Committee against Torture
Seventy- sixth session
17 April–12 May 2023
Item 1 of the provisional agenda
Adoption of the agenda
Annotated provisional agenda
Provisional agenda
1.Adoption of the agenda.
2.Organizational and other matters.
3.Submission of reports by States parties under article 19 of the Convention.
4.Consideration of reports submitted by States parties under article 19 of the Convention.
5.Consideration of information submitted under article 20 of the Convention.
6.Consideration of communications submitted under article 22 of the Convention.
Annotations
1.Adoption of the agenda
Under rule 8 of the Committee’s rules of procedure, the first item on the agenda of any session shall be the adoption of the agenda, except when the election of officers is required under rule 16. Under this item, the Committee will adopt the agenda for the session.
In accordance with rule 6 of the rules of procedure, the present provisional agenda has been prepared by the Secretary-General in consultation with the Chair of the Committee. In accordance with rule 9 of its rules of procedure, the Committee may revise the agenda during the session and may, as appropriate, defer or delete items; only urgent and important items may be added to the agenda.
2.Organizational and other matters
The seventy-sixth session of the Committee will be held at the United Nations Office at Geneva, from 17 April to 12 May 2023, and will be opened by a representative of the Secretary-General. The first meeting will be convened on Monday, 17 April 2023, at 10 a.m.
The Committee will consider its programme of work for the session and any other matters concerning the modalities of discharging its functions under the Convention.
3.Submission of reports by States parties under article 19 of the Convention
States parties to the Convention
As at 3 February 2023, there were 173 States parties to the Convention.
Reports received
As at 3 February 2023, the Secretary-General had received the following reports, which are pending consideration:
|
State party |
Report |
|
Albania |
CAT/C/ALB/3 |
|
Andorra |
CAT/C/AND/2 |
|
Argentina |
CAT/C/ARG/7 |
|
Armenia |
CAT/C/ARM/5 |
|
Austria |
CAT/C/AUT/7 |
|
Azerbaijan |
CAT/C/AZE/5 |
|
Bahrain |
CAT/C/BHR/4 |
|
Belarus |
CAT/C/BLR/6 |
|
Brazil |
CAT/C/BRA/2 |
|
Bulgaria |
CAT/C/BGR/7 |
|
Burundi |
CAT/C/BDI/3 |
|
Cameroon |
CAT/C/CMR/6 |
|
Chile |
CAT/C/CHL/7 |
|
Colombia |
CAT/C/COL/6 |
|
Costa Rica |
CAT/C/CRI/3 |
|
Denmark |
CAT/C/DNK/8 |
|
Ecuador |
CAT/C/ECU/8 |
|
Egypt |
CAT/C/EGY/5 |
|
Estonia |
CAT/C/EST/6 |
|
Ethiopia |
CAT/C/ETH/2 |
|
Finland |
Eighth |
|
France |
CAT/C/FRA/8 |
|
Honduras |
CAT/C/HND/3 |
|
Israel |
CAT/C/ISR/6 |
|
Italy |
CAT/C/ITA/7 |
|
Jordan |
CAT/C/JOR/4 |
|
Kazakhstan |
CAT/C/KAZ/4 |
|
Kuwait |
CAT/C/KWT/4 |
|
Liechtenstein |
CAT/C/LIE/5 |
|
Luxembourg |
CAT/C/LUX/8 |
|
Mauritius |
CAT/C/MUS/5 |
