Third Committee, 17th plenary meeting - General Assembly, 81st session

The 17th meeting of the Third Committee at the 81st session of the General Assembly is called to order. I invite the Committee to resume its consideration of agenda item 70, entitled Promotion and Protection of Human Rights and its sub-items A to D. The documentation under agenda item 70 and its sub-items is listed on iGov. I wish to remind delegations that the deadline for the submission of draft proposals under this agenda item is 1:00 p.m. on Tuesday, the 3rd of November. We will now proceed to hold a combined briefing. The Committee will hear two introductory presentations before proceeding to a joint interactive dialogue, which delegations may make comments or pose questions to either or both presenters. I would like to welcome our distinguished speakers who are joining us virtually: the Chair of the Committee against Torture, Mr. Claude Heller, and the Chair of the Subcommittee on Prevention of Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman and Degrading Treatment or Punishment, Ms. Maria Luisa Romero. Participants wishing to make comments and pose questions to either or both speakers are invited to press their microphone button within the next six minutes, after which the list will be closed. The time limit for each speaker will be announced before the floor is given to the first intervention. I thank you for your cooperation. I invite the Chair of the Committee against Torture, Mr. Claude Heller. Mr. Heller, you have the floor.

Thank you, Madam Chair, distinguished representatives of Member States, It is an honour for me, on behalf of the Committee against Torture, to present to you a review of the work carried out by this body over the past year in fulfilment of its mandate. The recent accession of Saint Lucia, bringing the number of States parties to the Convention to 176, represents a further step towards the goal of universal ratification. The annual report submitted for your consideration, A/81/44, covers the period from the 3rd of May 2025 to the 1st of May 2026, during which the Committee held its 83rd and 84th sessions in Geneva. As a result of the organization's financial situation and the cash conservation measures adopted, between July 2025 and December 2026, the Committee will have lost nine weeks of meeting time. Equally worrying, have been the cuts to the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights, particularly the termination of contracts for highly qualified staff assigned to the secretariat of the Committee against Torture and the OHCHR Petitions Section, whose administrative, logistical and substantive support is key to the Committee's proper functioning. As a result of these circumstances, the Committee's ability to fully carry out its mandate has been seriously affected. During the period covered by the annual report, The Committee approved concluding observations on eight reports submitted by States Parties under article 19 of the Convention, half the number originally planned. Furthermore, six country reviews scheduled for this year have had to be postponed to a date yet to be determined as the sessions due to take place in 2022 27 have not yet been confirmed. The Committee expresses its gratitude for the dialogues held with the delegations of the States Parties under review, which were Germany, Argentina, Bahrain, Gabon, Israel, Italy, Pakistan and Tajikistan. and it also expresses its appreciation for the meetings held and information provided by civil society organizations, national human rights institutions, national mechanisms for the prevention of torture, and other stakeholders.

However.

The discontinuation of hybrid meetings since January 2024, except in the case of dialogues with delegations from States Parties, continues to pose difficulties for the Committee's work and to limit the participation of civil society organizations and other relevant stakeholders. For this reason, the Committee once again calls for the reinstatement of all forms of hybrid meetings with the necessary interpretation services in order to ensure the effective participation of all relevant stakeholders in the context of its sessions, and encourages States Parties to support this request.

With regard to the examination of individual complaints under Article 22 of the Convention, 41 individual complaints.

Were examined during the Committee's last two sessions. The Committee remains firmly committed to taking practical measures to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of this procedure. During the reporting period, the Committee continued to contribute to efforts aimed at strengthening the treaty body system. Nevertheless, the Committee considers that the financial and human resources scarcity.

Is significantly undermining the ability of these bodies to fulfill their mandates, and that.

There is a risk that this trend would lead the system to limit its operational capacities.

As was already noted last year, as I noted last year in this forum, the current financial system of the human rights treaty body system limits its ability to respond adequately to the growing needs for the protection of human rights at the international level. At a time when armed conflicts and crises in various regions of the world are creating new and serious challenges to the effective implementation of these rights.

It is a matter of particular concern that budgetary constraints are affecting the capacity of the treaty bodies to fully fulfill the mandates entrusted to them by States. The Committee therefore, once again.

Calls for an increase in the resources allocated to be considered during the budgetary deliberations in order to avoid further cuts that would render the work of the committee and the other human rights treaty bodies unsustainable. Thank you for your attention, Madam Chair. I look forward to hearing your comments, and I will do my best to answer your questions.

Within the eight minutes allotted to us.

Thank you very much.

I thank the Chair of the Committee against Torture. I next invite the Chair of the Subcommittee on Prevention of Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman and Degrading Treatment or Punishment, Ms. Maria Luisa Romero. Ms. Romero, you have the floor.

Distinguished Chair, distinguished delegates and colleagues, torture is absolutely prohibited under international law, as it is one of the most grave attacks on human dignity. As an international community, we have a legal and moral responsibility to prevent it. In fulfilment of the mandate entrusted to us by the Optional Protocol to the Convention against Torture, and on behalf of its Sub-Committee for the Prevention of Torture, I have the honour to present today our 19th annual report. This year, we celebrate the 20th anniversary of the entry into force of the OPCAT. In December 2027, we will mark 25 years since it was adopted by the General Assembly. For this anniversary cycle, our slogan is "Preventing torture through constructive dialogue".

This reflects the essence of the preventive work that the Subcommittee has done for the last 20 years, with.

More than 100 visits to States parties and interviews with thousands upon thousands of persons deprived of liberty. Constructive dialogue allows us to turn our observations from visits into recommendations and to turn those recommendations into tangible change. This dialogue is not just with states.

It is also a dialogue.

With national preventive mechanisms, which play an essential role in the prevention of torture on the ground. But for that dialogue to be possible, we have to be present. Prevention cannot be done from afar, it cannot be done remotely. And it is precisely that presence that the United Nations liquidity crisis has jeopardized. In 2025, of eight planned visits, we could only carry out four to Peru, Serbia, New Zealand and Mozambique. In those countries, we visited more than 100 places of deprivation of liberty, and we interviewed more than 900 people, and we encountered recurrent problems of overcrowding, the excessive use of preventive detention, penal systems with an extremely punitive approach, limited alternatives to detention, and alarming situations for children deprived of liberty. All of that means that it is even more worrying that in 2026, our visit budget was again halved. We visited France and Sri Lanka, and we will visit Paraguay and Ghana before the end of the year. Exceptional cost control and efficiency measures adopted by the Subcommittee have made it possible for us to carry out additional visits to Mexico this year and Rwanda next January. The cuts are also having an impact on our meetings. Although the subcommittee was supposed to meet for four weeks in the year, in 2025 we met for three weeks and this year we will only meet for two weeks. In 2027, we are even more concerned by the outlook of great uncertainty. Although the meetings have not yet been confirmed, the first session will not take place until May.

