COMMITTEE AGAINST TORTURE CONCLUDES FORTIETH SESSION

The Committee against Torture today concluded its fortieth session after adopting its annual report to the General Assembly and issuing its concluding observations and recommendations on reports from Australia, Sweden, Algeria, Costa Rica, Indonesia, the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Zambia and Iceland, which it reviewed during the session.

Those countries are among the 145 States parties to the Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment, and are bound by the terms of the treaty to submit periodic reports on efforts to ensure that such human rights violations do not occur on their territories. In addition to submitting the reports, the countries sent delegations before the Committee of 10 independent Experts to answer questions.

Following its review of the third periodic report of Australia, the Committee welcomed the Government’s apology to the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples for past policies and laws which had resulted in the removal of children from their families and communities. The Committee was concerned over information indicating that Australian defence officials, who were advising the Coalition Provisional Authority, had had knowledge of abuses committed in Abu Ghraib in 2003, yet did not call for prompt and impartial investigations. While welcoming the closure of asylum offshore processing centers, the Committee noted that “excised” offshore locations, notably Christmas Island, were still used for the detention of asylum seekers and the Committee recommended that the State party should end the use of such offshore locations.

Among the positive aspects in the fifth periodic report of Sweden, the Committee welcomed the ratification of the Optional Protocol to the Convention, on 14 September 2005, and the recent visit of the Subcommittee on Prevention of Torture to Sweden from 10 to 14 March 2008. The Committee expressed its concern at allegations that a prisoner had been tortured by French soldiers in the presence of Swedish soldiers, during the international UN/EUFOR operation Artemis in the Congo in 2003, and that the State party had not called for a prompt and impartial investigation in this respect. The Committee recommended that the State party should take effective measures to ensure that detention of asylum-seekers was used only in exceptional circumstances or as a measure of last resort, and then only for the shortest possible time.

Among positive aspects in the third periodic report of Algeria, the Committee noted with satisfaction the State party’s signing of the International Convention for the Protection of all Persons from Enforced Disappearances on 2 February 2007, as well as the moratorium on the death penalty, which was in place since 1993. The Committee was preoccupied by the upholding of the state of emergency, despite information given by the State party itself attesting to a significant improvement of the security situation. Taking note that the Algerian charter for national reconciliation included an amnesty for members of armed groups and state agents, the Committee reminded that international crimes, such as torture or enforced disappearances, could in no case be subjected to the exoneration of pursuits and the State party should thus amend the relevant article, in order to specify that such an amnesty did not apply in such cases.

Having considered the second periodic report of Costa Rica, the Committee complimented the efforts undertaken by the State party to reform the legislation, the policies and procedures aimed at ensuring a better protection of the right not to be submitted to torture or other forms of ill- or cruel treatment. The Committee was preoccupied by the power granted to immigration agents, which could expel irregular migrants found in the country in the zone 50 kilometres behind the border, without any administrative proceedings as this could affect the obligation of non-refoulement established by the Convention. The Committee was also preoccupied at the excessive delays in handling the status of refugees and was of the view that Costa Rica should take all necessary measures in this regard with the cooperation of the Office of the High Commissioner for Refugees.

Concerning the second periodic report of Indonesia, the Committee noted with appreciation that Indonesia had responded positively to the recommendation of the Committee to receive the Special Rapporteur on Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment and that a visit to the State party had taken place in November 2007. The Committee was deeply concerned about the numerous ongoing credible and consistent allegations, corroborated by the report of the Special Rapporteur on Torture and other sources, concerning routine and widespread use of torture and ill-treatment of suspects in police custody. The Committee recommended that the State party should not establish nor engage in any reconciliation mechanism that promoted amnesties for perpetrators of acts of torture, war crimes or crimes against humanity.

Regarding the second periodic report of the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, the Committee welcomed the amendments in the Criminal Code in 2004, and notably the incorporation in domestic legislation of the crime of torture. The Committee was concerned that the inclusion in the scope of the Amnesty Law adopted in 2002 of “all criminal acts related to the 2001 conflict” might create the conditions for impunity for serious violations of international human rights and humanitarian law, including violations of the Convention against Torture. While welcoming the State party’s ratification of the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court (ICC), the Committee regretted the bilateral agreement concluded with another State party to the Convention aimed at exempting the latter’s nationals present in the State party’s territory from being extradited to the ICC for crimes within the jurisdiction of the Court, including torture and the Committee recommended that the State party, should consider reviewing the relevant terms of those agreements.

