REPORTING ARTICLES: 17 18 19 A State’s initial report to the UN Committee against Torture, a 10-person committee of independent experts (Arts. 17-18), is due one year after ratification and thereafter, periodic reports are submitted every four years (Art.19). The review is a constructive process of dialogue through which the Committee acknowledges positive action to implement the Convention and offers informed advice on areas where further reforms may be recommended. The dialogue (and any resulting recommendations) can support efforts by States to review, adjust or confirm their national laws, policies and practices, and give an opportunity to the State to put its own views on the public record about its practices and procedures. For the reporting process to have the most practical benefit for States it is best approached as an ongoing process of implementation, reporting and follow-up, including as an opportunity to consult and engage with relevant national stakeholders. Reporting to the Committee against Torture (the Committee, or CAT) is a constructive process of dialogue (Article 19, UNCAT). Through this dialogue the Committee acknowledges positive action to implement the Convention and offers informed advice on areas where further reforms are recommended. The dialogue and any resulting recommendations can support efforts by States to review, adjust or confirm their national laws, policies and practices, or to develop or update national anti-torture strategies and action plans. The reporting process also gives an opportunity to the State to put its own views on the public record about its practices and procedures to prevent torture and other ill-treatment and to provide redress to victims. For the reporting process to have the most practical benefit for States it is best approached as an ongoing process of implementation, reporting and follow-up, including as an opportunity to consult and engage with relevant national stakeholders. THE REPORTING CYCLE State party prepares and submits its report Procedure to follow up on implementation of the Committee's recommentations Opportunity for input from civil society, National HR institutions and UN system The Commitee presents list of issues to the State party 01 REPORT 02 06 LIST OF ISSUES FOLLOW-UP 05 The Committee issues its concluding observations on the report, including recommendations RATIFICATION OR ACCESSION ARTICLES: 25 26 27 28 31 See, CTI’s UNCAT Implementation Tool on Reporting and Follow-up to the UN Committee against Torture T O O L CTI/UNCAT Implementation Tool 3/2017 REPORTING TO THE UN COMMITTEE AGAINST TORTURE 03 CONCLUDING OBSERVATIONS WRITTEN REPLIES DIALOGUE 04 Opportunity for input from civil society, National HR institutions and UN system State Party submits written replies to list of issues Constructive dialogue between the Committee and State party delegation during session of the Committee Opportunity for input from civil society, National HR institutions and UN system The CTI ‘UNCAT Implementation Tools’ are a series of practical tools designed to share good practices among States on the implementation of the UN Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment (UNCAT). They offer thematic guidance and ideas for State practitioners and policy-makers as they develop or revise context-specific strategies, mechanisms and procedures to prevent torture and other forms of ill-treatment or punishment, and provide remedies for victims. 32 1/9 See CTI’s Ratification Tool The Convention is open to signature and ratification, or accession, by any State by depositing the relevant instrument to the UN SecretaryGeneral (Arts. 25-28, 31). The treaty provides for denunciation (Art. 32). See, CTI’s Ratification Tool, which includes samples of instruments of ratification, accession, full powers, declaration and reservations. UNCAT Ratification Tool Constructive  Twinning  Inspirational Prepared by the Association for the Prevention of Torture - APT UNCAT does not exclude the possibility that States may enter one or more reservations at ratification or accession. Such reservations must not however conflict with the object and purpose of the Convention. States are encouraged to review periodically any reservations to consider whether they continue to serve their purpose. AMENDMENTS ARTICLE: 29 Amendments to the Convention may be proposed by State parties to the UN Secretary-General, requiring onethird of all State parties to favour a conference to consider the amendments, with the threshold of a majority of States parties attending the conference to accept the amendment (Art. 29). DISPUTE SETTLEMENT ARTICLE: 30 Disputes between State parties that cannot be settled by negotiation shall, at the request of one State, be submitted for arbitration. If 6 months lapse without resolution, either State may refer the matter to the International Court of Justice in conformity with the Statute of the Court (Art. 30). CTI Secretariat August 2019 UN CONVENTION AGAINST TORTURE IN BRIEF 5/5