|
Monaco |
Seventh |
|
Mongolia |
CAT/C/MNG/3 |
|
Namibia |
CAT/C/NAM/3 |
|
Netherlands |
Eighth |
|
New Zealand |
CAT/C/NZL/7 |
|
North Macedonia |
CAT/C/MKD/4 |
|
Norway |
CAT/C/NOR/9 |
|
Pakistan |
CAT/C/PAK/2 |
|
Philippines |
CAT/C/PHL/4 |
|
Qatar |
CAT/C/QAT/4 |
|
Republic of Korea |
CAT/C/KOR/6 |
|
Republic of Moldova |
CAT/C/MDA/4 |
|
Romania |
CAT/C/ROU/3 |
|
Russian Federation |
CAT/C/RUS/7 |
|
Senegal |
CAT/C/SEN/5 |
|
Slovakia |
CAT/C/SVK/4 |
|
Slovenia |
CAT/C/SVN/4 |
|
Spain |
CAT/C/ESP/7 |
|
Switzerland |
CAT/C/CHE/8 |
|
Tajikistan |
CAT/C/TJK/4 |
|
Thailand |
CAT/C/THA/2 |
|
Türkiye |
CAT/C/TUR/5 |
|
Turkmenistan |
Third |
|
Ukraine |
CAT/C/UKR/7 |
|
United States of America |
CAT/C/USA/6 |
Initial reports
The status of submission of initial reports as at 3 February 2023 was as follows:
|
State party (since) |
Initial reports |
|
|
Overdue since |
Date due or received |
|
|
Angola (2019) |
2 November 2020 |
|
|
Bahamas (2018) |
1 July 2019 |
|
|
Central African Republic (2016) |
10 November 2017 |
|
|
Comoros (2017) |
25 June 2018 |
|
|
Côte d’Ivoirea (1995) |
16 January 1997 |
|
|
Dominican Republicb (2012) |
23 February 2013 |
|
|
Equatorial Guinea (2002) |
6 November 2003 |
|
|
Eritrea (2014) |
25 October 2015 |
|
|
Eswatini (2004) |
25 April 2005 |
|
|
Fiji (2016) |
14 April 2017 |
|
|
Gambia (2018) |
28 October 2019 |
|
|
Grenada (2019) |
27 October 2020 |
|
|
Guinea-Bissau (2013) |
24 October 2014 |
|
|
Kiribati (2019) |
22 August 2020 |
|
|
Lao People’s Democratic Republic (2012) |
26 October 2013 |
|
|
Lesothoc (2001) |
11 December 2002 |
|
|
Liberia (2004) |
22 October 2005 |
|
|
Malid (1999) |
27 March 2000 |
|
|
Marshall Islands (2018) |
12 April 2019 |
|
|
Nauru (2012) |
26 October 2013 |
|
|
Oman (2020) |
9 July 2021 |
|
|
Saint Kitts and Nevis (2020) |
21 October 2021 |
|
|
Saint Vincent and the Grenadines (2001) |
30 August 2002 |
|
|
Samoa (2019) |
28 April 2020 |
|
|
San Marino (2006) |
27 December 2007 |
|
|
Sao Tome and Principe (2017) |
10 February 2018 |
|
|
South Sudan (2015) |
30 May 2016 |
|
|
Sudan (2021) |
9 September 2022 |
|
|
Suriname (2021) |
16 December 2022 |
|
|
Vanuatu (2011) |
11 August 2012 |
a On 29 January 2016, the State party accepted the simplified reporting procedure offered by the Committee owing to the amount of time by which the initial report was overdue.
b On 30 May 2018, the State party accepted the simplified reporting procedure offered by the Committee owing to the amount of time by which the initial report was overdue.
c On 23 July 2018, the State party accepted the simplified reporting procedure offered by the Committee owing to the amount of time by which the initial report was overdue.
d On 26 July 2019, the State party accepted the simplified reporting procedure offered by the Committee owing to the amount of time by which the initial report was overdue.
