A/71/44 G. Joint statement on the occasion of the United Nations International Day in Support of Victims of Torture and cooperation with the Board of Trustees of the United Nations Voluntary Fund for Victims of Torture 14. The Committee adopted 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 for issuance on 26 June 2015, the United Nations International Day in Support of Victims of Torture (see the web page of the Voluntary Fund at www.ohchr.org/EN/Issues/Torture/UNVFT/Pages/IntlDay.aspx). On 8 March 2016, in the context of the International Women’s Day, the Committee issued a joint statement, entitled “Gender-based crimes through the lens of torture”, with the Working Group on discrimination against women in law and practice, the Special Rapporteur on the right of everyone to the enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of physical and mental health, the Special Rapporteur on violence against women, its causes and consequences, the Special Rapporteur on trafficking in persons, especially women and children, the Special Rapporteur on torture, the Subcommittee on Prevention and the Board of Trustees of the Voluntary Fund. At its fifty-seventh session, the Committee held a meeting with a representative of the Board of Trustees of the Voluntary Fund. Alessio Bruni also attended an expert workshop of the Voluntary Fund on redress and rehabilitation of children and adolescent victims of torture and intergenerational transmission of trauma on 6 and 7 April 2016 in Geneva. H. Revised general comment on article 3 of the Convention 15. At its fifty-fifth session, the Committee decided to revise general comment No. 1 (1997) on article 3. At its fifty-sixth session, the Committee held a preliminary discussion on the main issues to be discussed in the context of the revised general comment. At its fifty-seventh session, the Committee held a preliminary discussion on a list of topics to be covered in the revised general comment. A working group, including Mr. Bruni as rapporteur, Ms. Belmir, Ms. Gaer and Abdelwahab Hani, has been entrusted with the drafting process. The Committee will continue the discussion on a list of topics at the fiftyninth session. I. Participation of non-governmental organizations 16. The Committee has long recognized the work of non-governmental organizations and has met with them in private on the day immediately before the consideration of each State party report submitted under article 19 of the Convention. The Committee expresses its appreciation to those organizations for their participation in the meetings and is particularly appreciative of the attendance of national non-governmental organizations, which provide immediate and direct information. The Committee has benefited from thematic briefings organized by organizations, such as: (a) a briefing on non-refoulement and how to address practical and legal challenges, held on 6 August 2015 and organized by the World Organisation Against Torture; (b) a briefing on the United Nations, the European Union and civil society synergies in combating torture and the actions of non-governmental organizations in the field, to be presented as a report to the Committee and as assistance in follow-up to concluding observations, held on 19 November 2015 and organized by the International Federation of Action by Christians for the Abolition of Torture; (c) a briefing on fostering connections between the International Criminal Police Organization (INTERPOL) and the Committee, held on 7 December 2015 and organized by the organizations REDRESS and Fair Trials; and (d) a briefing on guidelines for anti-torture GE.16-13567 3