summarising the Committee’s findings and making a number of recommendations for the State to implement in order to improve its compliance with UNCAT. The Concluding Observations will also identify a number of priority recommendations, where it will request that the State provide information within one year on steps taken towards their implementation (also known as follow-up recommendations). These recommendations are selected on the basis of three criteria: that they are serious, protective and can be accomplished within a one-year period. Phase 4 – National implementation and follow up to concluding observations The State is the primary responsible stakeholder for implementing the Committee’s recommendations. There is no formal procedure for implementing Concluding Observations, so the State is free to choose its own methods of implementation. However, the State is requested to translate and widely disseminate the Concluding Observations through official websites, the media and non-governmental organisations as a first step in implementing them at the national level. The State will 10 be required to report on its implementation efforts at two instances: a report on implementation of the follow-up recommendations one year after the adoption of the Concluding Observations; and reporting on implementation of the remaining recommendations only when the State submits its next periodic report — approximately four years after the adoption of the Concluding Observations. NGOs and other stakeholders can also participate in the implementation and follow up to Concluding Observations. This can be done by actively contributing to the national implementation efforts through lobbying government agencies and contributing with their expertise in a given area. For instance, torture rehabilitation centres can provide technical assistance on how to establish rehabilitation services that are appropriate, available, and accessible to all victims of torture and ill-treatment. Furthermore, NGOs can submit alternative information to the Committee on implementation of the follow-up recommendations to support the monitoring function of the Committee. Engaging with State reviews in the UN Committee against Torture: A practical guide