11th Meeting of States parties and 2026 elections , Subcommittee on Prevention of Torture (SPT)

Distinguished representative of state parties, excellencies, ladies and gentlemen, good morning. On behalf of the Secretary General of the United Nations, I have the honor to open the 11th meeting of state parties to the Optional Protocol to the Convention Against Torture and Other Cruel inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment, OPCAT. The High Commissioner for Human Rights, who is unable to open this meeting due to prior commitment, has asked me to convey to you his wishes for a successful meeting. Before turning to the first item on our agenda, allow me to share a few reflections on the implementation of the Optional Protocol to date. This year marks several important milestones, namely 20 years since the entry into force of the OPCAT, 20 years of the work of the Subcommittee on the Prevention of Torture, and 25 years since the adoption of the OPCAT by the General Assembly. Since its adoption, we have seen a gradual but steady increase in ratifications and accessions, bringing the number of State Parties to 96. I'm pleased to welcome to this meeting representatives of two States that have become party to the Optional Protocol since the last meeting. They are Bangladesh and Colombia. Excellencies, The Subcommittee has been very active since its establishment. It has undertaken 112 visits to State parties. This year, it has visited Mexico, France and Sri Lanka and will visit Paraguay and Ghana before the end of the year. During its visits, the Subcommittee, in addition to visiting places of deprivation of liberty, also works with the national preventive mechanisms where they are already in place. The SPT also conducts follow-up visits to States Parties to assess whether the recommendations from its prior visits have been implemented. Furthermore, 75 reports relating to countries and national preventive mechanisms across all regions have been made public at the request of States Parties or the national preventive mechanisms. reflecting the confidence placed in the SPT work. A key contribution of the OPCAT is the requirement for each State Party to maintain, designate or establish one or more independent national preventive mechanisms. To date, 80 out of the 96 State Parties have done so. As you know, The SPT supports States in establishing these mechanisms and ensuring their compliance with the Optional Protocol. It also maintains regular contact with national preventive mechanisms and the regional networks and provides advice upon request. Where appropriate, this advice is shared with the relevant States and mechanisms and made public. The SPT also collaborates with other mechanisms in the field of torture prevention, particularly the Committee against Torture, the Special Rapporteur on Torture, the Fund for Victims of Torture, and other international bodies. At the regional level, the SPT maintains close contacts with the Inter-American human rights system and the European Committee on the Prevention of Torture. Since the last meeting of State Parties, the SPT adopted a set of substantive documents providing technical advice, guidance on the follow-up to the subcommittees' visit procedures, as well as on issues of independence and impartiality in the context of the guidelines on the independence and impartiality of members of the human rights treaty bodies, also known as the Addis Ababa Guidelines. The subcommittee also provides or provided advice to national preventive mechanisms on remuneration of their experts, advice on national preventive mechanisms in multi-mandated institutions and on changes in the national preventive mechanisms designation. Finally, it also issued advice on the compliance of draft national legislation on national preventive mechanisms with the provisions of the Optional Protocol. Excellencies, I am pleased to inform you that the Chair of the SPT will present the 20th annual report of the SPT to the UN General Assembly on 15 October, together with the annual report of the Committee against Torture and the report of the Special Rapporteur on torture. Regrettably, the Chair of the SPT, like the Chairs of other treaty bodies, will join the meeting remotely as funds are not available to enable the travel to New York. Thanks to its unique and proactive approach, the SPT has become an essential reference point in the field of torture prevention. We should also underline the role played by civil society representatives in their ongoing support of the SPT and its core activities under the mandate of the OPCAT. Excellences, Madames and Messieurs.

