I. Activities of the Committee in connection with the Optional Protocol to the Convention 13. The Chairperson of the Committee, Mr. Mavrommatis, attended the first session of the Subcommittee on Prevention of Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment from 19 to 23 February 2007. J. Joint statement on the occasion of the United Nations International Day in Support of Victims of Torture 14. The following statement was adopted to be issued on 26 June 2007, the International Day in Support of Victims of Torture: “We welcome the entry into force, last year, of the Optional Protocol to the Convention against Torture as an historic step in the fight against torture and other forms of ill-treatment. This Protocol provides for the establishment of independent national preventive mechanisms empowered to undertake visits to places of detention. The Optional Protocol deserves all possible support from States, the United Nations and civil society. The past year saw another welcome landmark: the adoption by the General Assembly of the International Convention for the Protection of All Persons from Enforced Disappearance. In view of the strong links between torture and enforced disappearances, this treaty brings hope to many who have despaired of the fate of their loved ones. This year the United Nations International Day in Support of Victims of Torture coincides with the twentieth anniversary of the entry into force of the Convention against Torture. During the past 20 years, this instrument has served to strengthen efforts to prevent torture and support victims. However its universal ratification is still to be achieved. We call on all States to become party to the Convention against Torture and make the declarations provided under articles 21 and 22 of the Convention, on inter-State and individual complaints, in order to maximize transparency and accountability in their fight against torture. States must also cooperate in good faith with the Committee against Torture in implementing its views and recommendations, including in its inquiry capacity. It is a matter of grave concern that some States have disregarded the Committee’s requests not to deport or remove individuals to countries where they run the risk of being tortured. We stress that such actions nullify the effective exercise of the international right of individual petition and seriously undermine the protection of the rights enshrined in the Convention. We remind States that have accepted the competence of the Committee against Torture to receive individual communications that they are bound to cooperate with the Committee in applying and giving full effect to the individual complaints procedure. 3