G. CQoperatiQn between the Committee and the BQard Qf Trustees Of the United Nations VQluntary Fund fQr Victims Qf TQrtu~ 14. The Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the United Nations Voluntary Fund for Victims of Torture, Mr. Jaap Walkate, addressed the Committee at its 77th meeting, QD 24 April 1991. He informed the Committee about recent and planned activities of the Board of Trustees of the Voluntary Fund, which had been established by General Assembly resQlution 36/151 of 16 December 1981. Subsequently, on 26 April 1991, the Chairman of the Committee and Mr. S9rensen prQvided information on the CQmmittee's activities to the Board of Trustees of the Voluntary Fund. Both the Committee and the Board of Trustees agreed that they should cQntinue en a regular basis to exchange views and infQrmation on matters of mutual concern. They also agreed that wide publicity of their activities WQuld help them in their fight against torture and that financial contributions to the Fun~ frQm Governments and non-government~l organizatiQns should be encouraged in order to support the numerous rehabilition programmes for victims of torture under consideration by the Board of Trustees. 15. At its 81st meeting, on 26 April 1991, the Committee was informed by Mr. S9rensen about the activities of the Rehabilitation Centre for Torture Victims in Copenhagen. A film on this subject, entitled In spite Qf ••• , was shown tQ the members of the Committee. Members of the Board of Trustees also attended the meeting. H. Exchange of views on the guestiQn Qf a draft QptiQnal protQcol to the Convention 16. At its 80th meeting, on 25 April 1991, the Cmmnittee exchanged views Qn the question Qf a draft Qptional prQtQcol to the Convention. 17. The Committee had before it document E/CN.4/1991/66, containing the text of ~n optiQnal protocol to the ConventiQn which had been submitted by CQsta Rica tQ the Commission on Human Rights at its forty-seventh session tQgether with an introductory memQrandum Qn tJ-;.e subject. The Committee alsQ had befQre it Commission decisiQn 1991/107 Qf 5 March 1991, by which the Commission decided tQ consider the draft optional protQcQl at its forty-eighth session in February-March 1992. 18. The draft QptiQnal ~~otoCQ1 prQvides for a system Qf visits to places Qf detention, on a world-wide basis, tQ prevent acts Qf torture. Mr. S9rensen prQvided infQrmatiQn Qn the European CQnventiQn fQr the PreventiQn of TQrture and Inhuman or Degrading Treatment Qr Punishment, elabQrated in the framewQrk of the CQuncil of Europe and in fQrce since 1 February 1989, which contained similar prQvisiQns, as well cS Qn the activities of the European Committee established under that CQnvention, of which he was First Vice-President. The first general repQrt Qf the EurQpean CQM",ittee, covering the periQd NQvember 1989 to Dacember 1990, was alsQ made available tQ the Committee. 19. The Committee generally agreed Qn the principle of a system of preventive visits to places Qf detentiQn te be established at the universal level. Some reservatiQns were, hQwever, expressed on hQW that p'l:lnciple was reflected in the text of the draft optiQnal prQtocol submitted by C,)sta Rica tQ the CQmmissiQn Qn Hwnan Rights. CQncerns were raifH~ ;" alJiOl"lt the amQunt and the -4-