A/69/44 torture and ill-treatment, as contained in paragraph 21, and on protection for asylum seekers, as contained in paragraph 13 of the present concluding observations. (30) The State party is invited to submit its next report, which will be the seventh periodic report, by 22 November 2017. For that purpose, the Committee will, in due course, submit to the State party a list of issues prior to reporting, given that the State party has agreed to report to the Committee under the optional reporting procedure. 61. Portugal (1) The Committee against Torture considered the combined fifth and sixth periodic reports of Portugal (CAT/C/PRT/5-6) at its 1186th and 1189th meetings, held on 7 and 8 November 2013 (CAT/C/SR.1186 and 1189), and adopted at its 1204th meeting, held on 20 November 2013 (CAT/C/SR.1204), the following concluding observations. A. Introduction (2) The Committee expresses its appreciation to the State party for accepting the optional reporting procedure and for having submitted its combined fifth and sixth periodic reports in a timely manner thereunder, as it improves the cooperation between the State party and the Committee and focuses the examination of the report as well as the dialogue with the delegation. (3) The Committee appreciates the open and constructive dialogue with the State party’s high-level multisectoral delegation, as well as the additional information and explanations provided to the Committee. B. Positive aspects (4) The Committee welcomes the ratification by the State party of the following international instruments: (a) The Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities and its Optional Protocol, on 23 September 2009; (b) The Optional Protocol to the Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment, on 15 January 2013; (c) The Optional Protocol to the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, on 28 January 2013; and (d) The Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Rights of the Child on a communications procedure, on 24 September 2013. (5) The Committee welcomes the State party’s ongoing efforts to revise its legislation in order to give effect to the Committee’s recommendations and to enhance the implementation of the Convention, including the adoption of: (a) (b) Beings; Act No. 27/2008 on asylum; Act No. 229/2008, setting up the Observatory on Trafficking in Human (c) Act No. 49/2008, approving the Law on the Organization of Criminal Investigation; (d) Act No. 115/2009, establishing the Code on the Execution of Sentences and Measures Involving Deprivation of Liberty, and Decree-Law No. 51/2011, establishing the General Regulation for Prison Facilities, which significantly increased judicial control of compliance with measures of deprivation of liberty; 72 GE.14-12596