33. Country rapporteurs and alternate rapporteurs were designated by the Committee for each of the reports considered. The list appears in annex XII to the present report. 34. In connection with its consideration of reports, the Committee also had before it: (a) General guidelines regarding the form and contents of initial reports to be submitted by States parties under article 19, paragraph 1, of the Convention (CAT/C/4/Rev.2); (b) General guidelines regarding the form and contents of periodic reports to be submitted by States parties under article 19 of the Convention (CAT/C/14/Rev.1). 35. The text of concluding observations adopted by the Committee with respect to the above-mentioned reports submitted by States parties is reproduced below. 36. The Committee has been issuing lists of issues for periodic reports since 2004. This resulted from a request made to the Committee by representatives of the States parties at a meeting with Committee members. While the Committee understands States parties wish to have advance notice of the issues likely to be discussed during the dialogue, it nonetheless has to point out that the drafting of lists of issues has increased the Committee’s workload substantially. This is particularly significant in a Committee with such a small membership. 37. Belgium (1) The Committee considered the second periodic report of Belgium (CAT/C/BEL/2) at its 850th and 853rd meetings, held on 12 and 13 November 2008 (CAT/C/SR.850 and 853), and adopted, at its 860th meeting (CAT/C/SR.860), held on 19 November 2008, the following concluding observations. A. Introduction (2) The Committee welcomes the second periodic report of Belgium but regrets that the report was submitted four years late. The Committee expresses its appreciation for the extensive written replies to its list of issues (CAT/C/BEL/Q/2 and Add.1) as well as the very detailed additional information provided orally during the consideration of the report. Lastly, the Committee welcomes the constructive dialogue it enjoyed with the high-level delegation sent by the State party and thanks it for its frank and precise responses to the questions asked. B. Positive aspects (3) The Committee welcomes the progress made by the State party in the protection and promotion of human rights since its consideration of the State party’s initial report in 2003 (CAT/C/52/Add.2). The Committee notes with satisfaction that, since its consideration of the initial report, the State party has ratified the Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women on 17 June 2004 and signed the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities and its Optional Protocol and the International Convention for the Protection of All Persons from Enforced Disappearance on 13 December 2006 and 20 December 2006 respectively. The Committee encourages the State party to accede fully to those instruments. (4) The Committee takes note with satisfaction of the adoption or entry into force of the following laws: (a) Act of 12 January 2005 on principles governing the administration of prison establishments and the legal status of detainees; (b) Act of 18 May 2006 prohibiting invocation of (a state of) necessity to justify torture; (c) Act of 15 September 2006 amending the Act of 15 December 1980 on the entry, temporary and permanent residence and removal of aliens, which incorporates the subsidiary protection mechanism covering 9