CAT/C/54/2 I. Introduction 1. Article 16, paragraph 3, of the Optional Protocol to the Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment stipulates that the Subcommittee on Prevention of Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment shall present a public annual report on its activities to the Committee against Torture. Pursuant to that provision, the draft eighth annual report, covering the Subcommittee’s activities from 1 January to 31 December 2014, was considered and approved by the Subcommittee at its twenty-fourth session. II. The year in review A. Participation in the Optional Protocol system 2. As at 31 December 2014, 76 States were party to the Optional Protocol.1 In 2014, six States ratified or acceded to the Optional Protocol: Lithuania (20 January), Greece (11 February), Mozambique (1 July), Finland (8 October), Niger (7 November) and Morocco (24 November). 3. The pattern of regional participation was as follows: Africa Asia and the Pacific 4. 8 Eastern Europe 19 Latin American and Caribbean States 14 Western European and other States 19 The regional breakdown of the 20 signatory States was as follows: Africa B. 16 11 Asia and the Pacific 2 Eastern Europe 0 Latin American and Caribbean States 1 Western European and other States 6 Organizational and membership issues 5. During the reporting period (1 January–31 December 2014), the Subcommittee held three one-week sessions at the Office of the United Nations at Geneva: the twenty-second session (24–28 February), the twenty-third session (2–6 June) and the twenty-fourth session (17–21 November). 1 For a list of States parties, see the Subcommittee website at www.ohchr.org/EN/HRBodies/OPCAT/Pages/OPCATIndex.aspx. 3