CAT/C/46/2 I. Introduction 1. The fourth annual report of the Subcommittee on Prevention of Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment is rather different from its predecessors.1 The Subcommittee has received much useful feedback on its previous annual reports, in the light of which the Subcommittee has decided to use the present, and future, reports not only to record its activities, but also to reflect thereon. It is hoped that these reflections will prove a useful source of guidance for those interested in the work of the Subcommittee and will contribute to furthering knowledge of the approaches taken by the Subcommittee to the fulfilment of its mandate. 2. Following the introduction (chapter I), to that end, the report is divided into six sections. The chapter II provides a factual summary of key developments and activities concerning the Optional Protocol to the Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment during the reporting period. It should be read in conjunction with the annexes, which provide further and fuller factual information, and the Subcommittee’s website (www2.ohchr.org/english/bodies/cat/opcat/), where the most recent developments are recorded. Chapter III complements the first by providing a factual record of the Subcommittee’s engagement with other bodies in the field of torture prevention. 3. Chapter IV breaks new ground by referring to a number of substantive developments and issues that have arisen during the reporting year. Some of these relate to practical and organizational matters, others to common concerns arising from its country visits and engagements with national preventive mechanisms (NPMs), seminars and other forms of discussions in which the Subcommittee has been involved. This section is not intended to provide an exhaustive coverage of issues of interest or concern, nor is it intended to address the issues raised in a comprehensive fashion. Rather, it is intended to draw attention to issues which the Subcommittee has encountered and upon which it is reflecting. 4. This is followed by chapter V, another new section, entitled “Substantive issues”. Whereas the previous section flagged issues which were of interest or concern to the Subcommittee, this section sets out its thinking on selected topics and may be taken to reflect the current approach of the Subcommittee to the issues that it addresses. Chapter VI, the sixth and final section of the report, is forward-looking: It sets out the Subcommittee’s proposed plan of work for the coming year and highlights any particular plans that it has or challenges that it faces. 5. Lastly, it should be noted that it has been decided that the period which the annual report covers will be changed. This report covers the period from April to December 2010 and future annual reports will cover the calendar year to which they relate. Not only does this change have the merit of simplicity, but it also means that the reporting cycle will reflect the enlargement of the Subcommittee, which comes into being on 1 January 2011. 1 4 Established following the entry into force in June 2006 of the Optional Protocol to the Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment. For the text of the Optional Protocol, see www2.ohchr.org/english/law/cat-one.htm. In accordance with the Optional Protocol (art. 16, para. 3), the Subcommittee presents its public annual reports to the Committee against Torture. GE.11-40683