Subcom mittee on Prevention of Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment

Decision on establishing a working group to strengthen and facilitate the work of the Special Fund established by the Optional Protocol to the Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment *

1.The Subcommittee on Prevention of Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment, in order to strengthen and facilitate the work of the Special Fund established by the Optional Protocol to the Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment, decides to establish a working group composed of up to five of its members, representing all regional teams and the Bureau of the Subcommittee.

2.The working group will work under the guidance and within the framework of the Subcommittee. Its mandate will be to support and advise on the strategic direction of the Special Fund,toassist in the selection and impact assessment of projects and to contribute to fundraising for the Special Fund. The Grants Committee of the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) will continue, with a leaner procedure than before, to be accountable to and to ensure coherence with OHCHR and with the rules and regulations of the United Nations.

3.The working group will develop its terms of reference, including safeguards on the independence and impartiality of its members, in accordance with the guidelines on the independence and impartiality of members of the human rights treaty bodies (the Addis Ababa guidelines), during its first meetings in June 2016. In its terms of reference, the working group will include the following tasks:

(a)Advise on the strategic direction and on the focus of the Special Fund;

(b)Design, with OHCHR, appropriate plans for the achievement of the strategic goals of the Special Fund;

(c)Provide guidance to OHCHR on the selection of projects to be supported by the Special Fund;

(d)Provide guidance to OHCHR on the impact of projects and make suggestions regarding their assessment and follow-up;

(e)Design, contribute to and participate in fundraising strategies and activities for the Special Fund, in conjunction with OHCHR.