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institutions, and looks forward to continuing to benefit from the information it derives from
those bodies, which has enhanced its understanding of the issues before the Committee.
N.
Reporting guidelines
23.
At its fifty-first and fifty-second sessions, the Committee, due to its very heavy
workload, had no time to continue to discuss the revision of its reporting guidelines in the
light of the optional reporting procedure (lists of issues prior to reporting). In order to have
time to discuss its working methods, including its reporting guidelines, the Committee
decided to hold a two-day retreat at its November session.
O.
Examination of reports
24.
In the light of General Assembly resolution 67/232 authorizing it to continue to meet
for an additional week per session as a temporary measure, the Committee decided, at its
fifty-second session, to, at its fifty-third session, examine eight reports of States parties, as
well as hold a two-day retreat to discuss the working methods of the Committee and host a
celebration marking the thirtieth anniversary of the Convention.
P.
Rapporteurs on reprisals
25.
At its fifty-first session, the Committee, further to the establishment of a mechanism
to prevent, monitor and follow up cases of reprisal against civil society organizations,
human rights defenders, victims and witnesses after their engagement with the treaty body
system, and the designation of Mr. Tugushi as the rapporteur on reprisals under article 19
and Mr. Bruni as the rapporteur on reprisals under article 22, decided to designate the latter
also as the rapporteur on reprisals under article 20 (see para. 10 above). Guidelines for the
execution of the mandates of the rapporteurs will be discussed and adopted in future
sessions.
Q.
Statements
Statement on membership
26.
At its fifty-first session, on 4 November 2013, the Committee adopted a statement in
which it recalled that it was a treaty body of the United Nations established under the
Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or
Punishment, and that it consisted of 10 experts of high moral standing and recognized
competence in the field of human rights, who should serve in their personal capacity. The
statement also reflected the Committee’s unanimous decision that financial misconduct was
incompatible with serving on the Committee (see annex IX). All statements of the
Committee are available on the webpage from: http://tbinternet.ohchr.org/_layouts/
treatybodyexternal/TBSearch.aspx?Lang=en&TreatyID=1&DocTypeID=68.
Statement on reprisals
27.
At its fifty-first session, the Committee also adopted a statement on reprisals. In the
statement, the Committee reaffirmed the vital role of individuals, groups and institutions
that provided information to the Committee, and its appreciation to all those who were
committed to the effective functioning of the Committee and the implementation of the
entire Convention; it recalled that individuals who alleged torture had the right to complain
(art. 13) and that States parties should take steps to ensure that the complainant and
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