CAT/C/52/2 (o) In November 2013, a conference in Strasbourg, France, entitled “Immigration detention in Europe: establishing common concerns and developing minimum standards”; (p) In December 2013, a seminar in Bangkok on the Optional Protocol, organized by the International Commission of Jurists; (q) In December 2013, a subregional consultation in Kampala on strengthening the protection mandate of national human rights institutions in East Africa, organized by OHCHR Uganda; (r) In December 2013, a workshop in Bamako to raise awareness about the prevention of torture and the role of the Optional Protocol in Mali, organized by the Ministry of Justice of Mali; (s) In December 2013, a round table in Phnom Penh on the establishment of an NPM, organized by OHCHR Cambodia. 28. The Subcommittee would like to take this opportunity to express its gratitude to the organizers of those and all other events to which the Subcommittee has been invited. It regrets that its participation must remain conditional on the financial support of others, as it has no means of its own with which to fund its members’ attendance. F. Special Fund under article 26 of the Optional Protocol 29. The purpose of the Special Fund established under article 26, paragraph 1, of the Optional Protocol is to help finance the implementation of Subcommittee recommendations made following a visit to a State party, and education programmes of NPMs. The Special Fund is administered by OHCHR in conformity with the Financial Regulations and Rules of the United Nations and the relevant policies and procedures. As an interim measure, it was agreed that the OHCHR Grants Committee would decide on the eligibility of projects and would award grants on the basis of the evaluation criteria set out in the guidelines for applications. More permanent arrangements, building on the success of the interim scheme, are currently being developed. 30. The Subcommittee is convinced that the Special Fund is a valuable tool for furthering the prevention of torture and wishes to express its gratitude to contributors for their generosity.4 In 2013, contributions totalling US$ 10,000 were received from Argentina. The Subcommittee notes that, in 2012, the Fund received contributions totalling US$ 403,3635 and is anxious to ensure that donations continue at a rate commensurate with the needs which the Fund is intended to address. 31. The second call for applications to the Special Fund (August–October 2012) yielded 30 applications. Following informal consultations with the Subcommittee at its nineteenth session, eight grants were awarded, totalling US$ 277,588. The third call for applications to the Special Fund was issued in September 2013. 32. The Subcommittee firmly believes that the collaborative manner in which the Special Fund is currently administered reflects the aspirations of the drafters of the Optional 4 5 8 The Special Fund receives voluntary contributions from Governments, intergovernmental and nongovernmental organizations and other private and public entities. In 2012, the Special Fund received the following contributions: US$ 158,227.85 from the United Kingdom; US$ 10,219.56 from the Czech Republic; US$ 215,982.72 from Switzerland; and US$ 18,932.47 from Italy.