Following its review of the second periodic report of Zambia, the Committee welcomed the ratification of the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court on 13 November 2002. The Committee reiterated its concern expressed in its previous conclusions and recommendations with regard to the fact that the State party had neither incorporated the Convention into its legislation nor introduced corresponding provisions in respect of several articles, such as: the definition of torture and the criminalization of torture. The Committee recommended that the State party should allocate all material, human and budgetary resources necessary for this purpose and give priority to reducing overcrowding and the high number of prisoners in detention; improving food provision for detainees; and speedily abolishing the law and practice on reduced diet.

Among the positive aspects in the third periodic report of Iceland, the Committee noted again with satisfaction that no complaints of torture had been received from Iceland. The Committee regretted that no change had taken place with regard to the State party’s position not to fully incorporate the definition of torture as defined in article 1 of the Convention, nor to incorporate into domestic criminal legislation torture as a specific crime. Concerned by the fact that only two asylum applications had been approved over the last 20 years, the Committee recommended that the State party should ensure through legal and administrative procedures, including review by an independent judicial body concerning rejections, that due consideration was given to each individual case before a final decision was reached and that a constant review of the situations in the countries individuals might be returned or expelled to was carried out.

In addition to reviewing country reports in public session, the Committee considered in private meetings information appearing to contain well-founded indications that torture was being systematically practiced in the territories of some States parties. It also examined communications from individuals claiming to be victims of violations by States parties of the provisions of the Convention. Such communications are accepted only if they concern the 62 States that have declared the Committee competent to receive complaints under article 22 of the Convention.

Also, during its current session, the Committee held a joint meeting with the Subcommittee on Prevention of Torture on 13 May, which presented its first public Annual Report to the Committee. Experts from both bodies discussed ideas of cooperation between the two bodies in order for them to pursue their common goal.

The Committee’s next session will be held from 3 to 31 November 2008 during which it is scheduled to examine reports from China, Macaw and Hong Kong, Kazakhstan, Lithuania, Serbia, Montenegro, Kenya and Belgium.

Conclusions and Recommendations on Country Reports

Australia

Following its review of the third periodic report of Australia, the Committee noted with appreciation the legislative amendments adopted in 2005 related to the immigration detention. In particular, the closure of the offshore processing centres in Nauru and Papua New Guinea and the decision to end the so-called Pacific Strategy were welcomed. The Committee also welcomed the Government’s apology to the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples for past policies and laws which had resulted in the removal of children from their families and communities. The Committee further noted with appreciation the State party’s commitment to become a party of the Optional Protocol to the Convention and welcomed the ratification of the Rome Statute of International Criminal Court on 1 July 2002.

Concerning issues related to the State party’s anti-terrorism laws and practice, the Committee was concerned about the increased powers provided to the Australian Security Intelligence Organization, especially at the lack of judicial review and the character of secrecy surrounding imposition of preventative detention and control orders, introduced by the Anti-Terrorism Act (N°2) 2005, as well as reports concerning the harsh conditions of detention of unconvicted remand prisoners charged with terrorism-related offences, also taking into account their status of accused (and not convicted) persons. The Committee further noted with concern the situation of overcrowding in prisons, the disproportionately high numbers of indigenous Australians incarcerated and the continued reports of indigenous deaths in custody due to causes that were not clearly determined. The Committee was also concerned about information indicating that Australian defence officials, who were advising the Coalition Provisional Authority, had had knowledge of abuses committed in Abu Ghraib in 2003, yet had not called for prompt and impartial investigations.

The Committee recommended that the State party should ensure that torture was adequately defined and specifically criminalized both at the Federal, States and Territories levels, in accordance with article 1 of the Convention. The State party should also consider abolishing its policy of mandatory immigration detention for those entering irregularly the State party’s territory. Detention should be used as a measure of last resort only and a reasonable time limit for detention should be set. Further, while welcoming the closure of offshore processing centres, the Committee noted that “excised” offshore locations, notably Christmas Island, were still used for the detention of asylum seekers. The Committee recommended that the State party should end the use of such offshore locations for visa processing purposes in order to allow all asylum-seekers an equal opportunity to apply for a visa. Also, the State party should ensure that education and training of all law-enforcement or military personnel, including contractors, were conducted on a regular basis, in particular for personnel deployed overseas. Such personnel should also be instructed to report such incidents.

