A/HRC/13/31 General allegations Summary of the allegations 631. Information was submitted by NGOs to the Working Group concerning obstacles reportedly encountered in the implementation of the Declaration. This information was transmitted to the Government after the eighty-sixth session through the following general allegation. 632. The Working Group has been informed of the escalating phenomenon of enforced or involuntary disappearances of political party members and human rights defenders in Zimbabwe. 633. Allegedly, victims have been abducted from their homes or other locations by known or unknown individuals or groups. Sources inform that the silence of authorities in the face of such atrocities can only be perceived as acquiescence and a fuelling of impunity in regard to such violations. 634. It has been reported that victims of enforced disappearance have been subjected to systematic attacks, arrests, detention and persecution by state agents before they disappeared. It has further been reported that some victims were tortured in police custody and denied access to legal practitioners. 635. Sources report that there is an urgent need for the authorities to take concerted and visible action to identify the perpetrators of the crime of enforced or involuntary disappearances and hold them accountable. 636. The Working Group has been informed that the Zimbabwe Republic Police needs to take immediate, concrete and visible measures to minimize the occurrence of enforced or involuntary disappearances and its associated impunity. 637. The Working Group regrets that no response was received from the Government. Request for a visit 638. On 20 July 2009, the Working Group requested the Government for an invitation to undertake a mission to Zimbabwe. No reply has yet been received. Total cases transmitted, clarified and outstanding 639. Since its establishment, the Working Group has transmitted six cases to the Government; of those, one case has been clarified on the basis of information provided by sources, one case has been clarified on the basis of information provided by the Government, and four remain outstanding. Observations 640. 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. 132 GE.09-17704