This would seriously limit the.

Work of the subcommittee, which will take on new members in January.

We have sought ways to do more with less, and I would like to.

Acknowledge the efforts made by my colleagues on the subcommittee and our secretariat to ensure that we can keep fulfilling our mandate in these difficult circumstances. But we cannot indefinitely compensate for the lack of resources.

For that reason, we appeal to States to support us to restore our eight visits.

And our four weeks of meetings each year.

This support from States is also.

Essential for the other major pillar of the preventive system of OPCAT, in addition to the visits, which is the national preventive mechanisms. They are the ones that take prevention to the most remote parts of their countries. They keep the hope alive that it is possible to have places of deprivation of liberty without torture or mistreatment. At a time in which the ability of the subcommittee to be present is so limited, we need these mechanisms to be present now more than ever and for them to fully do their work.

We are therefore deeply.

Concerned that there are still 12 States Parties that have not fulfilled their obligations to establish national mechanisms. At the same time, we are very much encouraged that in 2025, five States Parties did establish them: Australia, Benin, Madagascar, Nigeria and South Africa. The Subcommittee works hand in hand with national mechanisms in its visits and also in its advisory and technical assistance work. In 2025, our meetings with mechanisms, both virtual ones and in person, addressed subjects related to the prevention of torture and mistreatment, including our General Observation No. 1 on the definition of places of deprivation of liberty, drug policies, the use of technology, migration, women deprived of liberty and mental health. Cooperation with other human rights mechanisms, civil society and academia enriched our work on the ground and our work with the national mechanisms. We are grateful for the invitations that allowed us to participate in meetings and spaces of work which otherwise we would not have been able to participate in. The OPCAT Special Fund continued to fund projects around the world to support prevention. Despite the crisis, it was especially encouraging that the Fund in 2025 received the largest amount of contributions over the last decade. We thank Saudi Arabia and Armenia, who donated for the first time, as well as Germany, Austria, Denmark, Spain and Switzerland, which contributed once again. Madam Chair, distinguished delegates, 20 years after the entry into force of the OPCAT, we now have 96 States Parties with the recent ratifications by Bangladesh and Colombia, and we have around 80 national preventive mechanisms around the world.

We hope to be able to.

In the near future, achieve 100 States Parties, and that would be a very important step towards the universalization of the preventive system. We will use the experience of these last 20 years to reaffirm the value of prevention and to think about how we want to move ahead in the future to continue protecting the dignity and the rights of persons deprived of liberty, because no crisis can be above and beyond our collective responsibility to prevent torture. Thank you very much.

I thank the Chair of the Subcommittee on Prevention of Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman and Degrading Treatment or Punishment. I will now open the floor for questions or comments on the two presentations. As per practice, I would ask delegations to limit their comments to three and a half minutes. I thank you for your kind cooperation.

I now give the floor to the distinguished representative of.

Morocco, to be followed by the representatives of Brazil and Mexico.

Thank you, Madam Chair. The prevention of torture becomes more effective when the expertise of national mechanisms and international bodies strengthen one another. in a dynamic of complementarity and confidence. Following ratification of the OPCAT, the Kingdom of Morocco has established its national preventive mechanism within the National Human Rights Council. Since it was created, the mechanism has done a mapping exercise of places of deprivation of liberty, carried out more than 170 visits and published six annual reports. Its work focuses on the detention conditions, identifying risks of mistreatment and the formulation of recommendations to the competent authorities.

This now goes beyond the national context.

In June 2023, the delegation from Marrakesh laid the groundwork of the African Network of National Torture Prevention Mechanisms. Morocco now hosts its permanent secretariat in Rabat. It brings together 16 national mechanisms with a presence in the five regions of the continent. It is a framework of cooperation for the sharing of good practices, capacity building, and the strengthening of preventive action in Africa. Madam Chair, the full effectiveness of the prevention of torture requires the recommendations of the CPT to be integrated in the relevant bodies. In that regard, I would like to ask the following question: to what extent can the CPT and the SubCommittee on the Prevention of Torture effectively take on board the reports and recommendations from national preventive mechanisms? In the case of the SPT, how can it make sure that what the preventive mechanisms say are taken into account in its recommendations. Thank you very much.

I thank the distinguished representative of Morocco. I now give the floor to the distinguished representative of Brazil.

Thank you, Madam President. My delegation thanks Mr. Claude Heller and Ms. Maria Luisa Romero for their presentations. Brazil reaffirms its unwavering commitment to the absolute prohibition of torture. We believe that international cooperation and transparent reporting to the Committee Against Torture and the Subcommittee on Prevention of Torture are indispensable pillars of the international human rights architecture. An effective national prevention system requires a robust international framework to combat torture, particularly for persons under custody. backed by decentralized mechanisms, continuous training of public officials, and a strong culture of transparency and accountability. We encourage all States to subject themselves to universal oversight by recognizing the Committee's competence to receive individual communications. We also believe that establishing a national day dedicated to the prevention and eradication of torture, as Brazil has done, is an important means of fostering public awareness, preserving collective memory, promoting institutional transparency, and strengthening social accountability, thereby helping societies remain vigilant against abuses. Effective prevention further requires empowering independent bodies like the subcommittee on prevention of torture. Brazil also recognizes the fundamental incompatibility, I'm sorry, of capital punishment with the convention. In that sense, the global abolition of the death penalty and steadfast support for moratorium resolutions remain essential steps toward the eradication of torture. Madam President, my delegation would like to pose a question to Mr. Claude Heller. Taking into account the current financial constraints, how is the Committee Against Torture currently working to improve its efficiency, streamline its working methods, and address backlogs while maintaining substantive dialogue with States Parties? I thank you.

I thank the distinguished representative of Brazil. I now give the floor to the distinguished representative of Mexico.

Thank you, Madam Chair. Mexico acknowledges the valuable work of the Committee against Torture and of the Subcommittee in preventing torture, and we thank.

The speakers for the briefings. This year will mark four decades since Mexico ratified the Convention against Torture. Since then, we have elaborated a legal framework in the area that is robust and set up significant efforts in order to prevent, investigate, and sanction this practice. Mexico reiterates its firm commitment to collaborate and work closely with the Committee against Torture and with the subcommittee, and also to ensure fulfilment of the recommendations stemming from their reports. We are convinced that openness to international scrutiny is essential for strengthening our response capacity in light of the challenges in the area of human rights. For this reason, in January of this year, we received the third visit of the subcommittee for the prevention of torture. We value their constructive vision and the support that they have provided to Mexican authorities. And we also have a national prevention mechanism. We will continue to work on the implementation of their recommendations in order to prevent torture and to protect individuals deprived of liberty. In our national progress, we highlight the publication in February of 2025 of The national programme for preventing and sanctioning torture, currently, we are working on strengthening the analysis of risk context and incorporating indicators and follow-up mechanisms and assessment mechanisms. Our goal is to convert these instruments into verifiable results for people, and we will do so through effective coordination.

