United Nations

CAT/C/72/1

Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment

Distr.: General

20 September 2021

Original: English

English, French and Spanish only

Committee against Torture

Seventy-second session

8 November–3 December 2021

Item 4 of the provisional agenda

Adoption of the agenda

Annotated provisional agenda *

Provisional agenda

1.Opening of the session.

2.Declaration by the newly elected members of the Committee.

3.Election of the officers of the Committee.

4.Adoption of the agenda.

5.Organizational and other matters.

6.Submission of reports by States parties under article 19 of the Convention.

7.Consideration of reports submitted by States parties under article 19 of the Convention.

8.Consideration of information submitted under article 20 of the Convention.

9.Consideration of communications submitted under article 22 of the Convention.

Annotations

1.Opening of the session

The seventy-second session of the Committee will be opened by a representative of the Secretary-General.

2.Declaration by the newly elected members of the Committee

Given the exceptional circumstances resulting from the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic and the related impossibility of holding in-person sessions of Committees in Geneva and New York, the Committee decided, in July 2020, that new members would deposit signed solemn declarations with the Secretariat and that the Secretariat would post them on the Committee’s web page. The Committee also decided that the new members would orally confirm their oath at the next in-person session.

In accordance with rule 14 of the rules of procedure, the new members of the Committee elected at the seventeenth meeting of the States parties to the Convention, held on 3 October 2019, and those appointed following the resignations of the member from China, on 11 February 2020, and of the member from Denmark, on 3 May 2021, will make the following declaration:

I solemnly declare that I will perform my duties and exercise my powers as a member of the Committee against Torture honourably, faithfully, independently, impartially and conscientiously.

3.Election of the officers of the Committee

In accordance with article 18 (1) of the Convention and rules 16 and 17 of the rules of procedure, under this item, the Committee will elect from among its members a chair, three vice-chairs and a rapporteur. In electing its officers, the Committee shall give consideration to equitable geographical distribution and appropriate gender balance and, to the extent possible, rotation among members.

Given the exceptional circumstances explained above, the Committee decided, in July 2020, to postpone the election of officers until the next in situ session. The then officers of the Committee continued to perform their functions until that time. Furthermore, following the resignation of the member of Denmark and Chair of the Committee on 18 March 2021, an Acting Chair was designated to perform until one day before the first meeting of the in-situ session. In light of the July 2020 decision taken by the Committee on the basis of exceptional circumstances and Rules 12 and 17, new officers will be elected at the seventy-second session.

4.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.

5.Organizational and other matters

The seventy-second session of the Committee will be held at the United Nations Office at Geneva, from 8 November to 3 December 2021, and will be opened by a representative of the Secretary-General. The first meeting will be convened on Monday, 3 November 2021, 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.

6.Submission of reports by States parties under article 19 of the Convention

States parties to the Convention

As at 13 September 2021, there were 172 States parties to the Convention.

Reports received

As at 13 September, the Secretary-General had received the following reports, which are pending consideration:

State party

Report

Albania

Third

Argentina

Seventh

Armenia

Fifth

Australia

CAT/C/AUS/6

Austria

CAT/C/AUT/7

Azerbaijan

CAT/C/AZE/5

Bahrain

Fourth

Brazil

CAT/C/BRA/2

Burundi

Third

Chad

CAT/C/TCD/2

Colombia

CAT/C/COL/6

Costa Rica

CAT/C/CRI/3

Cuba

CAT/C/CUB/3

Denmark

CAT/C/DNK/8

Ecuador

CAT/C/ECU/8

Egypt

Fifth

El Salvador

CAT/C/SLV/3

Ethiopia

CAT/C/ETH/2

Finland

Eighth

France

CAT/C/FRA/8

Honduras

Third

Iceland

CAT/C/ISL/4

Iraq

CAT/C/IRQ/2

Israel

Sixth

Jordan

Fourth

Kazakhstan

CAT/C/KAZ/4

Kenya

CAT/C/KEN/3

Kuwait

CAT/C/KWT/4

Liechtenstein

CAT/C/LIE/5

Luxembourg

CAT/C/LUX/8

Malawi

CAT/C/MWI/1

Monaco

Seventh

Mongolia

Third

Montenegro

CAT/C/MNE/3

Namibia

Third

New Zealand

CAT/C/NZL/7

Nicaragua

CAT/C/NIC/2

North Macedonia

CAT/C/MKD/4

Republic of Korea

Sixth

Romania

CAT/C/ROU/3

Slovakia

CAT/C/SVK/4

Slovenia

CAT/C/SVN/4

Somalia

CAT/C/SOM/1

Spain

CAT/C/ESP/7

State of Palestine

CAT/C/PSE/1

Switzerland

CAT/C/CHE/8

Thailand

Second

Turkey

Fifth

Turkmenistan

Third

Uganda

CAT/C/UGA/2

Ukraine

CAT/C/UKR/7

United Arab Emirates

CAT/C/ARE/1

Uruguay

CAT/C/URY/4

Initial reports

The status of submission of initial reports as at 13 September 2021 was as follows:

