A/HRC/13/31 Press release 290. On 7 July 2009, the Working Group issued a press release with five other special procedures mechanisms calling on the Government to uphold its international obligations to ensure that the human rights of all individuals are protected following the presidential elections in the country (the full text of the press release can be consulted at: http://www.unhchr.ch/huricane/huricane.nsf/view01/18C01E2D803329F8C12575EC0056E 2BD?opendocument). Request for a visit 291. The Government of the Islamic Republic of Iran agreed to a visit by the Working Group in 2004, which was delayed at the request of the Government. A reminder letter was sent on 20 July 2009, asking the Government to set a date for the proposed visit. The Government has not yet set a new date for the visit, despite the fact that five years have elapsed. Total cases transmitted, clarified and outstanding 292. Since its establishment, the Working Group has transmitted 532 cases to the Government; of those, 5 cases have been clarified on the basis of information provided by sources, 13 cases have been clarified on the basis of information provided by the Government, and 514 remain outstanding. Observations 293. The Working Group expresses concern that during the period under review two urgent communications were sent to the Government, one regarding 172 persons, and no reply was received. 294. The Working Group calls on 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. Iraq Number of outstanding cases at the beginning of the period under review 16 396 Cases transmitted to the Government during the period under review: 18 Cases sent under the urgent action procedure Cases sent under the standard procedure 17 1 Number of cases on which the Government has replied 5 64 Cases clarified during the period under review: 5 Government Nongovernmental sources Number of outstanding cases at the end of the year under review 0 5 16 409 Multiple replies on some cases No Number of cases of possible clarification by Government (6month rule) 0 GE.09-17704