in the light of the emerging needs.
Rule 5Transmission of documentation