And attention for and comprehensive reparations for victims.

Mexico reiterates its commitment to combating and eradicating torture in all of its forms and to guaranteeing accountability, justice, and comprehensive reparations for all victims. I thank you.

I thank the distinguished representative of Mexico. I now give the floor to the distinguished representative of Montenegro, followed by Chile and the Bahamas.

Thank you, Madam Chair. We thank Mr. Keller and Mr. Romero for their presentations and continued commitment to the prevention of torture and ill-treatment. We welcome the report of CAT and commend its work, particularly in monitoring compliance with the Convention and following up the recommendations, despite growing financial constraints. We are concerned about the impact of current liquidity crisis on both CAT and SPT, including reduced meeting time and increased backlogs. We recognize the challenges for the SPT in ensuring effective implementation of its recommendations. We believe that stronger cooperation with regional mechanisms, in our case the European Committee for the Prevention of Torture, could improve coordination and follow-up. Equally important is preserving the SPT's institutional memory and specialized expertise, especially under current resource challenges. In that context, Montenegro is pleased that our candidate has been re-elected to serve on the SPT, reaffirming our commitment to its mandate. Our question to Ms. Romero is, what would the SPT consider as the most effective way to strengthen cooperation with regional mechanisms? Thank you.

I thank the distinguished representative of Montenegro. I now give the floor to the distinguished representative of Chile.

Thank you very much, Madam Chair. Chile is grateful for Mr. Claude Heller's presentation of the report, and we thank you for the work of the Committee in ensuring the prevention and eradication of torture and other cruel, inhumane, or degrading treatment.

In human rights, including civil society and other initiatives for technical assistance and strengthening capacity. We thank him for all of his work.

We are wondering about mechanisms in training, capacity building, and technical assistance under this initiative. Chile is part of the CTI, together with a number of other countries. It seeks to promote universal ratification of the Convention, to strengthen their implementation, and to make progress in the eradication of torture through international cooperation and the exchange of good practices between states. We reiterate our readiness to continue strengthening this collaboration, Mr. Hellick. Considering the challenges highlighted in your report, in what areas do you think that the CTI could complement and more effectively support the work of the Committee, especially in the area of prevention of torture and strengthening national capacities? Madam Chair, we would also like to hail also the presence here of Madam Luis Romero, President of the subcommittee. We thank her for presenting her report, and we would like to say How pleased we are to see a Chilean expert, Ms. Arias, has been selected to join the subcommittee. We are sure that her work will contribute to strengthening the important work of the committee.

Thank you.

I thank the distinguished representative of Chile. I now give the floor to the distinguished representative of the Bahamas, followed by Panama and Switzerland.

Thank you, Chair. I have the honor of delivering the statement on behalf of the seven states leading the Convention Against Torture Initiative, CTI, Chile, Denmark, Fiji, Ghana, Indonesia, Morocco, and my own country, the Bahamas. CTI is a cross-regional initiative working towards universal ratification of the United Nations Convention Against Torture and its effective implementation. Adopting a constructive and confidential approach rooted in its identity as a state-led initiative, uniquely positioned to support states, CTI places great emphasis on helping other states address challenges through tailor-made and needs-based technical support, facilitating platforms for peer exchange and the sharing of good practices. We thank the chair of the Committee Against Torture and the chair of the Subcommittee on the Prevention of Torture for their contributions today. We note with concerns the challenges and constraints being faced by the UN human rights treaty body systems, and reaffirm the importance of ensuring an effective and adequate funding treaty body system. Chair, with 176 states now party to the convention, important progress has been made towards universality. CTI reiterates its readiness to support other states considering ratification in line with their priorities and needs. Ratification must also translate into effective national implementation. The report before us points to the continued challenges in reporting, follow-up and implementation. Addressing these required national ownership, effective coordination and the capacity to translate convention obligations and recommendations into concrete laws, policies and practices. The CTI core states remain committed to supporting other states through practical cooperation and peer exchange. Chair, in this spirit, we would like to ask the following questions. First, where do you see the greatest opportunity for international efforts, including CTI, to complement state efforts through technical assistance, paired learning, and tailored support? Second, what lessons have the committee drawn from these simplified reporting procedures in alleviating the reporting burden of all small states or those facing resources constraints, which could be particularly relevant to state-led mechanisms such as CTI to understand and identify what kind of targeted support might best help address the reporting backlog? In conclusion, Chair, CTI remains committed to universal ratification and effective implementation of the Convention. We thank the mandate holders for their vital work and continued cooperation. I thank you.

I thank the distinguished representative of the Bahamas on behalf of seven core States leading the Convention Against Torture Initiative. I now give the floor to the distinguished representative of Panama.

Thank you, Madam Chair, distinguished panelists, delegates. I would like to especially thank Ms. Maria Luisa Navarro, the President of the Subcommittee on the Prevention of Torture.

For her presentation on the work honoring Panama from the Subcommittee on the Prevention of Torture, the SPT. The prohibition of torture is absolute.

It represents one of the fundamental principles of international law.

However, we know that preventing torture requires much more than the existence of rules that prohibit it. Doing so would require effective institutions, independent oversight, and conditions of detention that are compatible and consistent with human dignity. Madam Chair, aspects such as overcrowding, access to health services, and the material conditions in detention centres.

As well as the existence of secure complaint mechanisms.

Can be decisive in preventing situations of torture or ill-treatment.

In this context, the work of national.

Prevention mechanisms becomes especially important, as does equipping them with independence and resources so that they can truly fulfil their role.

This requires independence, adequate resources and effective access to all places of deprivation of liberty.

Ms. Romero, I would like to ask you what do you currently identify as the main obstacles?

Faced by national prevention mechanisms in terms of carrying out their mandate effectively and independently.

In your opinion, what kind of support or cooperation by States and by the United Nations system could contribute to more concretely strengthening the preventive work of the United Nations Sub-Committee on the Prevention of Torture? Thank you.

I thank the distinguished representative of Panama. I now give the floor to the distinguished representative of Switzerland, followed by Germany and the European Union.

