A/69/44 I. Organizational and other matters A. States parties to the Convention 1. As at 23 May 2014, the closing date of the fifty-second session of the Committee against Torture (hereinafter referred to as “the Committee”), there were 155 States parties to the Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment (hereinafter referred to as “the Convention”). The Convention was adopted by the General Assembly in resolution 39/46 of 10 December 1984 and entered into force on 26 June 1987. 2. The list of States which have signed, ratified or acceded to the Convention is contained in annex I to the present report. The list of States parties that have declared that they do not recognize the competence of the Committee provided for by article 20 of the Convention is provided in annex II. The States parties that have made the declarations provided for in articles 21 and 22 of the Convention are listed in annex III. 3. The text of the declarations, reservations or objections made by States parties with respect to the Convention may be found on the United Nations website (http://treaties.un.org). B. Sessions of the Committee 4. The Committee against Torture has held two sessions since the adoption of its previous annual report. The fifty-first session (1170th to 1209th meetings) was held at the United Nations Office at Geneva from 28 October to 22 November 2013, and the fiftysecond session (1210th to 1249th meetings) was held from 28 April to 23 May 2014. An account of the deliberations of the Committee at those two sessions is contained in the relevant summary records (CAT/C/SR.1170–1249). C. Membership and attendance at sessions 5. The fourteenth Meeting of the States Parties to the Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment, which took place in Geneva on 1 October 2013, held elections to replace five members whose term of office expired on 31 December 2013. The list of members with their term of office appears in annex IV to the present report. 6. Bhogendra Sharma, who was elected on 1 October 2013, resigned. Mr. Sharma’s resignation was transmitted to the Committee by Nepal on 6 February 2014. Further to this resignation, Nepal appointed, on 28 March, Sapana Pradhan-Malla to replace Mr. Sharma for the remainder of his term, which is due to expire on 31 December 2017. In accordance with the provisions of article 17, paragraph 6, of the Convention and rule 13, paragraph 2, of the Committees’ rules of procedure, Ms. Pradhan-Malla’s appointment as a member of the Committee was considered approved as no States parties responded negatively within six weeks of her appointment. GE.14-12596 1