Working Methods of the Treaty Bodies - CAT update

13. The Committee held a preliminary discussion on the possibility of establishing a pre-sessional working group at its twenty-fourth session. It agreed that such a group would facilitate its monitoring activities, in particular with regard to individual communications under article 22 of the Convention.

14. On 22 November 2000, the Committee resumed discussion on the subject and, in accordance with rule 25 of its rules of procedure, heard an oral statement by the secretariat concerning the cost estimates involved in the proposal (see annex VIII). In accordance with rules 61 and 106 of its rules of procedure, the Committee decided to pursue the establishment of the working group starting with the biennium 2002-2003. The group would be composed of four of its members and would meet for a five-day session during the week preceding each Committee session.

15. At its twenty-sixth session the Committee decided to entrust two of its members with the task of revising its rules of procedure and making proposals for possible amendments at the twenty-seventh session.

Oral statement delivered by the secretariat regarding the financial implications of

1. This oral statement is made in accordance with rule 25 of the rules of procedure of the Committee against Torture.

2. It will be recalled that, at its 437th meeting, held on 18 May 2000, the Committee against Torture agreed that the establishment of a pre-sessional working group would facilitate its monitoring activities, in particular its consideration of individual communications received under article 22 of the Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment. As indicated in paragraph 20 of its annual report, contained in document A/55/44, the Committee agreed to pursue this matter at its twenty-fifth session currently under way.

3. Should the Committee at its current session decide to pursue the establishment of the above-mentioned pre-sessional working group as from the biennium 2002-2003, this would entail: (i) the convening of a five-day session of the working group, preceding each session of the Committee, with interpretation provided in two working languages; (ii) a conference room with full facilities; (iii) a maximum of 30 pages of in-session documentation for each session; and (iv) the payment of daily subsistence allowance of four members of the Committee for a period of seven days per session.

4. A preliminary estimate of the above-mentioned requirements at full cost amounts to US$ 178,900 for the whole biennium, the breakdown of which is as follows:

Section 2		in US$
Total conference servicing costs of four sessions of the working group (five working days each)		154 300
Section 22 28 days’ daily subsistence of four Committee members		24 600
		Grand total 178 900

5. The estimates for conference services are based on a theoretical assumption that it would not be possible to provide the services required by the Committee from the existing conference capacity of the Organization. However, it should be noted that the extent to which the Organization’s permanent capacity would need to be supplemented by temporary assistance resources can be determined only in the light of the calendar of conferences and meetings for the biennium 2002-2003. The proposed budget for that biennium is currently under preparation and will include provisions for conference services reflecting the pattern of meetings and conferences held in past years. As a result, it is not anticipated that the decision by the Committee would require additional resources in the proposed programme budget for the biennium 2002-2003.

6. The decision to recommend the establishment of the pre-sessional working group would entail additional resources under section 22, Human rights, estimated at US$ 24,600 for the biennium 2002-2003 for the payment of daily subsistence allowance to the members of the pre-sessional working group of the Committee.