A/67/44 A. Introduction (2) The Committee welcomes the submission of the third periodic report by the State party, which follows the general guidelines regarding the form and contents of periodic reports. Nonetheless, it regrets the State party’s delay of seven years in submitting the report. (3) The Committee welcomes the opportunity to examine compliance with the Convention with a high-level delegation from the State party. It appreciates the State party’s extensive written replies to the list of issues (CAT/C/ARM/Q/3 and Add.1) and the additional information provided orally and in writing by the delegation. B. Positive aspects (4) The Committee welcomes the ratification by the State party of a number of international and regional instruments, including: (a) Optional Protocol to the Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment, in September 2006; (b) International Convention for the Protection of All Persons from Enforced Disappearance, in January 2011; (c) Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, in September 2010; (d) Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women, in September 2006; (e) Optional Protocols to the Convention on the Rights of the Child on the involvement of children in armed conflict, in September 2005, and on the sale of children, child prostitution and child pornography, in June 2005. (f) Protocol No. 6 to the European Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms concerning the abolition of death penalty, in September 2003. (5) The Committee welcomes the legislative measures taken during the period under review, including: (a) The adoption in 2008 of a law designating the Human Rights Defender as the national preventive mechanism provided for in the Optional Protocol to the Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment; (b) The enactment in March 2002 of the Law on the Custody of Arrestees and Remand Prisoners; (c) (6) The adoption in December 2004 of the Penitentiary Code. The Committee further welcomes: (a) The establishment in 2006 of public monitoring groups comprising governmental and non-governmental members; (b) The standing invitation extended to United Nations special procedures in April 2006, and the visit by the Working Group on Arbitrary Detention in 2010. (7) The Committee welcomes the oral statement by the delegation that the State party will consider making the declaration envisaged under article 22 of the Convention, in order to recognize the competence of the Committee to receive and consider individual communications. GE.12-44492 107