CAT/C/52/2 39. The Subcommittee is pleased to highlight the fact that, during the reporting period, the process of cooperation with the International Organization of la Francophonie (OIF) resulted in a joint OHCHR-Subcommittee-OIF project to provide support for the activities of the Subcommittee for the implementation of the Optional Protocol in States parties which are members of OIF. The main objectives of the project are to assist francophone African States parties in the implementation of their Optional Protocol obligations, in particular the designation and establishment of NPMs. B. Regional cooperation 40. Through the heads of its regional teams, the Subcommittee continued its cooperation with other partners in the field of torture prevention, including the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights, the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights, the Council of Europe, the European Committee for the Prevention of Torture and Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment and the European Commission. During its twenty-first session, the Subcommittee met with the European Committee to discuss issues of common interest, including the preventive approach to torture and ill-treatment, reprisals, NPMs, their respective working methods and the Standard Minimum Rules for the Treatment of Prisoners. C. Civil society 41. The Subcommittee has continued to benefit from the support of civil society actors, in particular APT and the Optional Protocol Contact Network, and academic institutions including the Human Rights Implementation Centre at the University of Bristol. It has also profited enormously from its contact with civil society organizations while conducting its visiting programme. It would like to take this opportunity to thank them all for their work in promoting the Optional Protocol and in supporting the Subcommittee in its activities. The Subcommittee would like to express its particular thanks to the Open Society Justice Initiative, Penal Reform International and the Human Rights Implementation Centre at the University of Bristol for organizing a training workshop at its nineteenth session on pretrial detention. Special thanks must also be given to APT for its invaluable support to the Optional Protocol and to the Subcommittee. IV. A. Issues of note arising from the work of the Subcommittee during the period under review New membership 42. At its nineteenth session, the Subcommittee was delighted to welcome six new members and six returning members, following the elections held at the meeting of States parties in October 2012. The Subcommittee wishes to congratulate its new members, who bring with them experience and expertise in diverse fields relevant to the practical work of the Subcommittee. 43. The Subcommittee notes that this marks the commencement of a continual process of orderly turnover of membership, as a result of staggered elections combined with maximum periods of membership. The Subcommittee applauds the balance thus struck between continuity and refreshment of its membership. However, it is also acutely conscious of the need to ensure that its newest members are swiftly and effectively inducted 10