I.
ORGANIZATIONAL AND OTHER MATTERS
A.
States parties to the Convention
1.
As at 5 May 1995, the closing date of the fourteenth session of the
Committee against Torture, there were 88 States parties to the Convention
against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment.
The Convention was adopted by the General Assembly in resolution 39/46 of
10 December 1984 and opened for signature and ratification in New York on
4 February 1985. It entered into force on 26 June 1987 in accordance with the
provisions of its article 27. A list of States which have signed, ratified or
acceded to the Convention together with an indication of those that have made
declarations under articles 21 and 22 of the Convention is contained in annex I
to the present report.
2.
The text of the declarations, reservations or objections made by States
parties with respect to the Convention are reproduced in document CAT/C/2/Rev.3.
B.
Opening and duration of the sessions
3.
The Committee against Torture has held two sessions since the adoption of
its last annual report. The thirteenth and fourteenth sessions of the Committee
were held at the United Nations Office at Geneva from 7 to 18 November 1994 and
from 24 April to 5 May 1995, respectively.
4.
At its thirteenth session the Committee held 18 meetings (190th to 207th
meeting) and at its fourteenth session the Committee held 19 meetings (208th to
226th meeting). An account of the deliberations of the Committee at its
thirteenth and fourteenth sessions is contained in the relevant summary records
(CAT/C/SR.190-226).
C.
Membership and attendance
5.
In accordance with article 17, paragraph 6, of the Convention and rule 13
of the Committee’s rules of procedure, Mr. Hassib Ben Ammar, by a letter dated
6 January 1995, informed the Secretary-General of his decision to cease his
functions as a member of the Committee. By a note dated 31 January 1995, the
Government of Tunisia informed the Secretary-General of its decision to appoint,
subject to the approval of the States parties, Mr. Habib Slim to serve for the
remainder of Mr. Ben Ammar’s term on the Committee, which will expire on
31 December 1995.
6.
Since none of the States parties to the Convention responded negatively
within the six-week period after having been informed by the Secretary-General
of the proposed appointment, the Secretary-General considered that they had
approved the appointment of Mr. Slim as a member of the Committee, in accordance
with the above-mentioned provisions. The list of the members of the Committee
in 1995, together with an indication of the duration of their term of office,
appears in annex II to the present report.
7.
All the members attended the thirteenth session of the Committee. The
fourteenth session of the Committee was attended by all the members, except
Mr. Hugo Lorenzo, who was not authorized to travel by the United Nations on the
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