A. States parties to the Convention 1. As at 3 May 1991, the closing date of the sixth session of the Committee against Torture, tbere were 55 States parties to the Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Oegra'ing Treatment or Punishment. The Convention was adopted b1 the General Assembly in resolution 39/46 of 10 December 1984 and opened for signature and ratification in New York on 4 February 1985. It entered into fo~ce on 26 June 1987 in accordance with the provisions of its article 27. A list of States that have signed, ratified or acceded to the Convention, together with an indication of those that have made d~clarations under articles 21 and 22, is contain9d in annex I to the present report. 2. The text of the declarations, reservations or objectious made by States parties with respect to the Convention are reproduced in document CAT/C/2/Rev.1. B. Opening and duration pf the sessioDa 3. The Committee agdinst Torture has held two sessiocs si[\ce the adoption of its last annual report. The fifth and sixth sessions of tbe Co~mittee were beld at tbe United Nations Office at G~neva from 12 to 23 November 1990 and from 22 April to 3 May 1991. 4. At its fifth session the Committee held 15 meetiugs (58th to 72nd meeting) and at its sixth session tbe Committee held 15 meetings (73rd to 87th meeting). An account of the deliberations of the Committee at its !ifth and sixth sessions is contained in the relevant summary records (CAT/C/SR.58-87). C. Membership and attendance 5. In accordance with article 17, paragraph 6, of the Convention and rule 13 of the Committee's rules of procedure, Mr. Alfredo R. A. Bengzo., by a letter dated 19 October 1990, informed the Secretary-General of bis de~ision to cease to function as a member of the Committee. The letter of reSignation was transmitted to the Secretary-General by tho Secretary of Foreign Affairs of the Philippines under cover of a note dated 30 October 1990. By the same note, the Government of the Philippinea informed the Secretary-General or its decision to appoint, subject to the approval of the Stdtes parties, Mr. Antonio Perlas to serve for the remainder of Mr. Bengzon's term on the Committee, which will expire on 31 December 1991. 6. Since none of the States parties to the Convention responded negatively within the six-week period after having been informed by the Secretary-General of the proposed appointment, the Secretary-General considered that they had approved the appointment of Mr. Perlas as a member of the Commitlee in ac~ordance with the above-mentioned provisions. The list of the members of the Committee in 1991, together with an indication of the duration of their term of office, appears in annex 11 to the present report. -1-