UN - Monaco Chairs the 16th Meeting of States Parties to the Convention against Torture

S.E. Mme Carole Lanteri, Ambassadeur, Représentant permanent de la Principauté auprès de l’Office des Nations Unies à Genève ©DR

On Thursday 5 October 2017, the 16^th Meeting of States Parties to the Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment was held at the Palais des Nations in Geneva.  At the opening of the meeting, H.E. Ms. Carole Lanteri, Ambassador, Permanent Representative of the Principality to the United Nations Office in Geneva, was elected Chairperson of the meeting.

The main purpose of the Conference was to elect five members of the Committee against Torture (CAT).  The CAT, which is comprised of 10 independent experts, monitors compliance with the Convention by States Parties, which submit periodic reports to it at regular intervals.  The last examination of the Principality by the CAT took place in November 2016.

As a reminder, the Convention against Torture was adopted by the United Nations on 10 December 1984 and entered into force on 26 June 1987.  The Principality ratified the Convention on 6 December 1991.  To date, 162 States are Parties to this Convention.

By acceding to this international treaty, States undertake to adopt practical measures to prevent torture within their borders and not return a person to a State where he or she could be subjected to torture.