The overall objectives of the Convention are to prevent acts of torture and other acts prohibited under the Convention and to ensure that effective reme- dies are available to victims when such acts occur. More specifically, the Con- vention requires States parties to take preventive action against torture such as the criminalization of acts of torture and the establishment of laws and regu- lations to promote respect for human rights among its public servants for both the alleged victim and the accused.
Despite these measures, there may be incidents where individuals are, or claim to have been, tortured. Governments that are committed to eliminating tor- ture must also be committed to providing an effective remedy to alleged vic- tims. This can be seen from the manner in which Governments address complaints of torture. The Convention requires that complaints of torture be promptly and impartially investigated wherever there are reasonable grounds to believe that an act of torture may have been committed. In many cases, the most important evidence is physical marks on the body, which can fade or dis- appear, often within days. The existence of a functional system for the administration of  justice is thus critically important for victims of torture.
The implementation of the Convention established a monitoring body, the Committee against Torture. As at March 2000, 118 States were parties to the Convention.