Periodic reports
The status of submission of periodic reports as at 3 February 2023 was as follows:
|
State party (since) |
Periodic reports |
||
|
Last report examined (date of examination) |
Next report overdue (since) |
Next report (date due or received) |
|
|
Afghanistana (1987) |
Second(April 2017) |
Third(12 May 2021) |
|
|
Albania (1994) |
Second(May 2012) |
Third(Received on 19 July 2021) |
|
|
Algeria (1989) |
Third(May 2008) |
Fourth(20 June 2012) |
|
|
Andorraa (2006) |
Initial(November 2013) |
Second(Received on 9 August 2022) |
|
|
Antigua and Barbuda (1993) |
Review in absence of initial report (July 2017) |
Second(11 August 2021) |
|
|
Argentinaa (1986) |
Fifth and sixth(April 2017) |
Seventh (Received on 12 May 2021) |
|
|
Armeniaa (1993) |
Fourth (November 2016) |
Fifth (Received on 25 December 2020) |
|
|
Australiaa (1989) |
Sixth(November 2022) |
Seventh (Due on 25 November 2026) |
|
|
Austriaa (1987) |
Sixth (November 2015) |
Seventh (Received on 25 February 2020) |
|
|
Azerbaijana (1996) |
Fourth (November 2015) |
Fifth (Received on 8 January 2020) |
|
|
Bahraina (1998) |
Second and third (April 2017) |
Fourth (Received on 26 May 2021) |
|
|
Bangladesh (1998) |
Initial(July 2019) |
Second (Due on 9 August 2023) |
|
|
Belarusa (1987) |
Fifth (April 2018) |
Sixth(Received on 12 August 2022) |
|
|
Belgiuma (1999) |
Fourth (July 2021) |
Fifth(Due on 30 July 2025) |
|
|
Belizea (1986) |
Initial (November 1993) |
Initial and second (25 June 1996) |
|
|
Benina (1992) |
Third (May 2019) |
Fourth(Due on 17 May 2023) |
|
|
Bolivia (Plurinational State of) (1999) |
Third(November 2021) |
Fourth(Due on 3 December 2025) |
|
|
Bosnia and Herzegovinaa (1993) |
Sixth(November 2017) |
Seventh(6 December 2021) |
|
|
Botswana (2000) |
Initial(July 2022) |
Second(Due on 29 July 2026) |
|
|
Brazila (1989) |
Initial(May 2001) |
Second(Received on 13 August 2020) |
|
|
Bulgariaa (1986) |
Sixth (November 2017) |
Seventh(Received on 23 February 2022) |
|
|
Burkina Faso (1999) |
Second(November 2019) |
Third (Due on 6 December 2023) |
|
|
Burundi (1993) |
Second(November 2014) |
Third (Received on 14 September 2020) |
|
|
Cabo Verde (1993) |
Review in absence of initial report(November 2016) |
Second(7 December 2020) |
|
|
Cambodiaa (1992) |
Second (November 2010) |
Third (19 November 2014) |
|
|
Cameroona (1986) |
Fifth (November 2017) |
Sixth(Received on 11 January 2022) |
|
|
Canadaa (1987) |
Seventh(November 2018) |
Eighth(7 December 2022) |
|
|
Chada (1995) |
Second(November 2022) |
Third (Due on 25 November 2026) |
|
|
Chilea (1988) |
Sixth(July 2018) |
Seventh(Received on 14 November 2022) |
|
|
China (including Hong Kong, China, and Macao, China) (1988) |
Fifth (November 2015) |
Sixth(9 December 2019) |
|
|
Colombiaa (1987) |
Fifth (May 2015) |
Sixth (Received on 17 May 2019) |
|
|
Congo (2003) |
Initial(April 2015) |
Second(15 May 2019) |
|
|
Costa Ricaa (1993) |
Second (May 2008) |
Third(Received on 17 December 2019) |
|
|
Croatiaa (1992) |
Fourth and fifth (November 2014) |
Sixth(28 November 2018) |
|
|
Cuba (1995) |
Third (May 2022) |
Fourth(Due on 13 May 2026) |
|
|
Cyprusa (1991) |
Fifth(November 2019) |
Sixth(Due on 6 December 2023) |
|
|
Czechiaa (1993) |
Sixth(May 2018) |
Seventh (18 May 2022) |
|
|
Democratic Republic of the Congoa (1996) |
Second(April 2019) |
Third (Due on 17 May 2023) |
|
|
Denmarka (1987) |
Sixth and seventh (November 2015) |
Eighth(Received on 9 December 2019) |
|
|
Djibouti (2002) |
Initial (November 2011) |
Second(25 November 2015) |
