A/65/44 J. Joint statement on the occasion of the United Nations International Day in Support of Victims of Torture 14. A joint statement with the Subcommittee on Prevention, the Special Rapporteur on torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment, and the Board of Trustees of the United Nations Voluntary Fund for Victims of Torture was adopted to be issued on 26 June 2009, the United Nations International Day in Support of Victims of Torture (see annex VIII to the present report). K. Informal meeting with the States parties to the Convention 15. At its forty-fourth session, on 27 April 2010, the Committee held an informal meeting with representatives of 39 States parties to the Convention. The Committee and the States parties discussed the following issues: the methods of work of the Committee; the harmonization of working methods between treaty bodies; the new optional reporting procedure of the Committee, which consists of lists of issues to be transmitted prior to the submission of periodic reports; general comments; and the need for additional meeting time as well as resources for the Committee. L. Participation of non-governmental organizations 16. The Committee has long recognized the work of non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and met with them in private, with interpretation, on the day immediately before the consideration of each State party report under article 19 of the Convention. The Committee expresses its appreciation to the NGOs for their participation in these meetings and is particularly appreciative of the attendance of national NGOs, which provide immediate and direct information. M. Participation of national human rights institutions 17. Similarly, the Committee has since 2005 met with the national human rights institutions (NHRIs) of the countries it has considered. Meetings with each NHRI that attends take place, in private, usually on the day before consideration of the State party report. 18. The Committee expresses its appreciation for the information it receives from these institutions, and looks forward to continuing to benefit from the information it derives from these bodies, which has enhanced its understanding of the issues before the Committee. 19. At its forty-fourth session, the Committee decided that, due to the lack of meeting time, the Country Rapporteurs, together with any other member wishing to attend, would meet with the representatives of the NHRI before the consideration of the report of the State party concerned outside the plenary of the Committee. N. Rules of procedure 20. At its forty-third and forty-fourth sessions, the Committee continued the revision of its rules of procedure (CAT/C/3/Rev.4), amended previously at its thirteenth (November 1996), fifteenth (November 1997) and twenty-eighth (May 2002) sessions, in order to update these rules, especially with regard to the decisions taken by the meetings of chairpersons of human rights treaty bodies and the inter-committee meetings, and to bring GE.10-44721 3