Madam Chair, Switzerland thanks the representative of the committee and the subcommittee for their presentations, and we reaffirm our full support for their central work. For Switzerland, the absolute prohibition of torture must be translated into concrete measures. Independent and adequately resourced national prevention mechanisms, together with effective monitoring of places of detention and follow-up on recommendations, are essential to this end. Cooperation between national and international prevention mechanisms is also crucial. Switzerland is concerned about the impact of the liquidity crisis on the treaty bodies. The reduction in the number of sessions of the Committee and the subcommittees' preventive visits demonstrates that sufficient and sustainable resources are indispensable to the effective fulfilment of their mandates. We call for their capacity to act to be safeguarded through adequate funding. We reaffirm our commitment to pragmatic reform of the treaty body system in order to address its structural weaknesses. As 2026 marks the 20th anniversary of the entry into force of the Optional Protocol, Switzerland calls on States that have not yet done so to ratify and/or sign or accede to it and establish an independent national prevention mechanism.

In this regard, I would like to pose a question, Chair, what?

Measures do you think should be a priority to ensure capacity for follow-up to the recommendations? Madam Chair, how does the subcommittee intend to strengthen complementarity with national preventive mechanisms in the face of the current constraints? Thank you.

I thank the distinguished representative of Switzerland. I now give the floor to the distinguished representative of Germany.

Thank you, Chair. Germany lights itself with the EU statement. We thank the briefers and committees for the report and continued efforts to combat torture and other cruel, inhuman, or degrading treatment. We also welcome the committee's continued attention to reprisals against those cooperating with its work. Germany remains firmly committed to the prevention of torture and to supporting survivors and their families. Our contribution of 800,000 euro towards the United Nations Voluntary Fund for Victims of Torture in 2025 testifies to a concrete commitment to international efforts on torture prevention. We see two priorities. First, ensuring effective investigation, accountability, and access to redress for victims. Second, strengthening prevention mechanisms and safeguarding the capacity and independence of the UN anti-torture system. We therefore encourage all States that have not yet done so to ratify the Convention and accept its relevant procedures. We call on all State parties to comply with the reporting obligations under Article 19 of the Convention. How can Member States better ensure effective implementation of the Committee's decisions and recommendations, particularly regarding redress and guarantees of non-repetition? What measures does the Committee consider most effective in strengthening protection against reprisals for civil society and other actors cooperating with UN anti-torture mechanisms? And what lessons can be drawn from the Committee's recent cases concerning effective investigation and accountability for torture? I thank you.

I thank the distinguished representative of Germany. I now give the floor to the distinguished representative of the European Union.

Thank you, Chair. I have the honour to speak on behalf of the European Union and its Member States. Mr. Chair and Madam Chair, the EU's commitment to the absolute prohibition of torture remains unwavering. We reaffirm our full support for the respective mandates of the Special Rapporteur, the Committee and the Subcommittee, and welcome the firm, principled and constructive engagement that these mechanisms have maintained with States over the past years. Their mandates remain essential to ensuring accountability for torture, strengthening safeguards for persons deprived of their liberty, and supporting States in preventing violations before they occur. We commend them for continuing to discharge their mandates in view of significant constraints on the UN, including on the wider treaty body system. Torture is an abhorrent attack on human dignity. It can never be justified. However, such acts persist in all regions around the world, whether in times of conflict, political instability, or public emergency. We remain gravely concerned by the widespread and systematic use of torture and ill treatment in the context of armed conflict, including against prisoners of war and civilian detainees in the context of Russia's war of aggression against Ukraine. We are equally concerned by the acts of intimidation and reprisal against those who cooperate with the Committee and the Subcommittee, and we commend both bodies for the protective measures they apply in such cases. The Committee against Torture has raised ongoing concerns regarding prison overcrowding and death in police custody linked to ill-treatment and the use of coerced statements. Mr. Chair, Which trends do you see in the cases brought to the Committee in terms of the types of complaint, the nationalities of the victims, and whether the number of cases is rising or falling? Ms. Chair, how can the subcommittee best support national preventative mechanisms that face underfunding, political pressure, and/or restrictions on their access to places of detention? Thank you.

I thank the distinguished representative of the European Union. I now give the floor to the distinguished representative of Israel, followed by Azerbaijan and Cameroon.

Thank you, Chair. The State of Israel takes note of the annual report of the Committee against Torture. As a state party to the Convention, Israel is unwaveringly committed to the prohibition of all forms of torture, cruel, inhuman, or degrading treatment. Israel is concerned that political agendas have taken root among the UN treaty bodies, including, but not limited to, observations of the Committee Against Torture following Israel's periodic review that largely rely on disinformation campaigns. This includes data originating from Hamas and from other entities notorious for advancing radical ideologies. entities that are known for their political agenda to undermine the very existence of the State of Israel. As presented in detail by the Israeli delegation during its appearance before the Committee its last review in 2025, Israel has established policies and robust and independent oversight mechanisms to ensure the prohibition of torture. I emphasize, we categorically reject any claims of a policy or systematic use of torture by Israeli authorities. Last week marked three years since Hamas and other terrorist groups invaded our communities, entered our homes, and hunted down and abducted civilians, including children. They documented acts of sadistic violence with disturbing ecstasy. Torture, rape, mutilation, and other forms of inhuman treatment violating every fiber of humanity. The committee did not seriously address the systematic torture of Israelis on October 7th. and of Israeli hostages during an unprecedented two years hostage crisis. Israel expects that treaty bodies examine submissions by all stakeholders more critically to maintain their important role in monitoring and implementation of human rights conventions. Reports must remain objective, fact-based, and free from any political bias. This is vital to the credibility and integrity of the treaty bodies. Thank you.

I thank the distinguished representative of Israel. I now give the floor to the distinguished representative of Azerbaijan.

Madam Chair, the equal and inalienable rights of all members of the human family, including the right to be free from torture and inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment, derived from the inherent dignity of the human person. This non-derogable human right requires effective national and international protection mechanisms. In this regard, constructive dialogue and cooperation with the relevant United Nations mechanisms as value-added platforms are important. Madam Chair, Azerbaijan is committed to upholding its obligations under the CAT and other relevant international agreements and periodically submits reports on their implementation. In its dialogue with relevant monitoring mechanisms, the government reports on measures it undertakes to reinforce the prohibition against torture through legislative, administrative, and judicial action. Bringing legislation in line with international standards and best practices relating to the prevention of torture is achieved through legislative reforms. In addition, giving effect to established norms is equally vital, which requires effective policy measures. Thus, human rights training and awareness-raising activities, as important pillars of torture prevention, are conducted regularly for different branches of law enforcement agencies. Madam Chair. As a peremptory norm and being established under international human rights and humanitarian law, fulfillment of the obligations of prohibition against torture necessitates investigation and punishment measures where warranted. Azerbaijan has taken decisive steps in accordance with its national legislation and international obligations to investigate and prosecute serious offenses committed during the former conflict, particularly those involving torture and inhuman or degrading treatment of civilians and other protected persons. Madam Chair, to conclude, combating impunity is an important constituent of the path to genuine reconciliation. and also helps prevent the recurrence of heinous acts, in particular those involving torture and inhuman or degrading treatment. Thank you.

