response. Finally, after consultation with the State Party, the Committee may decide to publish a summary of the proceedings separately or in its annual report.

Individual  communication procedure
A communication may be submitted directly or, under certain conditions, through representatives, by individuals who claim to be victims of torture by a State which has accepted the competence of the Committee. The function of the Committee is to gather relevant information, consider the admissibility and merits of complaints and to issue its “views”. If the alleged victim is not in a position to submit the communication on his or her own behalf, a relative or representative may act in that capacity.

Sessions
The Committee meets in Geneva twice each year in November and in the April-May period for two or three weeks. However, special sessions may be convened by decision of the Committee itself at the request of a majority of its members or of a State party to the Convention. The committee reports annually on its activities to the States parties to the Convention and to the General Assembly.
For more information see the OHCHR web-site: http://www.unhchr.ch/html/menu2/6/cat.htm