Introduction 1.The Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment was adopted in 1984 and entered into force on 26 June 1987. At its first meeting, held in Geneva in April 1988, the Committee adopted its rules of procedure and defined its working methods, in conformity with article 18 of the Convention. The increasing number of ratifications and the practice developed in the performance of its functions has required of the Committee to keep its rules of procedure and working methods under constant review, in order to enhance effectiveness and coordination. The current rules of procedure were last amended in 2002.a 2.Under article 19 of the Convention each State party must submit to the Committee reports on the measures taken to implement its obligations under the Convention. The initial report must be submitted within one year after the entry into force of the Convention for the State concerned. Thereafter, reports on subsequent developments taking place in connection with the Convention (periodic reports) must be submitted every four years. Guidelines for reporting by States parties 3.The Committee has adopted reporting guidelines to assist States parties in the preparation of initial and periodic reports.b The guidelines are kept under review in the light of the Committee’s own experience and the efforts of harmonization being conducted by all human rights treaty monitoring bodies. 4.The Committee attaches great importance to the inclusion in State party reports of information related to the de facto implementation of the Convention as well as factors and difficulties affecting such implementation. The Committee also welcomes the involvement of national institutions for the promotion and protection of human rights and non-governmental organizations in the process of consultations leading to the preparation of reports by States parties. Scheduling reports for examination and lists of issues 5.At each session the Committee selects, among the reports received, those to be examined at its following two sessions. In making the selection the Committee usually follows the chronological order of submission, while giving priority to initial reports over periodic ones. At the same time, the Committee appoints two of its members to act as rapporteurs for each country report. One member can act as rapporteur for more than one report during the same session. 6.At the session prior to the one at which a periodic report will be considered, theCommittee draws up a list of issues to be transmitted to the State in question at least two months before the consideration of the report. Such list is prepared, inter alia, on the basis of the information contained in the report, the recommendations addressed by the Committee to the State in the past and information originating from non-governmental sources. 7.The lists of issues are intended to focus the dialogue with the States on matters of particular interest for the Committee. Replies to them are to be provided orally during the consideration of the report. The State party may, at its discretion, submit the responses also in writing for distribution to the Committee members two weeks prior to the date on which the report will be considered by the Committee. Written responses will not be translated. They will be made available to the public by inclusion on the OHCHR web site in the language of submission. Consideration of reports of States parties 8.The Committee holds two sessions annually, a two-week session in November and a three-week session in May. Five to seven States parties are invited to present their reports at each session. 9.The consideration of a report usually takes the form of a dialogue between the delegation from the reporting State and the Committee. The aim of the dialogue is to enhance the Committee’s understanding of the situation in the State party as it pertains to the Convention and to provide advice on how to improve the implementation of the Convention. Exceptionally, the Committee may consider a report in the absence of representatives of the State party when, after being notified, they fail to appear before the Committee and do not provide strong reasons.c 10.Two public meetings, an initial half-day morning meeting and another in the afternoon of the following day, are generally devoted to the consideration of a report. The first meeting begins with a presentation by the State party representatives in which they should make an introduction highlighting, inter alia, new developments since the submission of the report and respond to the list of issues previously sent by the Committee. Such presentation should not last more than 90 minutes. Afterwards, the country rapporteurs and other Committee members make comments and seek additional information related to issues they consider as requiring further clarification. They can also raise matters that had not been referred to in the initial list of issues. 11.It is the Committee’s practice that individual members refrain from participating in any aspect of the consideration of the reports of the States parties of which they are nationals. 12.Press releases in English and French are issued immediately by the United Nations Information Service regarding the meetings at which a State party report is considered. Summary records are also issued during or after the closure of the session, in English or French. 13.The official languages of the Committee being English, French, Russian and Spanish, interpretation from and into these languages is provided during all official meetings. The State party reports and other relevant documents are also made available in these languages. State party reports submitted in Arabic or Chinese are issued as official documents also in the original language. Arabic and Chinese interpretation is made available when State representatives wish to use these languages.