torture and other forms of inhuman treatment, respectively.5 However, the system continues to be underutilized—sometimes because of lack of knowledge or, in other cases, because victims lack protection. In addition, we have not yet achieved universal acceptance of Article 22. as required by Article 14 of the Convention.8 The Committee recently adopted General Comment No. 3 on this topic, an important guidance tool for those who utilize Article 22.9 During today’s convening, we will explore the different experiences and challenges that led to this General Comment and its impact on individual complaints before the Committee. It is our intention that today’s conference will address these vital issues, as well as the use of interim measures by the Committee. Because victims often lack protection and those who submit complaints may be particularly vulnerable, the Committee issues interim measures to avoid irreparable harm.6 Such measures obligate the relevant state to protect alleged victims, and those who cooperate with the Committee, while the Committee reviews and evaluates the complaint. The Committee also emphasizes necessary actions in its Concluding Observations. As an example of this, you can read the 2011 Concluding Observations for Madagascar, in which the Committee concluded that “the State party should strengthen the complaints mechanisms available to victims and ensure that they obtain redress and are provided with the means of achieving social reintegration and psychological rehabilitation. The State party should ensure that persons lodging such complaints, witnesses and members of their families are protected from any act of intimidation in connection with their complaint or testimony.”7 Now, I am pleased to have here Mr. Gerald Staberock, the Secretary-General of the World Organisation Against Torture, who along with the OMCT staff, co-organized this event, and Ms. Gisella Gori, Senior Political Advisor in the Political, Security, and Government section of the delegation of the European Union to the United States. Gerald Staberock has been OMCT Secretary-General since September 2011, and since its creation in 1995, OMCT has been the main coalition of international NGOs fighting against torture, summary execution, forced disappearances, and other cruel, inhuman, and degrading treatment. With 311 affiliated organizations, the SOS Torture Network, and many tens of thousands of supporters in many countries, OMCT represents a critically important network of NGOs working for the protection of victims of torture in the world. Prior to joining OMCT, Mr. Staberock worked for more than eight years with the International Commission of Jurists (ICJ), including as Director of the Center for Independence of Judges and Lawyers, and as Director of the Rule of Law Initiative. In this context, he coordinated the most comprehensive program on law, counterterrorism and human rights, with a high level panel of jurists—the well-known ICJ Eminent Jurists Panel. Procedural issues also have an important bearing on victims’ access to justice—these issues include the duration of both domestic and international procedures, the availability of lawyers, standards of proof, and burdens of proof, amongst others. Thus far, with one exception, the individual complaints procedure has been completely in writing. The Committee does not hold hearings or directly examine witnesses; it has only a written record on which to make its decisions. Everyone’s contribution today and ongoing collaboration will be crucial to shed light on different provisions and practices in order to further improve our mission and consider whether expansion is feasible. I hope this convening will lead to fruitful discussions that will enrich the understanding both of governments and of individuals regarding how these important legal procedures function and how they could be further developed. Gisella Gori is Senior Political Advisor in the delegation of the European Union to the United States, working on human rights and democracy, the UN and multilateral issues, international humanitarian law and Guantánamo, and other legal issues. Since 2002, Dr. Gori has worked at the Council of Europe as Director General of Human Rights and Legal Affairs, Department of Execution of Judgments and Human Rights in Strasbourg, France. She specializes in European Union law, international human rights law, human rights mechanisms, economic, social and cultural rights, and education and law. She teaches EU Law at George Washington University Law School, for which we will forgive her. When it is established that a state is responsible for violation of the Convention, it must provide redress and rehabilitation Remarks of Gisella Gori* T hank you. Good morning everyone and thank you for having invited the European Union here. Thanks to the American University Washington College of Law and the World Organisation Against Torture. I’m honored to be here with you, to give some preliminary remarks. Since my Ambassador, Mr. Vale de Almeida, was prevented from being here due to other commitments, I was asked to provide you with some introductory remarks. First of all, I would like to underline just how much the European Union is firmly committed to upholding the absolute prohibition of torture and cruel, inhuman, and degrading treatment or punishment. The prevention and eradication of torture is one of our priorities * Gisella Gori is a Senior Political Advisor with the Delegation of the European Union to the United States. 2