Excellencies, ladies and gentlemen, I would also like to highlight the OPCAT Special Fund created under Article 26 of the Optional Protocol. These funds support the implementation of the recommendations of the OPCAT and shore up national prevention mechanisms. Since it was created, 161 projects have been funded by it in numerous countries to a total of $4 million. in the form of subsidies. Since 2016, the Fund has prioritised projects aimed at putting in place or strengthening national prevention mechanisms, placing an emphasis on achieving measurable, sustainable results, as well as strengthening the key roles of Member States in reforms. With voluntary contributions, the Special Fund depends on continued contributions from States, and I would like to sincerely thank those who have made their contributions, and I encourage others to do the same. Every contribution is a concrete demonstration of commitment in favour of preventing torture on the global scale. Excellencies, ladies and gentlemen, this meeting comes at a time when we see considerable uncertainty and challenges where the United Nations system meets major restrictions to its operations. The liquidity crisis and partial release of funds through tranches has affected the ability that we have to plan Treaty Body visits as well as other operations. Visits require planning that is becoming more complicated due to the lack of persistent financial unpredictability. This is why the SPT has had to reduce our programme of visits in 2025 and in 2026, as well as our consultations to national prevention mechanisms. As we respond to the immediate difficulties that flow from the financial situation, we must also continue to think carefully about the ways that we could shore up in the long term the treaty bodies system. Allow me to draw your attention to the working document of the High Commission for Human Rights entitled "Strengthening the efficacy and efficiency of the treaty body systems of the United Nations". Commissioner's Office compiled this document to encourage a discussion on strengthening the treaty bodies. The sixth report of the Secretary General on the state of the treaty bodies, as well as its annexes, are available on the website, and I think that they will be of great interest to everyone. Finally, I would like to mention the election of an informal online session with the election candidates who have chosen to participate. This event has become a practice that is well established, organised by the Association for the Prevention of Torture and the consortium United Against Torture, with support from the Secretariat. Many participants, notably from State Parties and civil society, as well as the current SPT members, have participated in this event. Every candidate has prepared a brief oral presentation, which is followed by questions posed by Member States and other participants. This virtual meeting is much appreciated by the candidate state parties and other participants because it makes it possible to exchange allow exchanges between the candidates and the parties state parties who have chosen to elect them this event is also called upon to preserve diversity and inclusivity within the committee and across the treaty bodies the committee has set an example for gender balance with 13 men and 12 women in its current composition, as well as in terms of the diversity of skills and experience. And I encourage you to continue this positive trend during the upcoming election and subsequent elections.

Ladies and gentlemen, allow me to move to the elections. In this regard, I would like to reiterate the criteria set out in the Optional Protocol concerning members of and their professional qualification. Article 5 stipulates, in part, "The members of the subcommittee on prevention shall be chosen from among persons of high moral character, having proven professional experience in the field of the administration of justice, in particular in criminal law, prisons or police administration, or in the various fields relevant to the treatment of persons deprived of their liberty." 3. In the composition of the Subcommittee on Prevention, due consideration shall be given to equitable geographic distribution and to the representation of different forms of civilization and legal systems of the States Parties. 4. In this composition, consideration shall also be given to balanced gender representation on the basis of the principle of equality and non-discrimination. The members of the Sub-Committee on Prevention shall serve in their individual capacity, shall be independent and impartial, and shall be available to serve the Sub-Committee on Prevention efficiently. The SPT should therefore be composed of independent experts reflecting a variety of professional and personal skills to carry out its mandate effectively and independently. It should also be noted that the Subcommittee is guided by the principle of confidentiality, impartiality, non-selectivity, universality, and objectivity as set out in the Optional Protocol. Excellencies, distinguished delegates, Allow me now to proceed to agenda item two on the provisional agenda document. Cuts stroke, OP, stroke, SP, stroke, 23, related to the election of the chairperson. Are there any nominations for the position of chairperson of the 11th meeting of the state party to the optional protocol? I recognize the Ambassador of Argentina. You have the floor.

Mr. Chair.

It's an honor for me to take the floor at this stage on behalf of the Group of Latin America and the Caribbean, GRULAC, who are a party to the OPCAT, Optional Protocol to the Convention against Torture, to submit the candidacy of the Permanent Representative of Mexico, Ambassador Francisca Elizabeth Mendez Escobar, to chair the meeting of the chair the event for meeting the chairs Mr. chairman there are opportunities in our lives where we choose a person to play a role and other occasions in which a whole trajectory seems to have prepared a person to play that role we believe that this is one of those opportunities because behind the candidacy of the ambassador minister and more than three decades dedicated to diplomatic service in her country three decades of experiences and multilateral experiences, three decades negotiating between different countries, different regions, different cultures and very often different positions also from Latin America to Europe to the EU to the UN, Costa Rica, Romania, UAE, Iraq. She has exercised consular diplomatic responsibilities, she's been head of foreign affairs ministries and in charge, she's represented Mexico to Europe, she's been ambassador in the Middle East. She has dealt with matters pertaining to regional mechanisms, continental mechanisms, and has played roles in CELAC, the Latin American summit, etc. She represents Mexico here in Geneva in one of the center's most complicated, most diverse, and most demanding of contemporary multilateral architecture. Her career is not measured by where she has served and by the positions she's occupied. It's also measured by what she has learned along the way. She's learned to listen before to responding. She's learned that negotiating doesn't mean to giving up one's convictions, but rather finding places in which different convictions can live side by side. You learn that consensus doesn't just suddenly appear as if by magic, but is built. And you learn that to preside over an international meeting does not mean to speak louder than the others, but to make it possible for all to be heard. These qualities, experiences, her serenity, her knowledge of various regions, her ability to listen and the vocation to build understandings are precisely those qualities we see in Ambassador Mendes. And it is those qualities that this meeting needs. The Optional Protocol that brings us together today deals with a matter which has to do with one of the most elemental conditions of our human condition. No person in any circumstance can be or should be submitted to torture or cruel and inhumane treatment or punishment. It is a responsibility of such nature calls for a chairmanship, a shared personship that is worthy and that you need sensitivity, you need authority, but you also need an ability to listen. You need to have convictions, but you also need to be ready to enter into dialogue. Mr. Chairman, our group is not putting forward only a name. It is putting forward a whole career, a whole pathway. We're not just putting forward somebody who's got experience. We're putting forward the name of a colleague who's dedicated over 30 years to what amounts at the end of the day to the essence of our devotion. It's her ability to build agreements where agreements didn't seem possible is what makes her worthy. For all these reasons, the States of GRUP, who are parties to OPCAT, have the honour to submit the candidacy of Ambassador Francisca Elizabeth Mendez Escobar, and we trust that the various delegations here will support us in our nomination so that she can be the chair of the 11th meeting of the Chairpersons. This will not only be a good choice for this meeting, it will also be a just recognition of a life devoted to diplomatic service, to multilateralism and to dialogue. Thank you very much indeed, Mr. Chairman.

