IV. FOLLOW-UP ON CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS
ON STATES PARTIES REPORTS
38.
In Chapter IV of its annual report for 2004-2005 (A/60/44), the Committee described the
framework that it had developed to provide for follow-up subsequent to the adoption of the
concluding observations on States parties reports submitted under article 19 of the Convention. It
also presented information on the Committee’s experience in receiving information from States
parties from the initiation of the procedure in May 2003 through May 2005. This chapter updates
the Committee’s experience to 19 May 2006, the end of its thirty-sixth session.
39.
In accordance with rule 68, paragraph 2, of the rules of procedure, the Committee established
the post of Rapporteur for follow-up to concluding observations under article 19 of the Convention
and appointed Ms. Felice Gaer to that position. As in the past, Ms. Gaer presented a progress report
to the Committee in May 2006 on the results of the procedure.
40.
The Rapporteur has emphasized that the follow-up procedure aims “to make more effective
the struggle against torture and other cruel, inhuman and degrading treatment or punishment,” as
articulated in the preamble to the Convention. At the conclusion of the Committee’s review of each
State party report, the Committee identifies concerns and recommends specific actions designed to
enhance each State party’s ability to implement the measures necessary and appropriate to prevent
acts of torture and cruel treatment, and thereby assists States parties in bringing their law and
practice into full compliance with the obligations set forth in the Convention.
41.
Since its thirtieth session in May 2003, the Committee began the practice of identifying a
limited number of these recommendations that warrant a request for additional information
following the review and discussion with the State party concerning its periodic report. Such
“follow-up” recommendations are identified because they are serious, protective, and are considered
able to be accomplished within one year. The States parties are asked to provide within one year
information on the measures taken to give effect to its “follow-up recommendations” which are
specifically noted in a paragraph near the end of the conclusions and recommendations on the
review of the States parties’ report under article 19.
42.
Since the procedure was established at the thirtieth session in May 2003 through the end of
the thirty-sixth session in May 2006, the Committee has reviewed 39 States for which it has
identified follow-up recommendations. Of the 19 States parties that were due to have submitted
their follow-up reports to the Committee by 1 May 2006, 12 had completed this requirement
(Argentina, Azerbaijan, Czech Republic, Colombia, Germany, Greece, Latvia, Lithuania, Morocco,
New Zealand, United Kingdom, and Yemen). As of May, seven States had failed to supply
follow-up information that had fallen due (Bulgaria, Cambodia, Cameroon, Chile, Croatia, Moldova,
Monaco), and each was sent a reminder of the items still outstanding and requesting them to submit
information to the Committee.
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