Sweden

Concerning the fifth periodic report of Sweden, the Committee welcomed the ratification of the Optional Protocol to the Convention, on 14 September 2005, and the recent visit of the Subcommittee on Prevention of Torture to Sweden from 10 to 14 March 2008. The Committee also noted with satisfaction the ongoing efforts at the State level to reform its legislation, policies and procedures in order to ensure better protection of human rights, including the right not to be subjected to torture and ill-treatment. The Committee further noted with satisfaction that the Government had allocated additional resources to the Prison and Probation Administration to create better facilities, both in prisons and remand prisons, and to build a number of new prisons and remand prisons to increase their capacity.

The Committee noted with appreciation the new legislation on fundamental safeguards that entered into force on 1 April 2008 in respect of access to a lawyer and notification of custody. However, the Committee was concerned that a public defence counsel would only be appointed once the person was considered to be a suspect. It was also regretted that Swedish legislation did not include a legal provision on access to a doctor and that a request to see a doctor was evaluated by, and therefore left to the discretion of, the police officer in charge. The Committee further regretted reports that notification of custody was not systematically delivered to family members and was frequently delayed with reference to possible interference with the investigation. The Committee further expressed its concern at information that between 40 to 50 per cent of remand prisoners were subjected to restrictions and that remand prisoners were currently unable to effectively challenge and appeal decisions to impose or maintain specific restrictions. The Committee also noted that Swedish courts had jurisdiction with regard to all crimes committed by Swedish troops deployed abroad in the course of duty, regardless of the law of the state where the criminal act might have been committed. The Committee also took note of the information provided by the delegation in respect of the incident that had taken place during the international UN/EUFOR operation Artemis in the Congo in 2003. However, the Committee expressed its concern at allegations that a prisoner had been tortured by French soldiers in the presence of Swedish soldiers and that the State party had not called for a prompt and impartial investigation in this respect.

The Committee recommended that Sweden should take effective measures to ensure that detention of asylum-seekers was used only in exceptional circumstances or as a measure of last resort, and then only for the shortest possible time. Furthermore, the State party should consider other placement alternatives for asylum-seekers who are in need of care that are suitable for their particular condition. The Committee noted that the State party was in the process of negotiating a Memorandum of Understanding with the Government of Afghanistan in connection with its participation in the International Security Assistance Force operation. It was the Committee’s constant view that article 3 of the Convention and its obligation of non-refoulement applied to a State party’s military forces. With regard to the possible transfer of detainees within a State party’s effective custody to the custody of any other State, the State party should ensure that it complies fully with article 3 of the Convention in all circumstances. Further, the State party should strengthen its measures to ensure prompt, impartial and effective investigations into all allegations of torture and ill-treatment committed by law enforcement officials. The Committee was of the view that such investigations should not be undertaken by or under the authority of the police, but by an independent body.

Algeria

After its consideration of Algeria’s third report, the Committee took note with satisfaction of the criminalisation of torture through amendments to the Penal code. It also noted with satisfaction the State party’s signing of the International Convention for the Protection of all Persons from Enforced Disappearances on 2 February 2007, as well as the moratorium on the death penalty, which was in place since 1993. Further, the Committee noted with satisfaction the commitment by the State party concerning the national reconciliation, as well as its statements according to which they were committed to improve the promotion and protection of human rights.

The Committee remained preoccupied by the fact that the definition of terrorism, contained in article 87 of the Algerian Penal Code, was not very specific. The Committee was worried that this definition could extend to acts not necessarily related to terrorism and thus could expose arrested persons to eventual actions that could constitute a breach of the Convention. Further, the Committee was also preoccupied by the upholding of the state of emergency, despite information given by the State party itself attesting to a significant improvement of the security situation. One of the results of this situation was that the role of the judiciary police still remained in the hands of the “Department du Renseignement et de la Sécurité (DRS)”, which according to information, was at the origin of several cases of torture. The Committee was also preoccupied by the fact that minors aged of 16 years were considered criminally responsible and could be detained in the framework of the fight against terrorism, as well as by information the Committee had received according to which detained minors were not separated form adults.

