9.b. Optional Protocol to the Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment New York, 18 December 2002

Note: The above Protocol was adopted on 18 December 2002 at the fifty-seventh session of the General Assembly of the United Nations by resolution A/RES/57/199. In accordance with article 27 (1), the Protocol was opened for signature on 4 February 2003, the first possible date, by any State that has signed the Convention. In accordance with operative paragraph 1 of General Assembly resolution A/RES/57/199, the Protocol is available for signature, ratification and accession at United Nations Headquarters in New York.

Declarations and Reservations
(Unless otherwise indicated, the declarations and reservations
were made upon ratification or accession.)

Belgium

Declaration made upon signature:

This signature also engages the French community, the Flemish community, the German-speaking community and the Waloon region.

Notifications made under article 17 of the Protocol

(Unless otherwise indicated, the notifications were made

upon ratification, accession or succession.)

Slovenia

"In accordance with Article 17 of the Protocol, the Republic of Slovenia declares herewith that the competencies and duties of the national preventive mechanism will be performed by the Human Rights Ombudsperson and in agreement with him/her also by non-governmental organisations registered in the Republic of Slovenia and by organisations, which acquired the status of humanitarian organisations in the Republic of Slovenia."

NOTES

1. With a territorial exclusion in respect of the Faroe Islands.

Subsequently, on 29 August 2005, the Government of Denmark informed the Secretary-General of the following:

".....that Denmark withdraws its declaration made upon ratification of the said Protocol to the effect that until further notice the Optional Protocol should not apply to the Faroe Islands."

2. See note 1 under "Montenegro" in the "Historical Information" section in the front matter of this volume.

3. With a territorial exclusion with regard to the Tokelau Islands, with the following:

".....consistent with the constitutional status of Tokelau and taking into account the commitment of the Government of New Zealand to the development of self-government for Tokelau through an act of self-determination under the Charter of the United Nations, this ratification shall not extend to Tokelau unless and until a Declaration to this effect is lodged by the Government of New Zealand with the Depositary on the basis of appropriate consultation with that territory."