GENEVA (6 July 2023) - The UN Committee against Torture will hold its latest session from 10 to 28 July 2023, during which it will examine Switzerland, New Zealand Romania and Spain. The above four countries are among the 173 States parties to the Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment. They are required to undergo regular reviews by the Committee of 10 independent international experts on how they are implementing the Convention. The Committee, which has received the respective country reports and submissions from non-governmental organisations and other stakeholders, will assess the four States parties on the following dates at Geneva time: Switzerland 12 July 10:00 – 13:00 13 July 15:00 – 18:00 New Zealand 18 July 10:00 – 13:00 19 July 15:00 – 18:00 Romania 19 July 10:00 – 13:00 20 July 15:00 – 18:00 Spain 20 July 10:00 – 13:00 21 July 15:00 – 18:00 The above reviews will be held in the First Floor Conference Room at Palais Wilson in Geneva. All public meetings are open to accredited journalists and broadcast live on UN Web TV. More information about the session, including reports submitted by the States and the full schedule of meetings, is available on the session page. ENDS For media accreditation: Please apply online or contact press_geneva@un.org Accredited media attending public meetings at Palais Wilson, please register with: Vivian Kwok at vivian.kwok@un.org or UN Human Rights Office Media Section at ohchr-media@un.org Background The Committee against Torture monitors States parties’ adherence to the Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment, which to date has 173 State parties. The Committee is made up of 10 members who are independent human rights experts drawn from around the world, who serve in their personal capacity and not as representatives of States parties. The Committee’s concluding observations are an independent assessment of States’ compliance with their human rights obligations under the treaty. Learn more with our videos on the Treaty Body system and the Committee Against Torture! Follow the UN Treaty Bodies on social media! We are on Twitter @UNTreatyBodies