A/HRC/28/63 specific country, such as individuals who promote the rights of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex (LGBTI) persons. B. Country visits 18. Country visits provide excellent opportunities for the Special Rapporteur to learn about the situation of human rights defenders on the ground, their challenges, the risks they face, their successes and the strategies that they use. Visits are a useful tool to engage constructively with States at all levels, to discuss the main issues affecting the environment in which human rights defenders work and to raise awareness of the importance of their work. 19. Since assuming his post on 2 June 2014, the Special Rapporteur has paid an official visit to Burundi, from 14 to 25 November 2014.1 He would like to thank the Burundian Government for having agreed to this visit and facilitating his stay. A separate report on the visit will be submitted in the form of an addendum to his report to the Council in March 2016. 20. As of the end of November 2014, the Special Rapporteur or his predecessors have the following outstanding visit requests: Bahrain (2012), Belarus (2002, 2003, 2004, 2010, 2011), Bhutan (2001, 2002), Cambodia (2012), Cameroon (2014), Chad (2002, 2003, 2004), China (2008, 2010), Dominican Republic (2012), Egypt (2003, 2008, 2010, 2012), Equatorial Guinea (2002), Ethiopia (2014), Fiji (2010, 2012), Indonesia (2012), Jamaica (2012), Kenya (2003, 2004), Kyrgyzstan (2012), Malawi (2012), Malaysia (2002, 2010), Maldives (2006), Mexico (2011), Mozambique (2003, 2004), Namibia (2011), Nepal (2003, 2004, 2005, 2008, 2009, 2012), Oman (2012), Pakistan (2003, 2007, 2008, 2010), Philippines (2008, 2010, 2012), Russian Federation (2004, 2011), Saudi Arabia (2012), Senegal (2012), Singapore (2002, 2004), Sri Lanka (2008, 2010), Syrian Arab Republic (2008, 2010), Thailand (2012), Turkmenistan (2003, 2004), United Arab Emirates (2012), Uzbekistan (2001, 2004, 2007), Venezuela (Bolivarian Republic of) (2007, 2008, 2010), Viet Nam (2012) and Zimbabwe (2002, 2004, 2008, 2010, 2011). 21. The Special Rapporteur regrets that several of these requests are long-standing. He intends to repeat his requests for visits to these countries in 2015 and hopes that the States in question will give due attention and respond positively. He also calls on governments that have not yet issued open invitations to mandate holders to do so and requests that States that have not yet responded to his request for a visit should do so as soon as possible. That would clearly reflect their commitment to cooperating with United Nations mechanisms; they would thus provide evidence of the good example that should be set by all members of the Council. 22. The Special Rapporteur is aware of the workload that such missions impose on the authorities of countries visited and he wishes to thank governments that have issued an invitation or agreed to a request for a visit. He notes that visits should be of sufficient length to enable him to travel within the country, outside the capital, particularly in countries with extensive territories, so that he can make a better assessment of the situation and also meet isolated human rights defenders who cannot travel. 23. The Special Rapporteur intends to pay follow-up visits to countries already visited by his predecessors. He means to continue the good practice followed by his predecessor 1 GE.14-25280 Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, “Burundi: Government should ease pressure on human rights defenders”, 25 November 2014, www.ohchr.org/FR/NewsEvents/ Pages/DisplayNews.aspx?NewsID=15341&LangID=Fsthash.s3OrN8z0.dpuf. 5