How to contribute to the different phases of an SPT country visit The SPT process of undertaking country visits can broadly be divided into four phases (Figure 1): the selection of countries to be visited; the preparation of the visit; the conduct of the visit; and follow up to the visit. This process is designed as a cycle that is supposed to repeat itself every four to five years.4 However, due to a lack of funding for logistical support to the SPT, the current capacity dictates a much longer time gap between visits to each of the countries that have ratified or acceded to the OPCAT. Figure 1 - The process of undertaking SPT country visits Through a strategic interaction with the SPT, NGOs can contribute and support the process in each of the four phases. In order to do this effectively, it is important to understand how the SPT works in each of these phases and what are the appropriate methods for contributing to its work. Before looking at the four different phases, it is important to introduce a few general considerations that should guide the interaction with the SPT: • The SPT is composed of independent experts who are working full-time jobs in addition to their work for SPT. Furthermore, the capacity of the SPT Secretariat to provide substantive logistical support is limited by a lack of sufficient funding allocated from the overall UN budget. For these reasons, it is important that any information provided to the SPT is focused within the SPT mandate and not more extensive than necessary. • The mandate of the 25 SPT members currently covers 62 countries and this number is expected to increase in the coming years. This means that 4. Third annual report of the Subcommittee on Prevention of Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment, CAT/C/44/2(25 March 2010), paragraph 21 8 Working with the UN Subcommittee on Prevention of Torture: A practical guide for NGOs engaging with SPT country visits