|
|
Ecuadora (1988) |
Seventh (November 2016) |
Eighth (Received on 2 December 2020) |
|
|
Egypt (1986) |
Fourth (November 2002) |
Fifth(Received on 13 September 2021) |
|
|
El Salvadora (1996) |
Third (November 2022) |
Fourth(Due on 25 November 2026) |
|
|
Estoniaa (1991) |
Fifth (May 2013) |
Sixth(Received on 9 June 2022) |
|
|
Ethiopia (1994) |
Initial (November 2010) |
Second (Received on 6 March 2020) |
|
|
Finlanda (1989) |
Seventh (November 2016) |
Eighth (Received on 3 December 2020) |
|
|
Francea (1986) |
Seventh (April 2016) |
Eighth(Received on 15 May 2020) |
|
|
Gabona (2000) |
Initial (November 2012) |
Second(23 November 2016) |
|
|
Georgiaa (1994) |
Third (May 2006) |
Fourth and fifth (24 November 2011) |
|
|
Germanya (1990) |
Sixth (April 2019) |
Seventh(Due on 17 May 2023) |
|
|
Ghanaa (2000) |
Initial (May 2011) |
Second (3 June 2015) |
|
|
Greecea (1988) |
Seventh(July 2019) |
Eighth(Due on 9 August 2023) |
|
|
Guatemalaa (1990) |
Seventh(November 2018) |
Eighth(7 December 2022) |
|
|
Guinea (1989) |
Initial(May 2014) |
Second(23 May 2018) |
|
|
Guyanaa (1988) |
Initial (November 2006) |
Second (31 December 2008) |
|
|
Holy See |
Initial(May 2014) |
Second(23 May 2018) |
|
|
Hondurasa (1996) |
Second (July 2016) |
Third (Received on 15 September 2020) |
|
|
Hungarya (1987) |
Fourth (November 2006) |
Fifth and sixth (31 December 2010) |
|
|
Icelanda (1996) |
Fourth (May 2022) |
Fifth(Due on 13 May 2026) |
|
|
Indonesia (1998) |
Second (May 2008) |
Third (30 June 2012) |
|
|
Iraq (2011) |
Second (May 2022) |
Third(Due on 13 May 2026) |
|
|
Irelanda (2002) |
Second (July 2017) |
Third(11 August 2021) |
|
|
Israela (1991) |
Fifth (May 2016) |
Sixth(Received on 30 December 2020) |
|
|
Italya (1989) |
Fifth and sixth (November 2017) |
Seventh(Received on 7 December 2021) |
|
|
Japana (1999) |
Second(May 2013) |
Third(31 May 2017) |
|
|
Jordana (1991) |
Third (November 2015) |
Fourth(Received on 19 February 2021) |
|
|
Kazakhstan (1998) |
Third(November 2014) |
Fourth(Received on 5 December 2018) |
|
|
Kenyaa (1997) |
Third (May 2022) |
Fourth(Due on 13 May 2026) |
|
|
Kuwaita (1996) |
Third (July 2016) |
Fourth (Received on 14 August 2020) |
|
|
Kyrgyzstana (1997) |
Third(November 2021) |
Fourth (Due on 3 December 2025) |
|
|
Latviaa (1992) |
Sixth (November 2019) |
Seventh(Due on 6 December 2023) |
|
|
Lebanon (2000) |
Initial(April 2017) |
Second(12 May 2021) |
|
|
Libyaa (1989) |
Third (May 1999) |
Fourth (14 June 2002) |
|
|
Liechtensteina (1990) |
Fourth (November 2015) |
Fifth(Received on 5 December 2019) |
|
|
Lithuaniaa (1996) |
Fourth (November 2021) |
Fifth(Due on 3 December 2025) |
|
|
Luxembourga (1987) |
Sixth and seventh (April 2015) |
Eighth (Received on 16 May 2019) |
|
|
Madagascar (2005) |
Initial (November 2011) |
Second(25 November 2015) |
|
|
Malawi (1996) |
Initial(November 2022) |
Second(Due on 25 November 2026) |
|
|
Maldivesa (2004) |
Initial(November 2018) |
Second(7 December 2022) |
|
|
Maltaa (1990) |
Second (November 1999) |
Third (12 December 2000) |
|
|
Mauritania (2004) |
Second(July 2018) |
Third(10 August 2022) |
|
|
Mauritiusa (1992) |
Fourth(November 2017) |
Fifth(Received on 30 November 2021) |
|
|
Mexicoa (1986) |
Seventh (May 2019) |
Eighth(Due on 17 May 2023) |
|
|
Monacoa (1991) |
Sixth (November 2016) |
Seventh (Received on 9 December 2020) |
|
|
Mongoliaa (2002) |
Second (August 2016) |
Third(Received on 9 July 2021) |
|
|
Montenegroa (2006) |
Third (May 2022) |
Fourth(Due on 13 May 2026) |
|
|