The Committee recommended that the State party should ensure that the annual reports concerning the work of the National Consultative Commission for the Promotion and Protection of Human Rights be made public and be largely distributed. The independence of the Commission should also be reinforced. Taking note that the Algerian Charter for National Reconciliation included an amnesty for members of armed groups and State agents, the Committee reminded that an amnesty or any other obstacle to pursuing perpetrators of acts of torture or ill-treatment violated the principle of non-derogability. The State party should thus amend the relevant article, in order to specify that such an amnesty did not apply in such cases. With regards to enforced disappearances, the Committee was preoccupied by the fact that the competent judicial authorities had not launched a public action, in order to investigate the whereabouts of the disappeared, to identify them and to take sanctions against the perpetrators. The Committee recommended that the State party engage to investigate every case and to submit their findings to the families of the disappeared persons.

Costa Rica

Concerning Costa Rica’s second periodic report, the Committee noted with satisfaction that, since the examination of the initial report, Costa Rica had ratified the Optional Protocol to the Convention against Torture, as well as the Rome Statute of the International Penal Court. The Committee complimented the efforts undertaken by the State party to reform the legislation, the policies and procedures aimed at ensuring a better protection of the right not to be submitted to torture or other forms of ill- or cruel treatment, notably the definition of the crime of torture in the Penal Code and the existence of mechanisms facilitating the submission of complaints and the law on the criminalisation of violence against women.

The Committee was preoccupied by the increase in the prison population and the factors that had led to this situation, notably the limited use of alternative measures, an increase in the number of prison terms and the criminalistation of certain actions leading to preventive detention as a measure of precaution. The Committee was also preoccupied about the fact that the immigration law project did not include a right to appeal. The Committee was preoccupied by the power granted to immigration agents, who could expel irregular migrants found in the country in the zone 50 kilometres behind the border, without any administrative proceedings. This could have an effect on the obligation of non-refoulement established under the Convention.

The Committee was of the view that Costa Rica should take measures to limit the use of preventive detention and to shorten its length with alternative measures when the accused person did not pose any threat to society. The Committee was also preoccupied at the excessive delays in handling the status of refugees and was of the view that Costa Rica should take all necessary measures in this regard with the cooperation of the Office of the High Commissioner for Refugees. The State party should also fix a maximum duration for detention while waiting for expulsion. While the Committee noted with satisfaction the fact that corporal punishment was prohibited in schools and in the penal system for minors, it deplored that the Family Code stipulated that parents had the right to correct children in a moderate way. The State party was encouraged to accelerate the total prohibition of corporal punishment against children.

Indonesia

Regarding the second periodic report of Indonesia, the Committee welcomed the continuing effort of the State party to strengthen its institutions and legislation to safeguard universal human rights protection, including the establishment of the Constitutional Court, the National Law Commission, the Judiciary Commission, the Ombudsman Commission, the Prosecutorial Commission, the Police Commission, and the Eradication of Corruption Commission. The Committee also welcomed Indonesia’s accession to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights in 2006. The Committee further noted with appreciation that Indonesia had responded positively to the recommendation of the Committee to receive the Special Rapporteur on Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment and that a visit to the State party had taken place in November 2007 and that Government had also received other Special Rapporteurs of the Human Rights Council, including the Special Rapporteur on the human rights of migrants the Special Representative of the Secretary-General on the situation of human rights defenders, and the Special Rapporteur on the independence of judges and lawyers.

The Committee was deeply concerned about the numerous ongoing credible and consistent allegations, corroborated by the report of the Special Rapporteur on Torture and other sources, concerning routine and widespread use of torture and ill-treatment of suspects in police custody, especially to extract confessions or information to be used in criminal proceedings, as well as by members of the security and police forces, including by members of the armed forces, mobile police units, and paramilitary groups, during military and “sweep” operations, especially in Papua, Aceh and in other provinces where there had been armed conflicts. The Committee was also concerned that the current investigation system in the State party relied on confessions as a common form of evidence for prosecution, thus creating conditions that might facilitate the use of torture and ill-treatment of suspects. While noting the State party’s intention to raise the criminal responsibility to twelve years of age, the Committee was further deeply concerned that it remained established at eight years of age, that detained children were not fully segregated from adults, that a large number of children were sentenced to jail terms for minor offences and that corporal punishment was lawful and frequently used in juvenile prisons.

