A/69/44
K.
Informal meeting with the States parties to the Convention
19.
At its fifty-second session, on 29 April 2014, the Committee held an informal
meeting with States parties to the Convention, which was attended by representatives of 22
States parties. The Committee and the States parties discussed the following issues: the
procedure relating to lists of issues prior to reporting; the new initiative for the universal
ratification and implementation of the Convention, launched by Chile, Denmark, Ghana,
Indonesia, Morocco and Togo in association with the Association for the Prevention of
Torture; the relationship between the universal periodic review and the examination of
reports by treaty bodies; follow-up to the recommendations of the Committee; the dialogue
between State parties and the Committee; national preventive mechanisms and how they
operate; the issue of reprisals; the delays in presenting periodic reports by State parties; and
the implementation of concluding observations.
L.
Participation of non-governmental organizations
20.
At its fifty-second session, on 2 May 2014, the Committee held an informal meeting
with representatives of 11 non-governmental organizations (NGOs) that provide
information to the Committee, and discussed the following issues: how, in practice, the
Committee may provide assistance in cases of reprisal; the need to revise the format of the
dialogue to ensure a more interactive exchange; the new initiative for the universal
ratification and implementation of the Convention launched by Chile, Denmark, Ghana,
Indonesia, Morocco and Togo in association with the Association for the Prevention of
Torture; the use of indicators in the context of identifying the difficulties in ratifying and
implementing the Convention; the need for the Committee to undertake a new general
comment; the format of NGO briefings to the Committee; the consideration of States
parties in the absence of a report; the urgent need to revise general comment No. 1 (1997)
on the implementation of article 3 of the Convention, as it is seriously outdated; the treaty
body strengthening process and the implementation of General Assembly resolution 68/268
on strengthening and enhancing the effective functioning of the human rights treaty body
system; the participation of the Committee in the revision of the United Nations Standard
Minimum Rules for the Treatment of Prisoners; the thirtieth anniversary of the Convention;
the absence of cooperation of some States parties with the Committee and the failure of
some States parties to comply with their reporting obligations; the delay between the
adoption of the list of issues prior to reporting and the submission by States parties of their
report; the need to follow up on the confidential inquiry procedure; and the timely
consideration of individual communications.
21.
The Committee has long recognized the work of NGOs and has met with them in
private, with interpretation, on the day immediately before the consideration of each State
party report under article 19 of the Convention. The Committee expresses its appreciation
to the NGOs for their participation in these meetings, and is particularly appreciative of the
attendance of national NGOs which provide immediate and direct information.
M.
Participation of national human rights institutions
22.
Similarly, the Committee has long recognized the work of national human rights
institutions (NHRIs); country rapporteurs, together with any other Committee member
wishing to attend, have met with the representatives of the NHRIs, if requested, before the
consideration of each State party report under article 19 of the Convention. The Committee
expresses its appreciation to the NHRIs for the information it receives from those
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