I. ORGANIZATIONAL AND OTHER MATTERS A. States parties to the Convention 1. As at 21 May 2004, the closing date of the thirty-second session of the Committee against Torture, there were 136 States parties to the Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment. The Convention was adopted by the General Assembly in resolution 39/46 of 10 December 1984 and entered into force on 26 June 1987. 2. Since the last report, the Congo, Maldives and Swaziland have become parties to the Convention. Furthermore, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Chile and Ukraine have made the declaration under articles 21 and 22, whereas Burundi and Guatemala made the declaration under article 22. Ukraine withdrew its reservation to article 20 of the Convention. The list of States which have signed, ratified or acceded to the Convention is contained in annex I to the present report. The States parties that have declared that they do not recognize the competence of the Committee provided for by article 20 of the Convention are listed in annex II. The States parties that have made declarations provided for in articles 21 and 22 of the Convention are listed in annex III. 3. The text of the declarations, reservations or objections made by States parties with respect to the Convention may be found in the United Nations web site (www.un.org - Site index - treaties). B. Sessions of the Committee 4. The Committee against Torture has held two sessions since the adoption of its last annual report. The thirty-first session (574th to 591st meetings) was held at the United Nations Office at Geneva from 10 to 21 November 2003, and the thirty-second session (592nd to 619th meetings) was held from 3 to 21 May 2004. An account of the deliberations of the Committee at these two sessions is contained in the relevant summary records (CAT/C/SR.574-619). C. Elections, membership and attendance at sessions 5. In accordance with article 17 of the Convention, the Ninth Meeting of States Parties to the Convention was held at the United Nations Office at Geneva on 26th November 2003. The following five members of the Committee were elected or re-elected for a term of four years beginning on 1 January 2004: Mr. Guibril Camara (Senegal), Ms. Felice Gaer (United States of America), Mr. Claudio Grossman (Chile), Mr. Andreas Mavrommatis (Cyprus) and Mr. Julio Prado Vallejo (Ecuador). The list of members with their terms of office appears in annex IV to the present report. D. Solemn declaration by the newly elected members 6. At the 574th meeting on 10 November 2003, Mr. Grossman, designated to replace Mr. Alejandro González Poblete, made the solemn declaration upon assuming his duties, in accordance with rule 14 of the rules of procedure. At the 592nd meeting, on 3 May 2004, Mr. Prado Vallejo, newly elected member, also made his solemn declaration. 7