While concerned at the situation of refugees and internally displaced persons as a consequence of the armed conflict, especially children living in refugee camps, the Committee recommended that the State party should take effective measures to prevent violence affecting refugees and internally displaced persons, especially children, registering them at birth and preventing them from being used in armed conflict. The State party should also strengthen the measures taken to ensure safe repatriation of all displaced persons, in cooperation with the UN. Concerned about the absence of an effective independent monitoring mechanism on the situation of detainees, including unannounced visits to all places of detention or custody, the Committee recommended that the State party should establish consistent and comprehensive standards for independent monitoring mechanism of all places of detention, ensuring that any body established, at the local or national level, had a strong and impartial mandate and adequate resources. Concerned with the State party’s lack of international judicial cooperation in investigating, prosecuting or extraditing perpetrators of acts of gross human rights violations, especially with regard to acts that occurred in East Timor in 1999, the Committee was deeply troubled at evidence that alleged perpetrators of war crimes wanted by Interpol, such as Coronel Siagian Burhanddhin, for whom Interpol had raised a red notice, were currently serving in the Indonesian military forces. The Committee recommended that the State party should not establish nor engage in any reconciliation mechanism that promoted amnesties for perpetrators of acts of torture, war crimes or crimes against humanity.

The Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia

Regarding the second periodic report of the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, the Committee welcomed the amendments in the Criminal Code in 2004, and notably the incorporation in domestic legislation of the crime of torture; the adoption of an action plan to implement the last recommendations of the European Committee on the Prevention of Torture, after its last visit in 2006; the introduction of a separate offence of trafficking in persons at the beginning of 2008. Further the Committee welcomed the State party’s ratification of the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court on 6 March 2002.

The Committee was concerned that the inclusion in the scope of the Amnesty Law adopted in 2002 of “all criminal acts related to the 2001 conflict”, might create the conditions for impunity for serious violations of international human rights and humanitarian law, including violations of the Convention against torture. Noting that the Sector for Internal Control and Professional Standards within the Ministry of Interior was the body mandated to monitor the conduct of the police, the Committee was however concerned that an independent and external oversight mechanism for acts committed by the police was lacking. In this respect, while welcoming the adoption of a law strengthening the Office of the Ombudsman in 2003, the Committee was concerned that this Office had still limited functions, and that its decisions were not binding. The Committee also noted with concern the data showing that very low penalties had been imposed to persons convicted for the crimes of torture and ill-treatment while carrying out official duty.

The Committee recommended that the State party completed a thorough investigation of the cases of enforced disappearances that had occurred during the conflict in 2001, including those related to the four cases referred back to the State party from the International Criminal Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia, and prosecuted and punished the perpetrators of this crime. Noting the concerns expressed by various international bodies, the Committee was concerned that the events surrounding the arrest, detention and transfer to a third country of Mr. Khaled El-Masri had not been fully clarified. In this respect, the State party should ensure that a new thorough investigation was undertaken in order to assess whether the treatment of Mr. El Masri had been in compliance with the Convention and other international human rights standards. While welcoming the State party’s ratification of the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court (ICC), the Committee regretted the bilateral agreement concluded with another State party to the Convention aimed at exempting the latter’s nationals present in the State party’s territory from being extradited to the ICC for crimes within the jurisdiction of the Court, including torture. The Committee recommended that the State party, in accordance with article 6 and 8, should consider reviewing the relevant terms of those agreements.

Zambia

Following its consideration of the second periodic report of Zambia, the Committee welcomed the ratification of the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court on 13 November 2002; the ratification of the Protocol to Prevent, Suppress and Punish Trafficking in Persons, Especially Women and Children, supplementing the United Nations Convention against Transnational Organized Crime on 24 April 2005; the abolition of corporal punishment; the enactment of Guidelines in 2003 by the Ministry of Home Affaires which stipulated standards for the interrogation of suspects and the treatment of persons in custody; and the creation of the Zambia Police Forensic Laboratory, available to officers in Lusaka, which offered police investigators qualitative scientific methods of investigating crime rather than relying on confession statements.

