A/HRC/28/71 Federation, Singapore, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Timor-Leste, the United States of America and Viet Nam. In addition, there are a number of other intergovernmental dialogues and summits in the region, in particular the East Asia Summit and the ASEAN dialogue arrangements. 64. The above-mentioned platforms could be important venues for the discussion and development of common action on human rights issues in the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, such as international abductions, enforced disappearances and related matters, which have had a negative impact on the regional security situation. 9. Continuous use of United Nations human rights mechanisms 65. Another avenue for exerting pressure on the Government of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea to shed light on abductions, enforced disappearances and related matters is the use of relevant United Nations human rights mechanisms, both Charter- and treatybased. (a) (i) Charter-based mechanisms Special procedures mandate holders 66. The Special Rapporteur cautions against seeing his mandate in isolation when looking at the human rights situation in the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea. In his view, country and thematic special procedures mandates are mutually reinforcing, creating positive synergies between themselves and complementing each other. By the broad range of issues they cover, and the different tools available to them in the fulfilment of their functions (e.g. communications, press statements, country visits, thematic reporting), thematic special procedures mandate holders can add substantive leverage to seeking responses from the authorities of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea on cases brought to their attention. 67. The thematic mechanism most relevant to the issue of international abductions, enforced disappearances and related matters is the Working Group on Enforced or Involuntary Disappearances. It was entrusted with the double mandate to (a) assist families in determining the fate or whereabouts of their disappeared relatives who are placed outside the protection of the law and (b) monitor States’ compliance with their obligations deriving from the Declaration on the Protection of All Persons from Enforced or Involuntary Disappearance and existing international rules, and to provide States with assistance in the implementation of those norms.18 The Special Rapporteur welcomes the numerous communications issued by the Working Group to the Government of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea,19 as well as its public advocacy. He also welcomes the letters sent by the Working Group to the President of the Human Rights Council, the President of the General Assembly, the President of the Security Council and the Secretary-General “to request the adoption of any appropriate action that they may deem appropriate”20 in relation to the issue of abductions and enforced disappearances carried out by the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea. He encourages the Working Group to request an invitation to visit the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea and countries affected by the issue. 68. Other thematic mandates are also particularly relevant to the issue of international abductions, enforced disappearances and related matters, as illustrated by the report of the 18 19 20 14 A/HRC/WGEID/102/2, paras. 2 and 4. A total of 47 communications at the time of drafting the present report (see A/HRC/27/49, annex II, p. 29). A/HRC/27/49, para. 32.