12 In addition to ensuring that the different requirements spelt out in Article 4, paragraphs 2 and 4, of the Convention are met, care should be taken during the selection process that candidates for CPT membership have a working knowledge of at least one of the two official languages (English and French). This is a prerequisite for making an effective contribution to the Committee's activities. 29. Resolution 1540 stipulates that a list of candidates which does not include at least one man and one woman will be rejected, except when all candidates on the list are of the sex under-represented on the CPT (i.e. less than 40%). The proportion of women among the CPT’s membership is currently rather low, standing at 13 out of 45. The Committee therefore hopes that future lists of candidates will include more suitably qualified women. However, the paramount objective is a highly qualified membership, in terms of professional expertise and empirical experience; the question of gender should not predominate over that of qualification. 30. The CPT has at present a relatively good spread of professional experience within its membership. Nevertheless, there is a predominance of expertise in the field of prisons. The Committee requires more members with first-hand knowledge of the work of law enforcement agencies (police/gendarmerie). The CPT would also benefit from the presence among its members of more doctors with relevant forensic skills (in particular as regards the observing and recording of physical injuries), of more persons with specialised knowledge of immigration issues, and of a specialist in child psychiatry. 31. As regards the Bureau of the CPT, Ms Silvia Casale resigned from the office of President of the CPT at the Committee’s March 2007 meeting. This followed her election as Chairperson of the UN Subcommittee on Prevention of Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment. The CPT elected Mr Mauro Palma, an Italian specialist on prison issues, as its new President. Ms Renate Kicker, an Austrian Professor of Public International Law, was elected as the 1st VicePresident, replacing Mr Palma who formerly held that post. Mr Andres Lehtmets, an Estonian psychiatrist, remains as the Committee’s 2nd Vice-President. The CPT wishes to place on record its appreciation of Ms Casale’s outstanding contribution to the Committee’s activities during the seven years that she served as its President, and is very pleased that she remains a member of the Committee. CPT: 17TH GENERAL REPORT Administrative and budgetary questions 32. The departure of the long-time Deputy Executive Secretary, Ms Geneviève Mayer, on 1 September 2006 led to a number of changes at senior level within the CPT’s Secretariat. Other experienced administrators (Mr Edo Korljan) and assistants (Ms Janey Cope, Ms Maia Mamulashvili and Ms Morag Young) have also left the CPT's Secretariat over the last twelve months. The CPT wishes to sincerely thank all of the above-mentioned persons for their contributions to the CPT's work. The present composition of the CPT's Secretariat is set out in Appendix 6. The CPT is pleased that Division 3 has now been brought up to the same strength as the other two Divisions in terms of A grade staff. The Committee hopes that current vacancies in its Secretariat will soon be filled by suitably qualified staff and that Division 3 will in due course be reinforced by a B4 post (Administrative assistant). 33. The CPT understands that it is proposed to allocate to the Committee budgetary appropriations for 185 visit days in 2008. The Committee welcomes this and hopes that the staff situation will evolve favourably so as to enable it to complete such a programme. As the CPT has emphasised in previous General Reports, the ultimate goal should be an annual programme of 200 visit days.