A/HRC/13/31 D. Country visits 26. Upon the invitation of the Government of Morocco, Mr. Corcuera, Mr. de Frouville and Mr. Sarkin visited the country from 22 to 25 June 2009, assisted by staff from the Secretariat. The purpose of the mission was to discuss the cases of enforced disappearances and collect information which might lead to their clarification as well as to take stock of the experience of the Equality and Reconciliation Commission. 27. The report on the visit to Morocco is contained in document A/HRC/13/31/Add.1. 28. The Working Group requested visits to Algeria, Burundi, Indonesia, the Islamic Republic of Iran, Nepal, Nicaragua, the Philippines, the Russian Federation, Sri Lanka, the Sudan, Timor-Leste and Zimbabwe. 29. The Government of the Islamic Republic of Iran agreed to a visit by the Working Group in 2005, which was delayed at the request of the Government. 30. In 2009, the Working Groups sent reminders to Governments. The Governments of Nepal and of the Russian Federation stated that it would not be possible to schedule a visit by the Working Group because other special rapporteurs would be visiting the country. 31. The Working Group invites all the Governments that received a request by the Working Group to respond to the continued interest expressed in undertaking those visits. E. Studies 32. The Working Group, together with the Special Rapporteur on the promotion and protection of human rights and fundamental freedoms while countering terrorism, the Special Rapporteur on torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment and the Working Group on Arbitrary Detention initiated a global joint study of the practice of secret detention in the context of contemporary counter-terrorism efforts, as announced on 10 March 2009 at the tenth session of the Human Rights Council in Geneva. 33. The joint study is global in nature and examines the practice of secret detention in and by States from various geographical regions, taking into account recent domestic, regional and global efforts to counter terrorism. The study will also include chapters on the legal framework and on past experiences of the use of secret detention in the context of counter-terrorism operations. 34. It is expected that the joint report will be submitted to the thirteenth session of the Human Rights Council, containing factual examples, legal analysis and recommendations regarding these practices, aimed at curbing the resort to secret detention and the unlawful treatment or punishment of detainees in the context of contemporary counter-terrorism efforts. This study will be part of a consultative process with States. F. Statements 35. On 19 December 2008, the Working Group issued a press release welcoming the report on Conflict-related Disappearances in Bardiya District, presented by the office in Nepal of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR-Nepal), thanks to which the Working Group received many cases. 36. On 21 July 2009 the Working Group issued a joint press release together with six other special procedures mechanisms requesting the authorities of the Russian Federation to extend an invitation to visit the country to assist the authorities in conducting an GE.09-17704 9