A/HRC/40/20 by an international human rights treaty. Its support to national preventive mechanisms, the establishment of which is a core obligation under the Optional Protocol to the Convention against Torture can be a key in preventing torture at the national level. 20. The minimum required on an annual basis to guarantee a functioning Fund is $500,000, which enables the Fund to support an average of 20 projects per year, with a reasonable level of funding per project ($25,000). 21. The Secretary-General appreciates contributions provided to the Special Fund as well as the growing interest of Member States in the activities of the Fund. The contributions should be commensurate with the growing number of eligible countries and the potential for supporting the establishment or strengthening of national preventive mechanisms in those countries. The Secretary-General encourages Governments, intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations and other private or public entities to continue providing sustained financial support to this important mechanism of torture prevention. 7