Thank you very much, Ambassador, for the nomination and your statement. Any other nomination? No? If there are no other nominations, may I take it that the meeting wishes to elect Her Excellency Ambassador Francisca Mendez Escobar, Permanent Representative of Mexico, as its Chair by acclamation. It's so decided. I would like to invite Ambassador Mendez Escobar to come to the podium.

Very good morning to you all, Excellencies and distinguished delegates. First, may I thank the Ambassador of Argentina, Carlos Forador, for having made that introductory statement, for his very moving introduction. It's a major honor for me to preside over this significant meeting. I am convinced But with your support and thanks to the trust you've placed in me, this meeting will successfully carry out its mandate. Moving on now to the adoption of the agenda of the 11th meeting of the States Parties as submitted by the Secretary General in document CAT/OP/SP.23. If there are no comments, may I consider that the items listed on the provisional agenda are adopted as the agenda of this meeting? I see no objection. It is so decided. Before proceeding to the next item of the agenda, I wish to draw your attention to rules 2 and 3 of the provisional rules of procedure, contained in document CAT.OP.SB.3. Rule 2 provides that the credentials of representatives and the name of members of each delegation shall be submitted to the Secretary General, if possible, no later than one week before the date fixed for the opening of the meeting, and that such credentials shall be issued by the head of state or government or by the Minister of Foreign Affairs. The Secretary-General, in his note of 25 August 2026, invited States Parties to be represented at this meeting and to forward to him, if possible, no later than 25 September 2026, the credentials of their representatives. As the Secretary-General is required under rule 2 to report to the meeting on the credentials of the representatives, I have been informed that he has yet to receive proper credentials from some of the States Parties represented at this meeting. May I therefore suggest that, in accordance with rule 3, the representatives of those States Parties should be entitled provisionally, provisionally, to participate in the meeting and to urge them at the same time to see that their credentials are submitted to the Secretary-General as soon as possible. If I see no objection. It is so decided. Moving on now to item 4 of the agenda. Under rule 4 of the provisional rules of procedure, the meeting shall elect one to four vice chairpersons from among the representatives of the States Parties. Further to arrangements made, Ms. Eleanor Sanders, Ambassador for Human Rights for the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, has accepted to act as Vice-Chair of this meeting. If there are no objections, I will take it that the meeting wishes to elect Ambassador Sanders from the UK, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, as Vice-Chairperson of this meeting. or there might be someone wishing to second that proposal. I see no requests for the floor. It is therefore so decided. We shall now take up item 5 of the agenda, election in accordance with articles 7 and 9 of the Optional Protocol to the Convention against Torture and other cruel, inhuman, or degrading treatment or punishment of 13 members of the Subcommittee on the Prevention of Torture to replace those whose terms of office will expire on 31 December 2026. Today, we will hold the election of 13 members of the Subcommittee to fill the vacant positions that will expire on 31 December 2026. In accordance with Article 15 of the Rules of Procedure, the 13 candidates who obtain in the first ballot the largest number of votes and an absolute majority of the votes of the representatives of States Parties present and voting will be elected. If the number of candidates obtaining such majority is less than 13, there shall be additional ballots to fill the remaining places. the voting being restricted to those candidates who obtained the largest number of votes in the previous ballot, and the number of candidates being limited to no more than twice the number of places remaining to be filled, with a provision that, after the third inconclusive ballot, votes may be cast for any eligible nominee. Still in accordance with Article 15, If two nationals of a State Party have become eligible to serve as members, the candidate receiving the higher number of votes shall serve as the member. In accordance with article 9 of the Optional Protocol, the 13 elected members of the Subcommittee who will replace those whose terms of office will expire on 31 December 2026 shall serve for a term of four years. The list of candidates nominated by States Parties is contained in the notes by the Secretary-General in document bearing the code CAT