A/HRC/30/38 102. During the reporting period, the Working Group continued to observe a pattern of “short-term” enforced disappearances being used in a number of countries. The Working Group expresses its deep concern at the phenomenon. It stresses that there is no time limit, no matter how short, for an enforced disappearance to occur and that accurate information on the detention of any person deprived of liberty and their place of detention shall be made promptly available to their family members. 103. The Working Group is also concerned about the deteriorating situation in a number of countries, as reflected in the present report. It reiterates article 7 of the Declaration, which provides that no circumstances whatsoever, whether a threat of war, a state of war, internal political instability or any other public emergency, may be invoked to justify enforced disappearances. 104. The Working Group continues to note a pattern of threats, intimidation and reprisals against victims of enforced disappearance, including family members, witnesses and human rights defenders working on such cases. It calls upon States to take specific measures to prevent such acts, protect those working on cases of enforced disappearances and punish the perpetrators, in accordance with article 13 (1) and (3) of the Declaration. The Working Group reiterates its support for the establishment of a United Nations-wide senior focal point to engage with all stakeholders, in particular Member States, to promote the prevention of, protection against and accountability for reprisals and intimidation related to cooperation with the United Nations, its representatives and mechanisms (see A/HRC/27/49, para. 119). It regrets that no progress has been made on that matter during the reporting period. 105. Country visits are an integral part of the mandate fulfilled by the Working Group. Visits allow the Working Group to highlight country practices in addressing enforced disappearance, to assist States in reducing obstacles to implement the Declaration and to ensure direct contact with the family members of victims. The Working Group thanks the Governments of Albania, Sri Lanka, the Sudan and Turkey for the invitations extended during the reporting period. It also recognizes the support provided by the Governments of Croatia, Montenegro, Peru and Serbia during the visits carried out in the reporting period. During that period, the Working Group requested visits to Albania, Bahrain, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Rwanda and South Africa. In addition to those new requests, the Working Group has requested in the past a visit to the following countries, without having yet received a positive response: Bangladesh, Belarus, Burundi, China, Egypt, India, Indonesia, Kenya, Nepal, Nicaragua, the Philippines, the Russian Federation, South Sudan, the Syrian Arab Republic, Thailand, the United Arab Emirates, Uzbekistan and Zimbabwe. There are other countries that have invited the Working Group to visit and/or confirmed invitations, but for which specific dates to visit have not been agreed, such as Algeria and the Islamic Republic of Iran. The Working Group therefore calls upon all States with pending requests for visits to respond favourably to them in the light of Human Rights Council resolution 21/4, and those that have agreed to visits to respond as soon as possible with specific dates. 106. The Working Group once again calls upon States that have not signed and/or ratified the International Convention for the Protection of All Persons from Enforced Disappearance to do so as soon as possible and to accept the competence of the Committee on Enforced Disappearances to receive individual cases under article 31, and inter-State complaints under article 32 of the Convention. 107. The Working Group is concerned about increasing instances of abductions carried out by non-State actors, which may be tantamount of acts of enforced disappearances. The Working Group has decided to continue paying attention to and studying the question of disappearances carried out by non-State actors in order to 21