Moroccoa (1993) |
Fourth (November 2011) |
Fifth(25 November 2015) |
|
|
Mozambique (1999) |
Initial(November 2013) |
Second(22 November 2017) |
|
|
Namibiaa (1994) |
Second (November 2016) |
Third(Received on 19 May 2021) |
|
|
Nepal (1991) |
Second (November 2005) |
Third to fifth (12 June 2008) |
|
|
Netherlandsa (1988) |
Seventh(November 2018) |
Eighth(Received on 23 December 2022) |
|
|
New Zealanda (1989) |
Sixth(April 2015) |
Seventh (Received on 25 September 2019) |
|
|
Nicaragua (2005) |
Second(July 2022) |
Third(Due on 29 July 2026) |
|
|
Nigera (1998) |
Initial(November 2019) |
Second(Due on 6 December 2023) |
|
|
Nigeria (2001) |
Review in absence of initial report(November 2021) |
Second(Due on 3 December 2025) |
|
|
North Macedoniaa (1994) |
Third(May 2015) |
Fourth(Received on 29 June 2020) |
|
|
Norwaya (1986) |
Eighth (April 2018) |
Ninth (Received on 12 May 2022) |
|
|
Pakistan (2010) |
Initial(April 2017) |
Second(Received on 16 June 2022) |
|
|
Panamaa (1987) |
Fourth (August 2017) |
Fifth(11 August 2021) |
|
|
Paraguaya (1990) |
Seventh (July 2017) |
Eighth(11 August 2021) |
|
|
Perua (1988) |
Seventh (November 2018) |
Eighth(7 December 2022) |
|
|
Philippinesa (1986) |
Third(April 2016) |
Fourth(Received on 21 June 2022) |
|
|
Polanda (1989) |
Seventh(July 2019) |
Eighth(Due on 9 August 2023) |
|
|
Portugala (1989) |
Seventh(November 2019) |
Eighth(Due on 6 December 2023) |
|
|
Qatara (2000) |
Third (May 2018) |
Fourth(Received on 20 September 2022) |
|
|
Republic of Koreaa (1995) |
Third to fifth (May 2017) |
Sixth(Received on 12 July 2021) |
|
|
Republic of Moldovaa(1995) |
Third (November 2017) |
Fourth(Received on 28 March 2022) |
|
|
Romaniaa (1990) |
Second(April 2015) |
Third(Received on 30 September 2019) |
|
|
Russian Federationa (1987) |
Sixth (August 2018) |
Seventh(Received on 7 December 2022) |
|
|
Rwanda (2008) |
Second (November 2017) |
Third(6 December 2021) |
|
|
Saudi Arabiaa (1997) |
Second (April 2016) |
Third (13 May 2020) |
|
|
Senegala (1986) |
Fourth (April 2018) |
Fifth(Received on 24 June 2022) |
|
|
Serbiaa (2001) |
Third (November 2021) |
Fourth(Due on 3 December 2025) |
|
|
Seychelles (1992) |
Initial (July 2018) |
Second(10 August 2022) |
|
|
Sierra Leone (2001) |
Initial(May 2014) |
Second(23 May 2018) |
|
|
Slovakiaa (1993) |
Third (July 2015) |
Fourth (Received on 14 August 2019) |
|
|
Sloveniaa (1993) |
Third (May 2011) |
Fourth (Received on 11 October 2019) |
|
|
Somaliaa (1990) |
Initial(November 2022) |
Second(Due on 25 November 2026) |
|
|
South Africaa (1998) |
Second (May 2019) |
Third (Due on 17 May 2023) |
|
|
Spaina (1987) |
Sixth(April 2015) |
Seventh(Received on 4 June 2019) |
|
|
Sri Lanka (1994) |
Fifth (November 2016) |
Sixth(7 December 2020) |
|
|
State of Palestine (2014) |
Initial (July 2022) |
Second (Due on 29 July 2026) |
|
|
Swedena (1986) |
Eighth(November 2021) |
Ninth(Due on 3 December 2025) |
|
|
Switzerlanda (1986) |
Seventh (August 2015) |
Eighth (Received on 16 July 2019) |
|
|
Syrian Arab Republic (2004) |
Initial (May 2010) |
Second (14 May 2014) |
|
|
Tajikistan (1995) |
Third(May 2018) |
Fourth (Received on 21 May 2022) |
|
|
Thailanda (2007) |
Initial (May 2014) |
Second(Received on 4 January 2021) |
|
|
Timor-Leste (2003) |
Initial(November 2017) |
Second(6 December 2021) |
|
|
Togoa (1987) |
Third (July 2019) |
Fourth(Due on 9 August 2023) |
|
|
Tunisiaa (1988) |
Third (April 2016) |
Fourth(13 May 2020) |
|
|
Türkiyea (1988) |
Fourth (April 2016) |
Fifth(Received on 27 October 2020) |
