CAT/C/52/2 I. Introduction 1. Article 16, paragraph 3, of the Optional Protocol to the Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment (hereafter, “the Optional Protocol”) stipulates that the Subcommittee on Prevention of Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment shall present a public annual report on its activities to the Committee against Torture. Pursuant to that provision, a draft report covering the Subcommittee’s activities from 1 January 2013 to 31 December 2013 was considered and adopted by the Subcommittee at its twenty-second session and will be presented to the Committee against Torture at the Committee’s fifty-second session. II. The year in review A. Participation in the Optional Protocol system 2. As at 31 December 2013, 70 States were party to the Optional Protocol.1 In 2013, five States ratified or acceded to the Optional Protocol: Portugal (15 January), Nauru (24 January), Italy (3 April), Norway (27 June) and Burundi (18 October). 3. The pattern of regional participation was as follows: Africa Asia and the Pacific 4. 8 Eastern Europe 18 Latin American and Caribbean States 14 Western European and other States 17 The regional breakdown of the 20 signatory States was as follows: Africa B. 13 11 Asia and the Pacific 2 Eastern Europe 0 Latin American and Caribbean States 1 Western European and Other States 6 Organizational and membership issues 5. During the reporting period (1 January–31 December 2013), the Subcommittee held three one-week sessions at the United Nations Office at Geneva: the nineteenth session (18–22 February), the twentieth session (17–21 June) and the twenty-first session (11–15 November). 1 For a list of States parties, see the Subcommittee website at www.ohchr.org/EN/HRBodies/OPCAT/Pages/OPCATIndex.aspx. 3