CAT/OP/C/57/4 Subcommittee had transmitted a total of 39 visit reports to States parties and national preventive mechanisms, including 4 within the reporting period to Ecuador, Maldives, Malta and Nauru. Twenty-one Subcommittee visit reports had been made public following requests from recipients under article 16 (2) of the Optional Protocol, including one within the reporting period to the national preventive mechanism of Ecuador. While fully respecting the principle and right of confidentiality provided for in the Optional Protocol, the Subcommittee believes that publication of its visit reports reflects the spirit of transparency on which preventive visiting is based, and it encourages report recipients to authorize their publication. 17. In conformity with established practice, recipients are requested to reply to visit reports within six months of their transmission, giving a full account of action taken to implement the recommendations they contain. During the reporting period the Subcommittee received a reply from Gabon to its report. The Subcommittee considers the replies from the following States parties to be overdue: Cambodia, Honduras, Kyrgyzstan, Liberia, Mali, Malta, Nigeria, Peru, Republic of Moldova and Senegal. It considers the replies from the national preventive mechanisms of the following States parties to be overdue: Armenia, Republic of Moldova and Senegal. 18. At its twenty-fifth session, the Subcommittee decided to streamline its follow-up procedure by ceasing to submit written responses to replies received. In order to facilitate a more effective and interactive follow-up procedure, it was decided that at the end of each visit, the State party would be invited to discuss and agree upon the most effective means of engaging in dialogue with the Subcommittee. In addition, at the session following each visit, a meeting would be held, either in person, through electronic conferencing or with the Permanent Mission, as appropriate, in order to initiate a more focused post-visit dialogue process. E. Developments concerning national preventive mechanisms 19. Of the 80 States parties to the Optional Protocol, 54 have officially notified the Subcommittee of the designation of their national preventive mechanisms, information concerning which is listed on the Subcommittee website. 20. In 2015, the Subcommittee received three official notifications of designation, from Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and Romania. 21. As at the end of 2015, the one-year deadline for the designation of a national preventive mechanism provided for under article 17 of the Optional Protocol had not expired for four States parties: Belize, Mongolia, Rwanda and South Sudan. 22. As at 31 December 2015, 19 States parties had not complied with their obligations under article 17 of the Optional Protocol. That is the same number as at the end of 2014. It is a matter of great concern to the Subcommittee, particularly since some States parties appear to be making little progress in fulfilling their obligations. At each Subcommittee session, the regional teams review progress towards the fulfilment of each State party’s obligation, making appropriate recommendations to the plenary on how the Subcommittee can best advise and assist the States parties concerned, in accordance with its mandate under article 11 (b) (i) of the Optional Protocol. At its twenty-seventh session, the Subcommittee decided to ask its regional teams to identify those States parties that appeared to be making little real progress and report back to the plenary at the twentyeighth session, with a view to the Subcommittee making its concerns public. 23. The Subcommittee has continued to engage in dialogue with States parties at its sessions concerning the designation or functioning of their national preventive mechanisms. At its twenty-fifth, twenty-sixth and twenty-seventh sessions, it held meetings with the 5