State party (since)

Initial reports

Overdue since

Date due or received

Angola (2019)

2 November 2020

Bahamas (2018)

1 July 2019

Botswanaa (2000)

7 October 2001

Central African Republic (2016)

10 November 2017

Comoros (2017)

25 June 2018

Côte d’Ivoireb (1995)

16 January 1997

Dominican Republicc (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

Lesothod (2001)

11 December 2002

Liberia (2004)

22 October 2005

Malawie (1996)

Received on14 October 2019

Malif (1999)

27 March 2000

Marshall Islands (2018)

12 April 2019

Nauru (2012)

26 October 2013

Nigeria (2001)

28 June 2002

Oman

Due on 9 July 2021

Saint Kitts and Nevis

Due on 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

Somaliag (1990)

22 February 1991

Received on16 December 2019

South Sudan (2015)

30 April 2016

Sudan (2021)

Due on 9 September 2022

United Arab Emirates (2012)

Received on 20 June 2018

Vanuatu (2011)

11 August 2012

State of Palestine (2014)

Received on 14 June 2019

a On 27 September 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.

b 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.

c 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.

d 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.

e On 8 December 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.

f 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.

g On 2 February 2017, 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 13 September 2021 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(22 November 2017)

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)

Fourth and fifth(November 2014)

Sixth (Received on 16 January 2019)

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 (May 2018)

Sixth (Due on 18 May 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)

Second (May 2013)

Third(Received on 11 February 2019)

Bosnia and Herzegovinaa (1993)

Sixth (November 2017)

Seventh(Due on 6 December 2021)

Brazila (1989)

Initial (May 2001)

Second(Received on 13 August 2020)

Bulgariaa (1986)

Sixth (November 2017)

Seventh(Due on 6 December 2021)

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(Due on 6 December 2021)

Canadaa (1987)

Seventh(November 2018)

Eighth(Due on 7 December 2022)

Chada (1995)

Initial (May 2009)

Second (Received on 13 September 2019)

Chilea (1988)

Sixth(July 2018)

Seventh(Due on 10 August 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 27 May 2019)

Congo (2003)

Initial(May 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)

Second (May 2012)

Third(Received on 19 October 2018)

Cyprusa (1991)

Fifth(November 2019)

Sixth(Due on 6 December 2023)

Czechiaa (1993)

Sixth(May 2018)

Seventh (Due on 18 May 2022)

Democratic Republic of the Congo (1996)

Second(May 2019)

Third(Due on 17 May 2023)

Denmarka (1987)

Sixth and seventh (November 2015)

Eighth(Received on9 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)

Second (November 2009)

Third(Received on 4 June 2019)

Estoniaa (1991)

Fifth (May 2013)

Sixth(31 May 2017)

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 (May 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 (May 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(Due on 7 December 2022)

Guinea (1989)

Initial(May 2014)

Second(23 May 2018)

Guyanaa (1988)

Initial (November 2006)

Second (31 December 2008)

Hondurasa (1996)

Second (July 2016)

Third (Received on 12 September 2020)

Hungarya (1987)

Fourth (November 2006)

Fifth and sixth (31 December 2010)

Icelanda (1996)

Third (May 2008)

Fourth(Received on 16 October 2018)

Indonesia (1998)

Second (May 2008)

Third (30 June 2012)

Iraq (2011)

Initial (July 2015)

Second(Received on 20 August 2019)

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 2007)

Seventh(Due on 6 December 2021)

Japana (1999)

Second(May 2013)

Third(31 May 2017)

Jordana (1991)

Third (November 2015)

Fourth(Received on 19 February 2021)

Kazakhstana (1998)

Third(November 2014)

Fourth(Received on 5 December 2018)

Kenyaa (1997)

Second (May 2013)

Third(Received on 3 August 2018)

Kuwaita (1996)

Third (July 2016)

Fourth (Received on 14 August 2020)

Kyrgyzstana (1997)

Second(November 2013)

Third (Received on 31 January 2019)

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 4 December 2019)

Lithuaniaa (1996)

Third (May 2014)

Fourth(Received on 19 December 2018)

Luxembourga (1987)

Sixth and seventh (May 2015)

Eighth (Received on 16 May 2019)

Madagascar (2005)

Initial (November 2011)

Second(25 November 2015)

Maldivesa (2004)

Initial(November 2018)

Second(Due on 7 December 2022)

Maltaa (1990)

Second (November 1999)

Third (12 December 2000)

Mauritania (2004)

Second(July 2018)

Third(Due on 10 August 2022)

Mauritiusa (1992)

Fourth(November 2017)

Fifth(Due on 6 December 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 (July 2016)

