CAT/OP/C/57/4 I. Introduction 1. Pursuant to article 16 (3) of the Optional Protocol to the Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment, the ninth annual report, covering the Subcommittee’s activities from 1 January to 31 December 2015, was adopted by the Subcommittee at its twenty-eighth session, in February 2016. II. Year in review A. Participation in the Optional Protocol system 2. As at 31 December 2015, 80 States were party to the Optional Protocol.1 In 2015, four States ratified or acceded to the Optional Protocol: Mongolia (12 February), South Sudan (30 April), Rwanda (30 June) and Belize (4 September). 3. The pattern of regional participation was as follows: African States Asia-Pacific States 4. 9 Eastern European States 19 Latin American and Caribbean States 15 Western European and other States 19 The regional breakdown of the 18 signatory States was as follows: African States B. 18 12 Asia-Pacific States 1 Eastern European States 0 Latin American and Caribbean States 1 Western European and other States 4 Organizational and membership issues 5. During the reporting period (1 January-31 December 2015), the Subcommittee held three one-week sessions in Geneva: the twenty-fifth session (16-20 February), the twentysixth session (15-19 June) and the twenty-seventh session (16-20 November). 6. At the fifth meeting of States parties to the Optional Protocol, held on 23 October 2014, 13 members were elected to fill the vacancies arising in respect of members whose terms of office would expire on 31 December 2014. The terms of office of the newly elected members commenced on 1 January 2015 and will expire on 31 December 2018.2 Before assuming their duties, the newly elected members made a solemn declaration at the opening of the twenty-fifth session of the Subcommittee. 1 2 See www.ohchr.org/EN/HRBodies/OPCAT/ Pages/OPCATIndex.aspx. See www.ohchr.org/EN/HRBodies/OPCAT/Pages/Membership.aspx. 3