Ms. Gaer, Mr. Grossman and Mr. Mariño; the latter also participated in the nineteenth meeting of chairpersons from 26 to 27 June 2008. The eighth inter-committee meeting, held from 1 to 3 December 2008, was attended by Mr. Mariño and Mr. Wang. F. Activities of the Committee in connection with the Optional Protocol to the Convention 9. As at 31 March 2009, there were 46 States parties to the Optional Protocol (see annex V). As required by the Optional Protocol to the Convention, on 18 November 2008, a joint meeting was held between the members of the Committee and the Subcommittee on Prevention of Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment of the Committee against Torture (hereinafter “the Subcommittee on Prevention”). Both the Committee and the Subcommittee on Prevention (membership of the Subcommittee on Prevention is included in annex VI) agreed on modalities for cooperation, such as the mutual sharing of information, taking into account confidentiality requirements. The informal contact group consisting of members of the Committee and the Subcommittee on Prevention continued to facilitate the communication between both treaty bodies. A further meeting was held between the Committee and the Subcommittee on Prevention on 12 May where the latter submitted its second public annual report to the Committee (CAT/C/42/2 and Corr.1). The Committee decided to transmit it to the General Assembly (see annex VII). G. Joint statement on the occasion of the United Nations International Day in Support of Victims of Torture 10. A joint statement with the Subcommittee on Prevention; the Special Rapporteur on torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment; the Board of Trustees of the United Nations Voluntary Fund for the Victims of Torture, and the Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities was adopted to be issued on 26 June 2009, the International Day in Support of Victims of Torture (see annex VIII). H. Statement of the Committee on the adoption of its concluding observations 11. At its forty-second session, the Committee adopted a statement on the adoption of its concluding observations. This Statement reiterates that the Committee is an independent treaty body carrying out its functions under the Convention, which consists of experts of high moral standing and recognized human rights competence serving in their personal capacity, and elected by the States parties, consideration being given to equitable geographical distribution. The Statement also reiterates that the Committee discharges its function in an independent and expert manner. 12. The Statement underlines that concluding observations are an instrument of cooperation with States parties, which reflect the common assessment, made by the Committee as a whole, on the implementation of the obligations under the Convention of the State party concerned and that all States parties are obliged to cooperate with the Committee and respect the independence and objectivity of its members (see annex IX). 2