Third(Received on 9 July 2021)

Montenegroa (2006)

Second (May 2014)

Third(Received on 7 August 2018)

Moroccoa (1993)

Fourth (November 2011)

Fifth(25 November 2015)

Mozambique (1999)

Initial(November 2013)

Second(22 November 2017)

Namibia (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 (Due on 7 December 2022)

New Zealanda (1989)

Sixth(May 2015)

Seventh (Received on 25 September 2019)

Nicaragua (2005)

Initial (May 2009)

Second(Received on 14 May 2019)

Niger (1998)

Initial(November 2019)

Second(Due on 6 December 2023)

North Macedoniaa (1994)

Third(May 2015)

Fourth(15 May 2019)

Norwaya (1986)

Eighth (May 2018)

Ninth (Due on 18 May 2022)

Pakistan (2010)

Initial(April 2017)

Second(12 May 2021)

Panamaa (1987)

Fourth (August 2017)

Fifth(11 August 2021)

Paraguaya (1990)

Seventh (July 2017)

Eighth(11 August 2021)

Perua (1988)

Seventh (November 2018)

Eighth(Due on 7 December 2022)

Philippinesa (1986)

Third(May 2016)

Fourth(13 May 2020)

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 (Due on 18 May 2022)

Republic of Koreaa(1995)

Third to fifth (May 2017)

Sixth(Received on 12 July 2021)

Republic of Moldovaa(1995)

Third (November 2017)

Fourth(Due on 6 December 2021)

Romaniaa (1990)

Second(May 2015)

Third (Received on 30 September 2019)

Russian Federationa (1987)

Sixth (July 2018)

Seventh(Due on 10 August 2022)

Rwanda (2008)

Second (November 2017)

Third(Due on 6 December 2021)

Saudi Arabia (1997)

Second (May 2016)

Third (13 May 2020)

Senegala (1986)

Fourth (May 2018)

Fifth(Due on 18 May 2022)

Serbiaa (2001)

Second (May 2015)

Third(Received on 10 April 2019)

Seychelles (1992)

Initial (July 2018)

Second(Due on 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)

South Africaa (1998)

Second (May 2019)

Third (Due on 17 May 2023)

Spaina (1987)

Sixth(May 2015)

Seventh(Received on 4 June 2019)

Sri Lanka (1994)

Fifth (November 2016)

Sixth(7 December 2020)

Swedena (1986)

Sixth and seventh(November 2014)

Eighth(Received on 26 November 2018)

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 (Due on 18 May 2022)

Thailanda (2007)

Initial (May 2014)

Second(Received on 3 January 2021)

Timor-Leste (2003)

Initial(November 2017)

Second(Due on 6 December 2021)

Togoa (1987)

Third (July 2019)

Fourth(Due on 9 August 2023)

Tunisiaa (1988)

Third (May 2016)

Fourth(13 May 2020)

Turkeya (1988)

Fourth (May 2016)

Fifth(Received on 27 October 2020)

Turkmenistan (1999)

Second (November 2016)

Third (Received on 7 December 2020)

Ugandaa (1986)

Initial (May 2005)

Second(Received on 17 August 2020)

Ukrainea (1987)

Sixth(November 2014)

Seventh(Received on 30 November 2018)

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(28 November 2018)

Uruguaya (1986)

Third (May 2014)

Fourth(Received on 9 July 2018)

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(Due on 7 December 2022)

Yemena (1991)

Second (May 2010)

Third (14 May 2014)

Zambiaa (1998)

Second (May 2008)

Third (30 June 2012)

Holy See

Initial(May 2014)

Second(23 May 2018)

a State party submitting a report under the simplified reporting procedure.

7.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 and one country situation (review in the absence of a report). 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, 9 November

10 a.m.–1 p.m.

Sweden: eighth periodic report

CAT/C/SWE/8

Wednesday, 10 November

10 a.m.–1 p.m.

Kyrgyzstan: third periodic report

CAT/C/KGZ/3

3–6 p.m.

Sweden: replies

Thursday, 11 November

3–6 p.m.

Kyrgyzstan: replies

Tuesday, 16 November

10 a.m.–1 p.m.

Nigeria: examination in the absence of the initial report

Wednesday, 17 November

10 a.m.–1 p.m.

Lithuania: fourth periodic report

CAT/C/LTU/4

3–6 p.m.

Nigeria: examination in the absence of initial report

Thursday, 18 November

3–6 p.m.

Lithuania: replies

Tuesday, 23 November

10 a.m.–1 p.m.

Serbia: third periodic report

CAT/C/SRB/3

Wednesday, 24 November

10 a.m.–1 p.m.

Plurinational State of Bolivia: third periodic report

CAT/C/BOL/3

3–6 p.m.

Serbia: replies

Thursday, 25 November

3–6 p.m.

Plurinational State of Bolivia: replies

8.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.

9.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, paragraph 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.