CAT/C/44/2* their respective mandates. Likewise, at the regional level, a seminar held in December 2009, attended by Mr. Mario Coriolano, Vice-Chairperson of the Subcommittee, and members of ICRC, emphasized the importance of the role of health workers in the prevention of torture and ill-treatment, by their dissemination of best practices (see annex V). 65. The Optional Protocol provides that the Subcommittee shall consult with bodies established under regional conventions with a view to cooperating with them and avoiding duplication, in order to promote effectively the objectives of the Optional Protocol to prevent torture and other forms of ill-treatment. 66. During the reporting period, the Subcommittee has maintained close contacts with the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (IACHR). Mr. Mario Coriolano, in his capacity as focal point for the inter-American regional system, attended an international workshop organized by OHCHR and the Organization of American States (OAS) in Washington D.C. on 8 and 9 December, on the strengthening of cooperation between the international, regional and local human rights protection systems. 67. During the eighth session of the Subcommittee, Ms. Dupe Atoki, then ViceChairperson of the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights and the Commission’s Special Rapporteur on Prisons and Conditions of Detention in Africa, met with the plenary to discuss common issues regarding the prevention of torture and to set up cooperation between the two bodies. 68. The Subcommittee likewise continued to have close contact with the European Committee for the Prevention of Torture and Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment (CPT). Members of the Subcommittee met with CPT in the course of a Council of Europe-sponsored workshop held in Strasbourg, France, on 6 November. The workshop was part of a pilot project being conducted by the Council of Europe and the Association for the Prevention of Torture (APT) on support for the establishment and training of national preventive mechanisms in Europe; the main topic was improvement of cooperation. C. Relations with civil society 69. During the reporting period, the Subcommittee worked in close contact with international and national NGOs20 engaged in strengthening the protection of all persons against torture. 70. The Subcommittee has remained in close contact with the Bristol University (United Kingdom) OPCAT Project and has exchanged ideas and views on a number of issues central to the Subcommittee’s work. The project team has been involved in organizing regional activities and has provided a critical external academic perspective concerning aspects of the Subcommittee’s work, for which the Subcommittee is very grateful. The last meeting was held in May 2009, when several members of the Subcommittee took part in a workshop in Bristol which looked at questions related to prevention of torture. 71. The OPCAT Contact Group has continued to assist, advise and support the Subcommittee. It has become Subcommittee practice to meet with the Contact Group during each of its plenary sessions. In the last two meetings there was a wide-ranging debate on the scope and definition of the concept of prevention of torture. 20 18 In accordance with article 11 (c) of the Optional Protocol. GE.10-41876