E/CN.4/1998/38 page 4 Introduction 1. The mandate of the Special Rapporteur on torture, assigned since April 1993 to Mr. Nigel S. Rodley (United Kingdom), was renewed for three more years by Commission resolution 1995/37 B. In conformity with this resolution and with resolution 1997/38, the Special Rapporteur hereby presents his fifth report to the Commission. Chapter I deals with a number of aspects pertaining to the mandate and methods of work. Chapter II summarizes his activities during 1997. Chapter III consists mainly of a review of the information transmitted by the Special Rapporteur to Governments, as well as the replies received, from 15 December 1996 to 5 December 1997. Chapter IV contains conclusions and recommendations. 2. In addition to the above-mentioned resolutions, several other resolutions adopted or reaffirmed by the Commission on Human Rights at its fifty-third session are also pertinent within the framework of the mandate of the Special Rapporteur and have been taken into consideration in examining and analysing the information brought to his attention. These resolutions are, in particular: decision 1997/106 reaffirming resolution 1996/32, “Human rights in the administration of justice, particularly with respect to children and juveniles in detention”; resolution 1997/16, “Rights of persons belonging to national or ethnic, religious and linguistic minorities”; resolution 1997/27, “Right to freedom of opinion and expression”; resolution 1997/28, “Hostage-taking”; resolution 1997/37, “Human rights and thematic procedures”; resolution 1997/39, “Internally displaced persons”; resolution 1997/42, “Human rights and terrorism”; resolution 1997/43, “Integrating the human rights of women throughout the United Nations system”; resolution 1997/44, “The elimination of violence against women”; resolution 1997/46, “Advisory services, technical cooperation and the Voluntary Fund for Technical Cooperation in the Field of Human Rights”; resolution 1997/56, “Cooperation with representatives of the United Nations human rights bodies”; resolution 1997/69, “Comprehensive implementation of and follow-up to the Vienna Declaration and Programme of Action”; resolution 1997/75, “Human rights and mass exoduses”; resolution 1997/78, “Rights of the Child”. I. MANDATE AND METHODS OF WORK 3. No mandate-related issues have arisen during the year under review, nor have there been any new developments in the methods of work of the Special Rapporteur. Nevertheless, the Special Rapporteur wishes to assure the Commission on Human Rights that he has continued its practice of cooperating with the holders of other Commission mandates to avoid duplication of activity in respect of country-specific initiatives. Thus, he has sent urgent appeals or transmitted information alleging violations within his mandate to Governments, or sought joint missions to Member States, in conjunction with the following mechanisms: the Working Groups on Enforced or Involuntary Disappearances and on Arbitrary Detention and the Special Rapporteurs on extrajudicial, summary or arbitrary executions; independence of judges and lawyers; freedom of opinion and expression; elimination of violence against women; Afghanistan; the Islamic Republic of Iran; Myanmar; the Sudan; the Democratic Republic of the Congo; Rwanda; and Burundi.