The fourth meeting of States parties to the Optional Protocol to the Convention against Torture and other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment (OPCAT) took place on 25 October 2012, at Palais des Nations in Geneva to hold elections to the UN Subcommittee on Prevention of Torture.

The secret ballot vote resulted in election of 12 new members of this respected UN human rights’ body – from Switzerland, United Kingdom, Argentina, New Zealand, Lebanon, Serbia, Mauritius, Costa Rica, Philippines, Brazil, Germany and Moldova – to replace those whose terms of office will expire on 31 December 2012.

59 delegations of the Optional Protocol’ States parties participated in the said elections, including the delegation of Ukraine headed by the Permanent Representative in Geneva Mykola Maimeskul.