|
|
Turkmenistan (1999) |
Second (November 2016) |
Third (Received on 7 December 2020) |
|
|
Ugandaa (1986) |
Second(November 2022) |
Third(Due on 25 November 2026) |
|
|
Ukrainea (1987) |
Sixth(November 2014) |
Seventh(Received on 30 November 2018) |
|
|
United Arab Emirates (2012) |
Initial(July 2022) |
Second(Due on 29 July 2026) |
|
|
United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Irelanda (1988) |
Sixth(May 2019) |
Seventh(Due on 17 May 2023) |
|
|
United States of Americaa (1994) |
Third to fifth (November 2014) |
Sixth(Received on 24 September 2021) |
|
|
Uruguaya (1986) |
Fourth (May 2022) |
Fifth(Due on 13 May 2026) |
|
|
Uzbekistan (1995) |
Fifth(November 2019) |
Sixth(Due on 6 December 2023) |
|
|
Venezuela (Bolivarian Republic of) (1991) |
Third and fourth(November 2014) |
Fifth(28 November 2018) |
|
|
Viet Nam (2015) |
Initial(November 2018) |
Second(7 December 2022) |
|
|
Yemena (1991) |
Second (May 2010) |
Third (14 May 2014) |
|
|
Zambiaa (1998) |
Second (May 2008) |
Third (30 June 2012) |
a State party submitting a report under the simplified reporting procedure.
4.Consideration of reports submitted by States parties under article 19 of the Convention
The attention of States parties is drawn to the tentative timetable set out below for the consideration of reports. In accordance with rule 68 of the rules of procedure, representatives of States parties are invited to attend the meetings of the Committee at which their reports are examined.
|
Date and time of meeting |
Report |
Symbol |
|
Tuesday, 18 April |
||
|
10 a.m.–1 p.m. |
Colombia: sixth periodic report |
CAT/C/COL/6 |
|
Wednesday, 19 April |
||
|
10 a.m.–1 p.m. |
Brazil: second periodic report |
CAT/C/BRA/2 |
|
3–6 p.m. |
Colombia: replies |
|
|
Thursday, 20 April |
||
|
3–6 p.m. |
Brazil: replies |
|
|
Wednesday, 26 April |
||
|
10 a.m.–1 p.m. |
Luxembourg: eighth periodic report |
CAT/C/LUX/8 |
|
Thursday, 27 April |
||
|
10 a.m.–1 p.m. |
Slovakia: fourth periodic report |
CAT/C/SVK/4 |
|
3–6 p.m. |
Luxembourg: replies |
|
|
Friday, 28 April |
||
|
3–6 p.m. |
Slovakia: replies |
|
|
Tuesday, 2 May |
||
|
10 a.m.–1 p.m. |
Kazakhstan: fourth periodic report |
CAT/C/KAZ/4 |
|
Wednesday, 3 May |
||
|
10 a.m.–1 p.m. |
Ethiopia: second periodic report |
CAT/C/ETH/2 |
|
3–6 p.m. |
Kazakhstan: replies |
|
|
Thursday, 4 May |
||
|
3–6 p.m. |
Ethiopia: replies |
5.Consideration of information submitted under article 20 of the Convention
In accordance with the provisions of chapter XIX of its rules of procedure, the Committee considers information that has been, or appears to have been, submitted for its consideration under article 20 of the Convention.
In accordance with the provisions of article 20 (5) of the Convention and rules 78 and 79 of the rules of procedure, all documents and proceedings of the Committee relating to its functions under article 20 of the Convention are confidential and all the meetings concerning its proceedings under that article are closed.
6.Consideration of communications submitted under article 22 of the Convention
In accordance with the provisions of chapter XXI of its rules of procedure, the Committee considers communications that have been, or appear to have been, submitted to it under article 22 of the Convention. In accordance with article 22 (6) of the Convention and rule 107 (1) of the rules of procedure, meetings of the Committee or its subsidiary bodies during which communications under article 22 of the Convention are examined are closed.