A/HRC/13/31 Closed cases 22. The Working Group may decide to stop pursuing a case when the competent authority specified in the relevant national law issues a declaration of absence as a result of enforced disappearance or, alternatively, a declaration of presumption of death, and the relatives or other interested parties have manifested, freely and indisputably, their desire not to pursue the case any further. These conditions should at all times respect the right to integral reparation. Discontinuation of cases 23. In exceptional circumstances, the WGEID may decide to discontinue the consideration of cases where the families have manifested, freely and indisputably, their desire not to pursue the case any further, or when the source is no longer in existence or is unable to follow up the case and steps taken by the WGEID to establish communication with other sources have proven unsuccessful. Reopening of cases 24. If sources provide well-documented information that a case has been considered clarified, closed or discontinued erroneously, because the Government’s reply referred to a different person, does not correspond to the reported situation or has not reached the source within the six-month period referred to above, the WGEID transmits the case to the Government anew, requesting it to comment. In such instances, the case in question is again listed among the outstanding cases and a specific explanation is given in the Group’s report to the Human Rights Council, describing the above-mentioned errors or discrepancies. C. Other protection mechanisms Urgent appeals 25. When credible allegations are received that a person has been arrested, detained, abducted, or otherwise deprived of his liberty and has been enforcedly disappeared or is at risk of being disappeared, the Working Group will transmit those allegations to the Minister for Foreign Affairs of the Government concerned by the most direct and rapid means requesting said Government to carry out investigations to clarify the fate or whereabouts of the person(s) concerned and to inform the Working Group about the results. The transmission of urgent appeals is authorized by the Chairperson on the basis of a specific delegation of power given to him by the Group. 26. Urgent appeals will be reflected in the annual report of the Working Group, but will not be counted in the statistics of the Government concerned. However, should the information contained therein be provided in accordance with the requirements listed under “Admissibility of cases of enforced or involuntary disappearances” and “Elements for admissibility”, the urgent appeal will become a standard or urgent case as appropriate in which case the Government concerned will be informed by separate communication. Prompt interventions 27. Cases of intimidation, persecution or reprisal against relatives of disappeared persons, witnesses to disappearances or their families, members of organizations of relatives and other non-governmental organizations, human rights defenders or individuals concerned with disappearances are transmitted to the pertinent Governments, with the appeal that they take steps to protect all the fundamental rights of the persons affected. Cases of that nature, which require prompt intervention, are transmitted directly to the 140 GE.09-17704