A/65/44 except Yemen at the forty-third session, sent representatives to participate in the examination of their respective reports. The Committee expressed its appreciation for this in its concluding observations. 46. Country Rapporteurs and alternate Rapporteurs were designated by the Committee for each of the reports considered. The list appears in annex XII to the present report. 47. In connection with its consideration of reports, the Committee also had before it: (a) General guidelines regarding the form and contents of initial reports to be submitted by States parties under article 19, paragraph 1, of the Convention (CAT/C/4/Rev.2); (b) General guidelines regarding the form and contents of periodic reports to be submitted by States parties under article 19 of the Convention (CAT/C/14/Rev.1). 48. The Committee has been issuing lists of issues for periodic reports since 2004. This resulted from a request made to the Committee by representatives of the States parties at a meeting with Committee members. While the Committee understands States parties wish to have advance notice of the issues likely to be discussed during the dialogue, it nonetheless has to point out that the drafting of lists of issues has increased the Committee’s workload. This is particularly significant in a Committee with such a small membership. B. Concluding observations on States parties’ reports 49. The text of concluding observations adopted by the Committee with respect to the above-mentioned reports submitted by States parties is reproduced below. 50. Azerbaijan (1) The Committee considered the third periodic report of Azerbaijan (CAT/C/AZE/3) at its 907th and 909th meetings (CAT/C/SR.907 and CAT/C/SR.909), held on 9 and 10 November 2009, and adopted, at its 920th meeting, held on 18 November 2009 (CAT/C/SR.920), the concluding observations as set out below. A. Introduction (2) The Committee welcomes the submission of the third periodic report of Azerbaijan and the written responses to the list of issues (CAT/C/AZE/Q/3) submitted by the State party. (3) The Committee notes with appreciation the extensive dialogue with the high-level delegation sent by the State party and the replies to the questions raised during the dialogue. It welcomes the State party’s constructive attitude towards implementation of its recommendations, as shown by the adoption of numerous legal and policy reforms. B. Positive aspects (4) The Committee welcomes the recent legislative and other measures taken by the State party since the consideration of its previous report, namely: (a) Adoption of the Fight against Human Trafficking Law in 2005, the amendment of the Criminal Code (2005) and the creation of a relief fund for victims of human trafficking; (b) Adoption of a presidential order on the Modernization of Judiciary on 19 January 2006 and application of the Amendments, dated 19 January 2006, establishing regional courts of appeal which address legal assistance to individuals, as well as the adoption of a State programme on development of the Azerbaijani justice system for 2009– 2013, which, inter alia, envisages improvements for convicted persons; 10 GE.10-44721