A/70/44 52. The Rapporteur expresses appreciation for the information provided by these States parties regarding measures taken to implement their obligations under the Convention. He assesses the responses received as to whether all the items designated by the Committee for follow-up have been addressed, whether the information provided responds to the Committee’s concern, and whether further information is required. Where further information is needed, he writes to the State party concerned with specific requests for further clarification. Each letter responds specifically and in detail to the information presented by the State party. 53. The Rapporteur also expresses appreciation for the information submitted by national human rights institutions, human rights NGOs and civil society groups under the follow-up procedure. As at 15 May 2015, the Committee had received follow-up reports from such sources on the following State parties, in the order of receipt: Peru, the United Kingdom, the Netherlands, Kenya, Tajikistan and the United States of America. 12 54. At the fifty-third and fifty-fourth sessions, the Rapporteur for follow-up to concluding observations submitted progress reports to the Committee on the procedure, as has been done at previous sessions. In November 2014, in his oral report to the Committee, the Rapporteur said that, in the light of the treaty body strengthening process and the Convention against Torture Initiative to ensure universal ratification within 10 years, it was incumbent upon the Committee to enhance the follow-up procedure. He also said that two overriding questions were how to strengthen compliance with the Convention and how to measure the extent of that compliance. In May 2015, he suggested that the follow-up procedure could be strengthened in several ways, such as by making the recommendations clearer and more implementable, inviting State parties to meet with the Committee on follow -up, using an assessment grading system to evaluate compliance, and using quantitative indicators to assist with the assessment of implementation. He also highlighted the role of civil society organizations in the follow-up procedure. V. Activities of the Committee under article 20 of the Convention A. General information 55. In accordance with article 20 (1), of the Convention, if the Committee receives reliable information that appears to it to contain well-founded indications that torture is being systematically practised in the territory of a State party, the Committee shall invite that State party to cooperate in the examination of the information and, to that end, to submit observations with regard to the information concerned. 56. In accordance with rule 75 of the Committee’s rules of procedure, the SecretaryGeneral shall bring to the attention of the Committee information that is, or appears to be, submitted for the Committee’s consideration under article 20 (1) of the Convention. 57. No information shall be received by the Committee if it concerns a State party that, in accordance with article 28 (1) of the Convention, declared at the time of ratification of or accession to the Convention that it did not recognize the competence of the Committee provided for in article 20, unless that State party has subsequently withdrawn its reservation in accordance with article 28 (2) of the Convention. __________________ 12 GE.15-13195 These submissions are also available from the web page for follow -up. 17/24