United Nations Convention Against Torture - Committee Against Torture

Committee Against Torture

The Committee against Torture (CAT) is a body of human rights experts that monitors implementation of the Convention by State parties. The Committee is one of eight UN-linked human rights treaty bodies. All state parties are obliged under the Convention to submit regular reports to the CAT on how rights are being implemented. Upon ratifying the Convention, states must submit a report within one year, after which they are obliged to report every four years. The Committee examines each report and addresses its concerns and recommendations to the State party in the form of "concluding observations." Under certain circumstances, the CAT may consider complaints or communications from individuals claiming that their rights under the Convention have been violated.

The CAT usually meets in April/May and November each year in Geneva. Members are elected to four-year terms by State parties and can be re-elected if nominated.

The current membership of the CAT:


Name State Term Expires
Claudio Grossman (chair) Chile 2015
Xuexian Wang (vice-chair) China 2013
Essadia Belmir (vice-chair) Morocco 2013
Felice D. Gaer (vice-chair) USA 2015
Nora Sveaass (rapporteur) Norway 2013
Satyabhoosun Gupt Domah Mauritius 2015
Alessio Bruni Italy 2013
George Tugushi Georgia 2015
Abdoulaye Gaye Senegal 2015
Fernando Mariño Menéndez Spain 2013

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