I thank the distinguished representative of Azerbaijan. I now give the floor to the distinguished representative of Cameroon, followed by the Russian Federation and El Salvador.

Thank you, Madam Chair. Cameron, thanks the chair of the Committee against Torture for his presentation. We strongly commend the committee's unwavering oversight in upholding the absolute prohibition of torture. We note with deep concerns that due to the ongoing UN liquidity and budget crisis, treaty body chairs have been required to present their annual reports virtually during the session rather than in person. These structural constraints limit the depth of diplomatic engagement at a time when global compliance with the Convention against Torture is under profound strain. Madam Chair, the backlogs in reviewing State Party reports and processing individual communications significantly delay justice for the victims. Our questions to the Chair are, number one, How is the UN's current budget and liquidity crisis specifically impacting the Committee's operational capacity, follow-up procedures, and ability to address growing backlogs? Number two, what alternative strategies or resource management tools can Member States support to ensure that the Committee's monitoring functions remain resilient despite these financial limitations? Thank you.

I thank the distinguished representative of Cameroon. I now give the floor to the distinguished representative of the Russian Federation.

Madam Chair. Distinguished speakers, with your permission, I will not address the financial but rather the substantive aspects of the committee's work. The United Nations ignoring or excessively lenient attitude toward the existence of an entire network of secret prisons for prisoners of war in territory controlled by Kyiv is encouraging the spread of this criminal practice and leading to the norms of the convention being ignored. Hundreds of Russian servicemen that we've interviewed who have been through.

Hell of Ukrainian detention unanimously tell us about the.

Existence of an entire network of places where prisoners of war are held which in the reports of foreign human rights advocates are referred to vaguely as transit prisons where captured soldiers are taken in the initial stages of their captivity in these stone cells dungeons and cages that are usually located on the premises of Ukrainian military units and nationalist battalions there is complete contempt for everything human from personal.

Dignity to life itself.

The militants, who conceal their faces behind masks and balaclavas and call one another by call signs, subject captured Russian servicemen to inhuman abuse. waterboarding, electric chairs, attacks by dogs, amputations without anaesthesia. This is just a small fraction of what the Ukrainian punitive forces do there systematically. And the Kyiv authorities are careful to deny human rights defenders and observers access, but nevertheless, we have collected hundreds of testimonies about what takes place there, and we've repeatedly passed them to the UN Secretariat. And I'm confident that conscientious and impartial human rights advocates, if they have even the slightest.

Desire to do so, would be able to get.

Information. We know for certain about these prisons in Kharkiv, Dnipropetrovsk, Sumy and even Kyiv regions. In this connection, I just have one question: what needs to happen for the UN Committee against?

Torture to set itself the goal.

Of investigating this widely known but actively ignored system of Ukrainian secret prisons, about which there is not enough political.

Will to overcome the desire of those that are complicit in the conflict to protect the Kyiv regime for responsibility and the need to take a investigation.

I hope that the committee will take this on board and will deal with this shameful phenomenon to draw a line under this once and for all. Thank you very much.

I thank the distinguished representative of the Russian Federation. I now give the floor to the distinguished representative of Ukraine.

Thank you, Madam Chair. Ukraine thanks BREFERS for the presentation and reaffirms its support for their mandates. The prohibition of torture is absolute. Yet Russia's machinery of torture is an indirect contradiction to everything we discuss here. Prevention, accountability, and human dignity. According to the OHCIR, over 95% of released Ukrainian prisoners of war and 85% of released civilian detainees reported torture. The UN has documented 129 executions of prisoners of war and 48 deaths in custody. Sexual violence is routinely used as torture, including rape and electric shocks to the genitals. Russia's forces have consequently been listed in the Secretary-General's report on conflict-related sexual violence. The commission of inquiry has also documented the systematic extraction of confessions through torture and their subsequent acceptance by Russian courts. It is a blatant violation of Article 15 of the Convention. Russia denied independent access to detention facilities, has never joined the optional protocol and has withdrawn from the European Convention for the Prevention of Torture. Ukraine, by contrast, grants OHCHR unimpeded access to prisoners of war. We demand that Russia end torture, release all POWs and unlawfully detained civilians, and grant access to international monitors. Its crimes demand a collective response from the international community, including through concrete actions with the United Nations. Our question to Briefer is: How can your mandate in torture prevention and accountability when the state systematically denies independent access to detention facilities? Thank you.

I thank the distinguished representative of Ukraine. I now give the floor to the distinguished representative of Colombia, followed by Ireland and China.

Madam Chair.

Madam Chair, we highlight the crucial importance of the work and mandate of the Committee on the Prevention of Torture in consolidating the fundamental guarantees internationally. We reiterate the firm political and legal will of the State of Colombia.

To definitively eliminate torture and any other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment, and we continuously fulfil our international obligations.

Under this framework, we highlight the landmark that the ratification entry into force of the Optional Protocol of the.

Convention Against Torture represents for us.

This reaffirms the full commitment of Colombia to the prevention mechanisms and to oversight of detention centers.

Similarly, we are pleased to highlight the efforts underway for the design and implementation of the national prevention mechanism. We highlight this interactive dialogue as the key opportunity to build alliances, receive technical assistance, and to adopt good practices that ensure the establishment of a fully autonomous and independent mechanism. We reiterate our recognition of the importance of the work of the subcommittee under Maria Luisa Romero. We reaffirm the commitment of Colombia to continue.

Thriving, effective multilateral dialogue from Member States. I thank you.

I thank the distinguished representative of Colombia. I now give the floor to the distinguished representative of Ireland.

Thank you, Chair. Ireland aligns itself with the statement of the EU and would like to thank the Chair and members of the Committee against Torture. as well as the Chair and members of the Sub-Committee on the Prevention of Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment for their reports. Ireland strongly condemns all instances of torture and other inhuman or degrading treatment, and we remind all States that no exceptional circumstances can justify torture. We urge all States to cease all practices of torture and ratify and comply with the Convention against Torture, and call on all States that have not yet done so to sign or ratify the Convention. Ireland is also proud to support the UN Voluntary Fund for Victims of Torture, and we encourage all States to consider contributing to this fund's essential work. We note the concern highlighted by both committees that the serious shortage of human and financial resources has significantly impaired their ability to implement their mandates fully. We note the concern expressed by the subcommittee that the liquidity crisis significantly impacts the ability of the subcommittee to undertake preventive visits, which is an essential element of the prevention of torture. Chairs, we would be interested to hear your reflections on ways to mitigate the impact that the liquidity crisis has on your mandates, as well as ways to maximize the impact and productivity of your work in this difficult context. I thank you.

