A/HRC/16/48 Discontinuation 166. The Working Group has made numerous attempts to contact the source of one outstanding case, but to no avail. Exceptionally, the Working Group has decided, in accordance with its methods of work, to discontinue the consideration of the case. The Working Group believes that it cannot play a role as the case cannot be followed up. This case can be reopened at any time. Total cases transmitted, clarified and outstanding 167. Since its establishment, the Working Group has transmitted four cases to the Government; of those, two cases have been clarified on the basis of information provided by the Government, one was discontinued and one remains outstanding. Observations 168. The Working Group reminds the Government that due to its humanitarian mandate it can continue reviewing cases even if another mechanism is looking into the matter. 169. The Working Group calls upon the Government to sign and ratify the International Convention for the Protection of All Persons from Enforced Disappearance and accept the competence of the Committee under articles 31 and 32. Ecuador Cases transmitted to the Government during the period under review: 0 Cases clarified during the period under review: 0 Number of outstanding cases at the beginning of the period under review Cases sent under Cases sent the urgent action under the procedure standard procedure Government Non-governmental sources 4 0 0 0 0 Number of outstanding cases at the end of the year under review 4 Number of cases on which the Government has replied Multiple replies on some cases Number of cases of possible clarification by Government (6-month rule) 3 0 Yes Urgent appeals N/A Government response N/A General allegation N/A Government response N/A Prompt intervention letter N/A Government response N/A Working Group request for a visit N/A Government response N/A Information from the Government 170. The Government transmitted two communications dated 14 December 2009 and 22 June 2010, concerning three and one outstanding cases respectively. The information provided was not sufficient to clarify the cases. 44