A/HRC/39/46 145. The Working Group continues to be concerned about increasing instances of abductions carried out by non-State actors, which may be tantamount of acts of enforced disappearance. The Working Group will continue to study whether those situations fall under its mandate and, if so, what actions should be taken. The Working Group calls on all relevant stakeholders to take appropriate measures in relation to this issue and to provide information to, and share their views on this matter with, the Working Group. 146. The Working Group has decided to study further the issue of standards and public policies for an effective investigation of enforced disappearances (see paras. 49 et seq. above). It calls upon all States to carefully look into the matter and inform it of any appropriate measures and practices in this regard. 147. 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 on 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. 148. Country visits are an integral part of the mandate of 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 Mali and Ukraine for the invitations extended during the reporting period. It also recognizes the support provided by the Government of the Gambia during the visit carried out in June 2017. During the reporting period, the Working Group requested visits to Mali, Lebanon and Yemen. 149. In addition to having made new requests, the Working Group reiterated its past requests to visit the following countries, without having yet received a positive response: Bangladesh, Bahrain, Belarus, Burundi, China, Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Egypt, India, Indonesia, Kenya, Nepal, Nicaragua, Philippines, Russian Federation, Rwanda, South Africa, Syrian Arab Republic, Thailand, Turkmenistan, 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 Iran (Islamic Republic of). Visits to Libya, South Sudan and Sudan, which have been accepted by the respective countries, have not materialized so far for different reasons. 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, for those that have agreed to visits, to respond as soon as possible with specific dates. 150. The Working Group reiterates its previous call to be given a role in the followup to the findings of the commissions of inquiry and other fact-finding or investigative bodies created by the Human Rights Council insofar as they relate to enforced disappearances (see A/HRC/33/51, para. 119, and A/HRC/36/39, para. 120). 151. The Working Group continues the practice of holding one session each year outside Geneva, in part so as to facilitate interaction with the relatives of disappeared persons and raise awareness of the Working Group’s mandate and activities at the local and regional levels. It appreciates the invitation received from the Government of Belgium to hold a session during the reporting period. The Working Group invites other countries to follow this good example. 152. The Working Group once again calls upon States that have not signed and/or ratified the Convention to do so as soon as possible and to accept the competence of the Committee to receive individual cases under article 31 and inter-State complaints under article 32 of the Convention. 26