A/HRC/42/40 33. The visit to the Sudan scheduled for November 2017 was postponed due to a lack of understanding about the terms of reference for the visit. The Working Group regrets that, in spite of a preliminary visit undertaken by the Chair-Rapporteur of the Working Group in order to clarify the terms of reference on 5 and 6 December 2017 – and an agreement in principle about the new dates in March 2018 – the Government has never officially accepted the visit. 34. The Working Group once again recalls that the Islamic Republic of Iran agreed to a visit by the Working Group in 2004, 15 years ago, which was delayed at the request of the Government. The Working Group calls upon the Government to set the dates for the visit. 35. In February 2016, the Government of South Sudan invited the Working Group to visit. However, it did not respond to a subsequent letter from the Working Group sent in April 2016, proposing two dates for a visit to the country in the last quarter of 2017. During the reporting period, the Working Group reiterated its interest in visiting the country. The visit to Libya, postponed in May 2013 for security reasons, is still pending. E. Follow-up reports and other procedures 36. The Working Group has prepared follow-up reports on the implementation of recommendations made following its visits to Peru and Sri Lanka. The follow-up reports are contained in an addendum to the present report (A/HRC/42/40/Add.1). The Working Group encourages both Governments to implement the outstanding recommendations. F. Press releases and statements 37. On 12 June 2018, the Working Group issued a press release, together with other special procedure mandate holders, calling on the United Arab Emirates to immediately release the human rights defender Ahmed Mansoor.3 38. On 27 June 2018, the Working Group issued a press release, together with other special procedure mandate holders, calling on Saudi Arabia to immediately free the women’s human rights defenders who had been arrested during a crackdown.4 39. On 4 July 2018, the Working Group issued a press release, together with other special procedure mandate holders, to express concern at reports of Liu Xia’s deteriorating state of health.5 40. On 25 July 2018, the Working Group issued a press release, together with other special procedure mandate holders, commending the Government of Spain for its proposal to create a truth commission and for its commitment to drawing up plans to search for those who disappeared during the civil war and General Franco’s dictatorship. It also expressed the hope that the initiative would be accompanied by progress in the judicial sphere, including regarding any criminal procedure carried out in any country for the enforced disappearances committed in Spain.6 41. On 26 July 2018, the Working Group issued a press release, together with other special procedure mandate holders, urging the Egyptian authorities to release Galal El Behairy, who was forcibly disappeared for a week after his arrest and who remains in detention for writing a song critical of government policies.7 42. On 9 August 2018, the Working Group issued a press release, together with other special procedure mandate holders, urging the Government of Nicaragua to stop the repression following 100 days of unrest in which at least 317 people were killed and 1,830 injured. The experts also exhorted the Government of Nicaragua to immediately demobilize 3 4 5 6 7 6 See www.ohchr.org/EN/NewsEvents/Pages/DisplayNews.aspx?NewsID=23195&LangID=E. See www.ohchr.org/EN/NewsEvents/Pages/DisplayNews.aspx?NewsID=23270&LangID=E. See www.ohchr.org/EN/NewsEvents/Pages/DisplayNews.aspx?NewsID=23322&LangID=E. See www.ohchr.org/EN/NewsEvents/Pages/DisplayNews.aspx?NewsID=23402&LangID=E. See www.ohchr.org/EN/NewsEvents/Pages/DisplayNews.aspx?NewsID=23409&LangID=E.