I thank the distinguished representative of Ireland. I now give the floor to the distinguished representative of China, followed by Cuba and Myanmar.

Thank you, Chair. For over 40 years, the Convention against Torture has provided an important legal basis for the international community to counter torture and strengthen human rights protection. The Committee against Torture played a significant role in promoting the realization of the Convention's aims and objectives. The Chinese Government commends us and will continue to support the Committee's work, as always. China is a country governed by rule of law and places equal emphasis on countering crimes pursuant to law and protecting human rights. China has been consistent and resolute in opposing torture. China's law expressly prohibits torture. Since its ratification in 1988, China has faithfully fulfilled its obligations under the Convention. Since the Committee's last review of our implementation report, China continued to advance rule of law and protect human rights, and made numerous new accomplishments the fight against torture. China submitted its seventh implementation report in January 2025 and looks forward to a constructive dialogue with the Committee. China hopes the Committee will continue to be objective, impartial, and non-selective in its work. strengthen cooperation with the States Parties, support developing countries' effective implementation of the Convention, give full consideration to States Parties' national circumstances, attach importance to the implementation reports, avoid trusting unverified information, and avoid politicizing the review mechanism. Thank you, Chair.

I thank the distinguished representative of China. I now give the floor to the distinguished representative of Cuba.

Thank you very much, Madam Chair. Cuba reiterates its firm rejection of all forms of torture and cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment. These are practices that are prohibited in the country's constitution and which are severely punished by our laws. Cuba is a state party to the Convention against Torture since 1995 and is committed to the.

Strict compliance with its provisions. The Cuban criminal code incorporates torture, forced disappearance, and forced or mandatory labor as crimes, considering them crimes.

Against human dignity.

The legislation in force contains guarantees to protect all persons from these crimes in our country. The State takes the necessary measures to prevent the carrying out of actions prohibited in the Convention against.

Torture, and if they do take place, they are severely punished.

In Cuba, there will be no space for impunity in the face of the actions described in these conventions, nor laws or regulations that protect it. It has been duly established that the Cuban state is not responsible for, nor can it have jurisdiction over, the sovereign territory of the Republic of Cuba that is illegally occupied by the United States in the naval base of Guantanamo. as has been repeatedly denounced. This is an international torture and indefinite detention center. It has been widely documented that in the installations of this US naval base, they for 20 years have kept people who have never been on trial or convicted of any crime. Cuba will continue to strictly comply with the provisions of the convention, including in the context in which the country is developing, marked by the unprecedented uptake of the criminal United States blockade.

Thank you very much.

I thank the distinguished representative of Cuba. I now give the floor to the distinguished representative of Myanmar, followed by the Islamic Republic of Iran and the Sovereign Order of Malta.

Thank you, Madam Chair. I thank the chairs of the Committee against Torture and Sub-Committee on Prevention of Torture for their presentations. My delegation share the deeply held view that every human being is entitled to respect for their inherent dignity and worth. We also recognize that torture and ill treatment extend far beyond physical abuse. They are profound assaults on the humankind and spirit. In my country, Myanmar, the military junta has weaponized these very practices as a systematic and widespread policy to instill fear and crush all democratic resistance. Since the illegal military coup in February 2021, our democratic leaders have been unlawfully detained. Over 32,000 individuals have been arbitrarily arrested. Among them, thousands of students, journalists, politicians, civil society leaders, and peaceful protesters have been subjected to unspeakable horrors in military interrogation centers and prisons. According to credible sources, over 1,850 people have been killed after being arrested, with many of these deaths deadly resulting from severe torture and denial of medical care. Some family members of these detainees only receive disfigured bodies, while others receive none at all. Therefore, Though these facilities are named as military interrogation centres and prisons, they are sites of absolute terror where military personnel operate entirely outside the rule of law, abusing their power to torture innocent people at will. Moreover, we continue to see heavily documented reports of severe physical abuse, sexual and gender-based violence, and relentless psychological torment, resulting in numerous deaths in custody. These are not isolated incidents; they are coordinated crimes against humanity. While Myanmar is not yet a state party to the Convention against Torture, the National Unity Government and the people of Myanmar are deeply committed to eradicating these abhorrent practices. We fully recognize the absolute prohibition of torture is a perentory norm of international law. We are relying on the international community to ensure that there is no impunity for the military hunter. The people of Myanmar desperately need your solidarity and concrete action. In this regard, I would like to ask, How can your respective bodies within your mandates better collaborate with other UN entities, such as Independent Investigative Mechanism for Myanmar and relevant Special Rapporteurs, to ensure that thematic insights, documentation methodologies, and evidence of systematic tortures in non-state parties are effectively preserved and utilized for future international prosecutions? I thank you.

I thank the distinguished representative of Myanmar. I now give the floor to the distinguished representative of the Islamic Republic of Iran.

Thank you, Madam Chair. In the name of God, the most compassionate, the most merciful. Madam Chair, the absolute prohibition of torture and other cruel, inhumane, or degrading treatment or punishment constitutes a preemptory norm of international law. It is non-derogable under any circumstances and is firmly enshrined in Article 7 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, to which the Islamic Republic of Iran is a state party. We continue to observe with deep concern the persistent politicization, selectivity and double standards that characterize much of the work of certain human rights mechanisms. while some states, particularly in the global south, are subjected to disproportionate scrutiny, the well-documented practices of certain Western countries, including prolonged and arbitrary detention, the use of so-called enhanced interrogation techniques, offshore processing facilities, and systematic ill treatment of migrants and asylum seekers, rarely receive commensurate attention. Unilateral coercive measures themselves generate conditions of deprivation that could amount to cruel and inhumane treatment. Such measures undermine the right to development, restrict access to essential medicines and medical equipment, and exacerbate suffering among civilian populations. They cannot be reconciled with the genuine promotion and protection of human rights. In this regard, we would like to ask whether any practical measures have been taken to hold certain Western countries and hegemonic powers to account for their egregious human rights violations, including acts of torture and other cruel, inhuman, or degrading treatment. Thank you.

I thank the distinguished representative of the Islamic Republic of Iran. I now give the floor to the distinguished representative of Bangladesh.

Thank you, Madam President. We thank the briefers for their important briefing. We also appreciate the Committee against Torture for its important work. Bangladesh is deeply committed to the absolute prohibition and eradication of torture and other cruel, inhuman, or degrading treatment or punishment. Bangladesh acceded to the Optional Protocol to the Convention against Torture and withdrew its declaration under Article 14 of the Convention against Torture and other cruel, inhuman, or degrading treatment or punishment. This initiative aimed to enhance oversight and establish a robust national preventive mechanism to protect fundamental human rights and to conduct regular visits to all places of detentions. It also reflects Bangladesh's strong commitment to dignity, accountability, and justice. We also highly appreciate a mission to Bangladesh earlier this year to provide technical support. Thank you.

