A/HRC/37/37/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 2017, out of the 193 United Nations Member States, the following 118 Member States (61 %) 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 Liechtenstein 21 January 2003 Albania 2 December 2009 Lithuania March 2001 Andorra 3 November 2010 Luxembourg March 2001 Argentina 3 December 2002 Madagascar 26 August 2011 Armenia 1 May 2006 Malawi 7 September 2015 Australia 7 August 2008 Maldives 2 May 2006 Austria March 2001 Malta March 2001 Azerbaijan 15 April 2013 Marshall Islands 4 March 2011 Bahamas 6 June 2013 Mexico March 2001 Belgium March 2001 Monaco 22 October 2008 Benin 31 October 2012 Mongolia 9 April 2004 Bolivia 10 February 2010 Montenegro 11 October 2005 Bosnia and Herzegovina 7 May 2010 Mozambique 12 April 2016 Brazil 10 December 2001 Nauru 30 May 2011 Bulgaria March 2001 Netherlands March 2001 Burundi 6 June 2013 New Zealand 3 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 3 September 2013 Norway 26 March 1999 Chad 1 June 2012 Occupied Palestinian Territories (non-Member Observer State) 30 July 2014 Chile 12 May 2009 Palau 3 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 3 April 2002 Czech Republic September 2000 Poland March 2001 Denmark March 2001 Portugal March 2001 Dominica 9 December 2009 Qatar 1 June 2010 4