A/72/44 E. Activities of the Committee in connection with the Optional Protocol to the Convention 11. As at 12 May 2017, there were 83 States parties to the Optional Protocol to the Convention (see http://treaties.un.org). As required by the Optional Protocol, on 16 November 2016, a joint meeting was held between the members of the Committee and the Subcommittee on Prevention of Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment. The Committee and the Subcommittee on Prevention of Torture strengthened their cooperation through their active joint participation in a workshop on the revised United Nations Standard Minimum Rules for the Treatment of Prisoners (the Nelson Mandela Rules). The event was facilitated by the Association for the Prevention of Torture and Penal Reform International. The Chair, Mr. Modvig, and Vice-Chair, Ms. Gaer, also actively participated in the event marking the tenth anniversary of the entry into force of the Optional Protocol, held on 17 November 2016 in Geneva. 12. An additional meeting was held on 5 May 2017 between the Committee and the Chair of the Subcommittee on Prevention of Torture, at which the latter presented to the Committee the tenth public annual report of the Subcommittee (CAT/C/60/3). F. Joint statement on the occasion of the United Nations International Day in Support of Victims of Torture and cooperation with the Board of Trustees of the United Nations Voluntary Fund for Victims of Torture 13. The Committee adopted a joint statement with the Subcommittee on Prevention of Torture, the Special Rapporteur on torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment and the Board of Trustees of the United Nations Voluntary Fund for Victims of Torture for issuance on 26 June 2016, the United Nations International Day in Support of Victims of Torture (see the web page of the Voluntary Fund at www.ohchr.org/EN/Issues/Torture/UNVFT/Pages/IntlDay.aspx). On 6 October 2016, the Chair of the Committee participated in the forty-fourth session of the Board of Trustees of the Voluntary Fund together with the Chair of the Subcommittee on Prevention of Torture in order to discuss issues of common interest and areas of cooperation. At its sixtieth session, the Committee participated in a workshop on torture victims in the context of migration organized by the Board of Trustees of the Voluntary Fund. G. Revised general comment on article 3 of the Convention 14. At its fifty-fifth session, the Committee decided to revise general comment No. 1 (1997) on article 3. At its fifty-sixth session, it held a preliminary discussion on the main issues to be discussed in the context of the revised general comment. At its fifty-seventh and fifty-eighth sessions, it discussed a list of topics to be covered in the revised general comment. At its fifty-ninth session, it completed its first reading of the draft revised general comment (CAT/C/60/R.2, available on the Committee web page). At its sixtieth session, it held a public consultation that was preceded by a call for written input (available on the Committee web page) from all relevant stakeholders, including States, United Nations human rights mechanisms, other relevant international entities and civil society representatives. A working group composed of Mr. Bruni (rapporteur), Ms. Gaer and Mr. Hani has been entrusted with the drafting process. The Committee will undertake its second reading of the draft general comment at its sixty-first session. H. Participation of non-governmental organizations 15. The Committee has long recognized the work of non-governmental organizations and has met with them in private on the day immediately before the consideration of each State party report submitted under article 19 of the Convention. The Committee expresses its appreciation to those organizations for their participation in the meetings and is particularly appreciative of the attendance of national non-governmental organizations, 2