I thank the distinguished representative of Bangladesh. I now give the floor to the distinguished representative of the Sovereign Order of Malta.

Thank you, Madam Chair. The continued prevalence of torture and ill-treatment remains a profound concern. prisoners of war, civilian detainees, victims of human trafficking and modern slavery, and other persons in vulnerable situations continue to face grave risks of abuse. UN reporting has documented the use of a range of methods of torture and ill-treatment, practices that are wholly incompatible with the fundamental protections afforded by international humanitarian law and international human rights law. These obligations are clear, and they apply without exception to all parties to an armed conflict. We must not allow torture or other forms of ill-treatment to become normalised, tolerated or overlooked. Accountability must remain central to our efforts to prevent and address these violations, regardless of where they occur or who is responsible for them. In situations of armed conflict, it is imperative that humanitarian organisations be granted full, safe and unimpeded access to detainees in accordance with international law. At the same time, in non-conflict settings, we must strengthen mechanisms for identifying and assisting victims of human trafficking and modern slavery who have experienced or remain at risk of torture and other forms of abuse. We must also address the conditions that place individuals at heightened risk in the first place. This includes ensuring safe and dignified environments for the displaced and strengthening the institutions and communities upon which vulnerable populations depend. The Sovereign Order of Malta continues to contribute to these efforts by supporting and protecting communities affected by conflict, displacement and vulnerability. In Sudan, our humanitarian work supports communities displaced by conflict by strengthening the environments in which affected people can seek safety and assistance. This includes supporting health facilities, raising awareness and developing infrastructure, and providing targeted assistance at the household level to reach those facing particular vulnerabilities. Survivors must also be given the assistance necessary not only to recover but to rebuild their lives and to live in dignity, security, and a genuine opportunity for meaningful reintegration into their communities. In Ukraine, the Order of Malta continues to provide a range of services to people affected by the conflict, including extensive psychosocial support, reaching more than 60,000 beneficiaries. Such programs demonstrate the importance of placing survivors and affected communities at the center of our response and recognizing that protection from torture and ill treatment must extend to recovery and rehabilitation. The dignity of every human being cannot be suspended in times of crisis, and the international community must continue to uphold it without exception. I thank you.

I thank the distinguished representative of the Sovereign Order of Malta.

We have heard the last speaker on my list.

I will now invite the presenters of the combined briefings to respond to the comments and questions from the floor.

I first give the floor to the chair of the Committee Against Torture, Mr. Claude Heller.

Mr. Heller, I'm sorry, we're not hearing you in the room.

Maybe your microphone was off.

Still not hearing you. Not hearing you. Mr. Heller, we will go to the other presenter and we will return for your presentation.

I now give the floor to the chair of the Subcommittee on Prevention of Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment, Ms. Maria Luisa Romero.

Ms. Romero, we're not hearing you in the room. Mr. Heller, you were muted. Could you unmute your mic? Yes, we can hear you now.

Mr. Murr, we will come back to you. Mr. Heller, you can go ahead.

Can you hear me?

I'd like to thank all of the delegations for their very valuable comments, questions and critiques. And in the few minutes that we have, I will try to answer some of the questions. I very much appreciate statement by the delegations of Morocco, Chile, Bahamas that are part of the initiative against torture. Undoubtedly, this initiative allowed us to make progress towards universal ratification of the Convention, with today 166 parties, but we also recognize the work that have continued to be done in terms of capacity building, the organization of seminars in countries that are very far away from Geneva, so that we can have the members of the Committee participating in those so that they can help foster an understanding of the meaning and the scope of the Convention. There was also a question about what this Initiative Against Torture could do additionally. The regular meetings that we have with the CTI, in those meetings I have noted that in addition to striving for universal ratification, because there are still significant states that have not ratified the convention, the initiative could also call for and encourage the subject of the ratification of the optional protocol.

To the convention against torture.

In that regard, I would also like to stress that the SPT and the CAT have an organic relationship. They are not independent organizations or entities. The SPT exists thanks to the OPCAT, and we have a coordination-based relationship, which is a very positive one. The delegation of Brazil made an interesting proposal related to the World Day Against Torture. I would like to recall that on 26 June, the anti-torture mechanisms published a statement regarding working methods.

We are aiming to be more.

Efficient in the consideration of individual communications, taking into account the heavy backlog we have from the past and the scarce resources we have. A digital improvement would help us a great deal to make progress on this subject. I would also like to mention What Switzerland said regarding measures to follow up on recommendations. In the case of the Committee, what we try to do is to have a constructive dialogue with the state and for there to be a continuity, for it not to come to an end with the adoption of the final observations and for us to continue to see each other, not just in five or six years' time. The committee has a rapporteur to follow up on the recommendations made by the committee itself. That is an important mechanism because in the final observations, the concluding observations of all of the reports for all of the states, we highlight the priorities for objectives that could be achieved in the short term. I would also like to refer to the intervention by the delegation of Israel. If you look at the report and the final observations that followed a very substantive dialogue between the committee and Israel, you will see that the committee unambiguously condemned the atrocities committed on the 7th of October 2023. As far as sources of information is concerned, the committee considers all the communications that it receives, contrasts them with its various sources and draws its own conclusions. It also aims to ensure that the dialogue has continuity over time. I would also like to refer to the statement by the delegation of the Russian Federation. I would like to draw your attention to the report on Ukraine that the Committee adopted. In paragraphs 17 and 18 of that report, the Committee addresses the situation of secret detention centres of Ukraine. And it addresses the situation of human rights violations by, of Russian prisoners in Ukraine. We agree with the comment by the European Union as regards the importance of That subject is a subject in which there have been cases of people who have collaborated with the committee and then have faced reprisals. We have paid a great deal of attention to the subject of reprisals. There was a reference to the question of prison overcrowding. This is a subject that comes up time and again, and it is not just something that affects developing countries. It is something that affects many states parties to the convention. What we've noted is that, first of all, there's a large number of people in preventive detention. Years go by and those people, including minors, are not tried. Another thing that we've noted that exists in various different countries is that the response to prison overcrowding is not always to pursue alternative measures, but rather to build new mega prisons as a response to that situation. I would like to remind all delegations that when we consider the report of a State Party, we have a previous dialogue or dialogues with civil society organizations and with national human rights institutions and with national preventive mechanisms and with other agencies of the United Nations system when relevant. They are confidential, private meetings, and they help the Committee to have a broad understanding of the subjects to be addressed. The representative of Morocco referred to the reports adopted in his country by the national preventive mechanism and asked how attention could be given to those recommendations. For us, that's extremely valuable information, which, I repeat, we take note of in our confidential dialogues, which we organize with the State Party. On the statement from China, We hope to have a meeting soon. And I am already aware that China has submitted its most recent report. It is on the list of states awaiting consideration by the committee. And we hope that In spite of the limits in terms of the calendar and the budget cuts, we hope that in the future we will be able to organize that. But we welcome the fact that China is complying with the Convention. Regarding the statement by the delegate from Iran, I would like to take this opportunity to encourage Iran to ratify the Convention against Torture. It is not a State party, although at some point it did approach the Committee. You can rest assured that any situation that requires accountability by a State is included in the reports that we consider. Finally, Madam Chair, I would like to make a general comment. The format that the Assembly is using should be revisited. It is very difficult in seven minutes to explain everything that we are doing and the difficulties that we face, and it's also not much time provided to States Parties to be able to have a substantive dialogue. My respectful recommendation would, if you want to reform the United Nations, would be to reform its working methods. And these dialogues, these meetings that we have with you need to be reformed to find a working method that is more enriching and which makes a better contribution to an increasingly constructive dialogue.

