A/68/44 was adopted to be issued on 26 June 2013, the United Nations International Day in Support of Victims of Torture (see annex IX to the present report). I. Informal meeting with the States parties to the Convention 17. At its fiftieth session, on 10 May 2013, the Committee held an informal meeting with States parties to the Convention, which was attended by representatives of 25 States parties. The Committee and the States parties discussed the following issues: the methods of work of the Committee; the optional reporting procedure of the Committee, which consists of lists of issues to be transmitted prior to the submission of periodic reports; the Guidelines on independence and impartiality of members of the human rights treaty bodies (the Addis Ababa guidelines); the treaty body strengthening process; the examination of States in the absence of a report; and the issue of reprisals. J. Participation of non-governmental organizations 18. At its fiftieth session, on 13 May 2013, the Committee held an informal meeting with representatives of 12 non-governmental organizations (NGOs) that usually provide information to the Committee, and discussed the following issues: the methods of work of the Committee; the mandate of the rapporteurs on reprisals; the treaty body strengthening process; the optional reporting procedure, including the need for guidelines for the procedure and the posting of relevant information received from NGOs on the Committee’s website; the review of the Standard Minimum Rules for the Treatment of Prisoners; the criteria for the selection of subjects for general comments (a proposal was made for a future general comment, on either article 3 or article 15 of the Convention); the cooperation between the Committee against Torture and the Subcommittee on Prevention; and the involuntary treatment of persons with disabilities. 19. The Committee has long recognized the work of NGOs and met with them in private, with interpretation, on the day immediately before the consideration of each State party report under article 19 of the Convention. The Committee expresses its appreciation to the NGOs for their participation in these meetings and is particularly appreciative of the attendance of national NGOs which provide immediate and direct information. K. Participation of national human rights institutions 20. Similarly, the Committee has long recognized the work of national human rights institutions (NHRIs); Country Rapporteurs, together with any other Committee member wishing to attend, have met with the representatives of the NHRIs, if requested and required, before the consideration of each State party report under article 19 of the Convention. The Committee expresses its appreciation to the NHRIs for the information it receives from these institutions, and looks forward to continuing to benefit from the information it derives from these bodies, which has enhanced its understanding of the issues before the Committee. L. General comment on article 14 of the Convention 21. At its forty-ninth session, further to its work developed during past sessions, especially by the informal working group on the right to reparation established at the forty- 4 GE.13-46043