A/HRC/40/38/Add.1 III. Overview of standing invitations A standing invitation is an open invitation extended by a Government to all thematic special procedures. By extending a standing invitation States announce that they will always accept requests for visits from all special procedures. As at 31 December 2018, out of the 193 United Nations Member States, the following 119 Member States (61.66 %) as well as one non-Member Observer State had extended a standing invitation to the thematic special procedures. Countries Date Countries Date Afghanistan 15 August 2017 Libya 15 March 2012 Albania 02 December 2009 Liechtenstein 21 January 2003 Andorra 03 November 2010 Lithuania March 2001 Argentina 03 December 2002 Luxembourg March 2001 Armenia 01 May 2006 Madagascar 26 August 2011 Australia 07 August 2008 Malawi 07 September 2015 Austria March 2001 Maldives 02 May 2006 Azerbaijan 15 April 2013 Malta March 2001 Bahamas 06 June 2013 Marshall Islands 04 March 2011 Belgium March 2001 Mexico March 2001 Benin 31 October 2012 Monaco 22 October 2008 Bolivia 10 February 2010 Mongolia 09 April 2004 Montenegro 11 October 2005 Bosnia and Herzegovina 07 May 2010 Botswana 02 May 2018 Mozambique 12 April 2016 Brazil 10 December 2001 Nauru 30 May 2011 Bulgaria March 2001 Netherlands March 2001 Burundi 06 June 2013 New Zealand 03 February 2004 Cameroon 15 September 2014 Nicaragua 26 April 2006 Canada April 1999 Niger 21 August 2012 Cape Verde 26 April 2013 Nigeria 25 October 2013 Central African Republic 03 September 2013 Norway 26 March 1999 Chad 01 June 2012 Occupied Palestinian Territory (non-Member Observer State) 30 July 2014 Chile 12 May 2009 Palau 03 May 2011 Colombia 17 March 2003 Panama 14 March 2011 Costa Rica 2002 Papua New Guinea 11 May 2011 Croatia 13 March 2003 Paraguay 28 March 2003 Cyprus March 2001 Peru 03 April 2002 5