CAT/C/44/2* experience and lessons learnt in order to discharge the three pillars of the Subcommittee’s mandate, namely: • Visits to places of deprivation of liberty • Direct contact with national mechanisms for the prevention of torture • Cooperation with United Nations bodies, international and regional organizations and national bodies working in related areas 8. Article 25 of the Optional Protocol states that the “expenditure incurred by the Subcommittee on Prevention in the implementation of the present Protocol shall be borne by the United Nations” and that the “Secretary-General of the United Nations shall provide the necessary staff and facilities for the effective performance of the functions of the Subcommittee on Prevention under the present Protocol”. During its third year, the Subcommittee executed its allocated budget in carrying out three visits planned for the year, but the schedule when the remaining 15 members take their seats should comprise at least eight visits a year. 9. During the reporting period the Subcommittee has developed a growth strategy which has meant that, despite not having the resources to carry out more visits or activities under its mandate, it has adopted creative measures to leverage the limited resources at its disposal, as it is still confronted by gaps in the budget that will have to be covered in the next biennium if all the Subcommittee’s tasks under the Optional Protocol are to be discharged. II. Mandate of the Subcommittee on Prevention of Torture A. Objectives of the Optional Protocol to the Convention against Torture 10. Article 1 of the Optional Protocol provides for a system of regular visits by mechanisms at the international and national levels to prevent torture or other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment. The Subcommittee conceives this system as an interlocking network of mechanisms carrying out visits and other related functions under their preventive mandates in cooperation with each other. Good relations and communications between the visiting bodies working at different levels need to be developed and maintained in order to avoid duplication and to use scarce resources to best effect. The Subcommittee has a mandate to engage directly with other visiting mechanisms, both at the international and the national levels. During the reporting period it has continued to seek ways to promote synergy among those working in the field of prevention. B. Key features of the mandate of the Subcommittee on Prevention of Torture 11. The mandate of the Subcommittee is set out in the Optional Protocol in article 11. This establishes that the Subcommittee shall: (a) Visit places where persons are or may be deprived of liberty and make recommendations to the States parties on the protection of persons deprived of their liberty from torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment; 6 (b) In regard to national preventive mechanisms: (i) Advise and assist States parties, when necessary, in their establishment; GE.10-41876