to advance the procedure. 152.The Committee endorsed the report of the two members and, in accordance with article 20, paragraph 4, of the Convention, decided to transmit it to the Government of Mexico. At the same time, the Committee invited the Government to inform it of the action taken with regard to its findings and in response to its conclusions and recommendations. 153.On 31 August 2002, the Government submitted the information requested, whereby it reiterated its commitment to the implementation of the Convention and the importance it attached to the conclusions and recommendations of the Committee. It also promised to analyse them carefully with a view to adopting policies and actions for their implementation. On 20 February 2003, the Government of Mexico informed the Committee that it agreed to the publication of the full text of the report together with the Government’s response. At its thirtieth session the Committee decided to publish the report and the response. Both are contained in document CAT/C/75. V.CONSIDERATION OF COMPLAINTS UNDERARTICLE 22 OF THE CONVENTION 154.Under article 22 of the Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment, individuals who claim to be victims of a violation by a State party of the provisions of the Convention may submit a complaint to the Committee against Torture for consideration, subject to the conditions laid down in that article. Fifty one out of 133 States that have acceded to or ratified the Convention have declared that they recognize the competence of the Committee to receive and consider complaints under article 22 of the Convention. The list of those States is contained in annex III. No complaint may be considered by the Committee if it concerns a State party to the Convention that has not recognized the Committee’s competence under article 22. 155.Consideration of complaints under article 22 of the Convention takes place in closed meetings (art. 22, para. 6). All documents pertaining to the work of the Committee under article 22, i.e. submissions from the parties and other working documents of the Committee, are confidential. 156.Pursuant to rule 107 of the rules of procedure, with a view to reaching a decision on the admissibility of a complaint, the Committee, its working group, or a rapporteur designated under rules 98 or 106, paragraph 3, shall ascertain: that the individual claims to be a victim of a violation by the State party concerned of the provisions of the Convention; that the complaint is not an abuse of the Committee’s process or manifestly unfounded; that it is not incompatible with the provisions of the Convention; that the same matter has not been and is not being examined under another procedure of international investigation or settlement; that the complainant has exhausted all available domestic remedies and that the time elapsed since the exhaustion of domestic remedies is not unreasonably prolonged as to render consideration of the claims unduly difficult for the Committee or the State party. 157.Pursuant to rule 109 of the rules of procedure, a complaint shall be transmitted as soon as possible after registration to the State party, requesting a written reply within six months. Unless the Committee, the working group or a rapporteur decide, because of the exceptional nature of the case, to request a reply only in respect of the question of admissibility, the State party shall include in its reply explanations or statements relating both to the admissibility and the merits of the complaint, as well as to any remedy that may have been provided. A State party may apply, within two months, for the complaint to be rejected as inadmissible. The Committee, or the Rapporteur for new complaints and interim measures, may agree or refuse to split consideration of admissibility from that of the merits. Following a separate decision on admissibility, the Committee sets the deadline for submissions on a case-by-case basis. The Committee, its working group or rapporteur(s) may request the State party concerned or the complainant to submit additional written information, clarifications or observations, and shall indicate a time limit for their submission. Within such time limit as indicated by the Committee, its working group or rapporteur(s), the State party or the complainant may be afforded an opportunity to comment on any submission received from the other party. Non receipt of submissions or comments should not generally delay the consideration of the complaint, and the Committee or its working group may decide to consider the admissibility and/or merits in the light of available information. 158.The Committee concludes examination of a complaint by formulating a decision thereon in the light of all information made available to it by the complainant and the State party. The findings of the Committee are communicated to the parties (article 22, paragraph 7, of the Convention and rule 112 of the rules of procedure) and are made available to the general public. The text of the Committee’s decisions declaring complaints inadmissible under article 22 of the Convention is also made public without disclosing the identity of the complainant, but identifying the State party concerned. 159.Pursuant to rule 115, paragraph 1, of its rules of procedure, the Committee may decide to include in its annual report a summary of the complaints examined. The Committee shall also include in its annual report the text of its decisions under article 22, paragraph 7, of the Convention. 160.Finally, the Committee appointed Mr. El Masry as Rapporteur on follow up to decisions adopted on merits, to replace Mr. González Poblete. A. Pre-sessional working group 161.At its twenty-ninth session, the Committee’s pre-sessional working group met for five days, prior to the plenary session, to assist the Committee in its work under article 22. The following members participated in it: Mr. Camara, Mr. González Poblete, Mr. Mariño Menendez and Mr. Yakovlev. Prior to the thirtieth session, the working group met for three days with the same purpose. It was composed of Mr. El Masry, Mr. Mariño Menendez, Mr. Yakovlev and Mr. Yu Mengjia. B. Interim measures of protection 162.Complainants frequently request preventive protection, particularly in cases concerning imminent expulsion or extradition where