Thank you very much, Madam Chair.

I thank the Chair of the Committee Against Torture. I now give the floor to the chair of the.

Subcommittee on Prevention of Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment.

Ms. Maria Luisa Murillo.

Thank you, Madam Chair. I'm also grateful to those delegates who have asked questions. That reflects an interest in a knowledge of our work. I'm also grateful for the commitment expressed by a number of delegations to strengthening the preventive mechanisms. I agree that it's a shame these spaces for dialogue are absolutely crucial for strengthening cooperation between States and the treaty bodies.

In order to address the questions as regards the national prevention mechanisms.

I want to begin by sharing with you that given the current constraints in terms of carrying out visits, which is what has reduced our presence on the ground so much, we have done is we've decided to give greater priority to our work with prevention mechanisms through advisory work and support and capacity building for A few years ago, the subcommittee decided to include in its annual report a summary of some of the advice work that we have been providing bilaterally, because we believe that this is a way for us to be more transparent in what we do and also to make this information more accessible to all of the other mechanisms, because we believe that all mechanisms should and can and should learn from one another. Some of the topics that we cover may be relevant for some specific mechanisms and also for some annual reports. So you should be sure that we carefully review these in our annual reports and we take this into account. As we highlighted in our annual report of 2025. In order to effectively fulfill our mandate, the special mechanisms need sufficient resources, financial resources and qualified staff. And when they are part of mechanisms with a number of areas, such as the human rights defenders, this preventive work must have specific earmarked resources. I also want to point out the recommendations that are made to the government on the basis of visits need to receive follow-up from the relevant national institutions and then this needs to be implemented in order to bring about concrete change and this is what I'm referring to as the constructive dialogue that helps to make that possible but obviously the final part of that the implementation by states is also what is necessary so we can make recommendations but the states must then implement them It is also down to states to guarantee that we have access to all spaces of deprivation of liberty, and this is why I said that states need to familiarise themselves with our first point, the definition of a place of deprivation of liberty, to facilitate that access. Another thing that was mentioned is sharing best practice. Over the last two years, the SPT has participated in the annual meetings of European and American networks, and we will continue to support these areas, spaces for sharing information. As regards the question on cooperation with international mechanisms. Cooperation is the third pillar of the SPT mandate. The first is the visits, the second is the national prevention mechanisms, and the third is cooperation. We work very closely with other treaty bodies, the rapporteur against torture and other UN mechanisms, and also regional mechanisms such as the European Network for the Prevention of Torture, the American Human Rights Network, and the African networks as well. And this cooperation includes strategic dialogue, strengthening exchange of information, obviously with due guarantees of confidentiality, and improving coordination of our visits, both in terms of the upstream work and the follow-up. We also work on priority thematic areas. We take the mandate of cooperation from OPCAT very seriously, and we trust that in the current context of the liquidity crisis, we want to maximize the complementarity between the mechanisms, because we believe that this is absolutely crucial. We continue to try to ensure that our efforts actually contribute to more effective prevention of torture. As regards the question as to how to mitigate the impact of the liquidity crisis and maximize the impact of our work, I think the key has been to adopt a more strategic and flexible approach, especially strengthening our cooperation, as I have said, with the national prevention mechanisms, with regional networks, with civil society, academia, and the universal and regional mechanisms that I've just mentioned. For instance, we have maintained technical support to assist those States in strengthening their national mechanisms. With OPCAT, we have been present in some countries, we have broadened our virtual support to offer guidance and other advisory services, but we have also had to make significant sacrifices in the subcommittee itself and put in place mechanisms to reduce costs. For instance, we have been forced to reduce the levels of work. So instead of three sessions, we only have two sessions because this helps us save costs. We've also had a number of measures, cost saving measures in visits, team makeup and so on.

And as I said, this.

Made it possible to hold two additional visits to Mexico this year and to Rwanda in January. And these came in addition to the planned visits as per the budget. And in 2025, as I said, there were significant contributions from countries. So we need to continue to leverage these synergies in order to have the best possible impact. But as I said, it's also important to recognize that efficiency does have its limits. And at the end of the day, this is not a sustainable solution and it is not a substitute for the resources that we need. I'd also like to thank Colombia for their statement. It is very rewarding to hear that you're working on fully independent national mechanisms and the SPT stands ready to assist Colombia and also Bangladesh that also ratified the Convention last year and also all those countries who still have the establishment of national prevention mechanisms pending. And so this is a call really to the whole international community, Afghanistan, Belize, Burundi, Philippines, Gabon, Ghana, Liberia, Ghana, Central African Republic, the DRC, South Sudan, the State of Palestine. They still have not yet established their national prevention mechanisms. And so I want to call not only on these countries, but in the broader international community in general, the SPT stands ready to provide any technical support that may be necessary for States. And finally, I also want to call on the international community to increase the levels of ratification. As I said, we're very close to that figure, that goal of 100, but we hope also to increase beyond that. And as I've underlined today, prevention is absolutely essential in order to one day have a world free of torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment. For this, we depend on support from Member States. Thank you.

I thank the Chair of the Sub-Committee on Prevention of Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment. The Committee will continue its consideration of agenda item 70.

Promotion and Protection of Human Rights and its sub-items A to D tomorrow morning, Friday 16th of October at 10 a.m. sharp, to hear statements by Special Procedure mandate holders and other experts and engage with them in interactive dialogues.

I wish to remind delegations that the deadline for the submission of draft.

Proposals under agenda item 70 and its sub-items A to D is 1 p.m. on Tuesday 3rd of November. Information on the work of the Committee, including the schedule of meetings, the latest programme of work and the documentation under each agenda item, is available on iGov. The meeting is adjourned.