The Committee reiterated its concern expressed in its previous conclusions and recommendations with regard to the fact that the State party had neither incorporated the Convention into its legislation nor introduced corresponding provisions in respect of several articles, such as the definition of torture and the criminalization of torture. The Committee was also concerned that the Refugee Control Act currently in force did not explicitly provide for protection against non-refoulement and that the current expulsion, return and extradition procedures and practices might expose individuals to the risk of torture. While noting with satisfaction that the Human Rights Commission was allowed to conduct prison and police cells inspections, the Committee was however concerned that it did not have sufficient financial and human resources to conduct such visits nor the power to take action against persons found guilty as it could only make recommendations to the competent authorities.

The Committee recommended that Zambia should consider amending its Code of Criminal Procedure and taking effective measures to ensure that fundamental legal safeguards for persons detained by police officers were respected, including the right to inform relatives and have access to counsel and independent medical assistance from the outset of the detention. Also, the State party should take urgent measures to bring conditions in detention centres into line with the United Nations Standard Minimum Rules for the Treatment of Prisoners. The State party should allocate all material, human and budgetary resources necessary for this purpose and give priority to: reducing overcrowding and the high number of prisoners in detention; improving food provision for detainees; and speedily abolish the law and practice on reduced diet. Further, the State party should take urgent measures to ensure that accused persons were detained separately from convicted ones and that children and women were detained separately from adults and men respectively in all circumstances.

Iceland

Concerning the third periodic report of Iceland, the Committee welcomed the State party’s ongoing efforts to comply with its obligations under the Convention and to prevent and eliminate any acts or conduct contrary to its provisions. The Committee noted, inter alia the provisions of the Penal Code that provided the framework for punishment for trafficking in human beings, and the signing of Council of Europe’s Convention on Action against Trafficking in Human Beings in May 2005 as well as the issuance of ethical rules for police concerning excessive use of physical force and verbal abuse. The Committee also noted again with satisfaction that no complaints of torture had been received from Iceland.

The Committee regretted that no change had taken place with regard to the State party’s position not to fully incorporate the definition of torture as defined in article 1 of the Convention, nor to incorporate into domestic criminal legislation torture as a specific crime. The Committee was also concerned about the fact that no legal or administrative system of independent monitoring or inspection of psychiatric facilities, was in place. The Committee further emphasised that in the framework of prevention of torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment, female prisoners should be separated from male prisoners and juvenile prisoners should be in clearly distinct and separated facilities from adult prisoners.

Concerned about some reported cases of inappropriate handling of incidents by law enforcement officers and border guards, in particular at detention centres, airports and in conjunction with manifestations and demonstrations, the Committee recommended that the State party should ensure that all such allegations were investigated. Concerned about the reported cases of frequent and excessive use of solitary confinement against person in custody, the Committee also recommended that the State party should investigate promptly this issue and adopt effective measures to prevent such practice. Concerned by the fact that only two asylum applications had been approved over the last 20 years, and that the State party was reluctant to issue residence permits even based on humanitarian grounds, the Committee recommended that the State party should ensure through legal and administrative procedures, including review by an independent judicial body concerning rejections, that due consideration was given to each individual case before a final decision was reached and that a constant review of the situations in the countries individuals might be returned or expelled to was carried out.

Membership and Officers

The Committee's members are elected by the States parties to the Convention and serve in their personal capacity. The current members of the Committee are: Essadia Belmir (Morocco); Abdoulaye Gaye (Senegal); Felice Gaer (the United States); Luis Gallegos Chiriboga (Ecuador); Claudio Grossman (Chile); Alexander Kovalev (Russian Federation); Fernando Mariño Menendez (Spain); Myrna Kleopas (Cyprus); Nora Sveaass (Norway) and Xuexian Wang (China).

Mr. Grossman is the Committee Chairman; Ms. Sveaass, Ms. Belmir and Mr. Wang are Vice Chairmen; and Ms. Kleopas is the Committee Rapporteur.