A/HRC/13/31 Observations 390. The Working Group reminds the Government of its obligations under the Declaration: no State shall practice, permit or tolerate enforced disappearances (art. 2), each State shall take effective legislative, administrative, judicial or other measures to prevent and terminate acts of enforced disappearance in any territory under its jurisdiction (art. 3), the obligation to investigate all cases of enforced disappearances (art. 13.1), each State shall ensure that the competent authority shall have the necessary powers and resources to conduct the investigation effectively, including powers to compel attendance of witnesses and production of relevant documents and to make immediate on-site visits (art. 13.2), protection against ill-treatment and reprisals (art. 13.3), and to conduct thorough and impartial investigations “for as long as the fate of the victim of enforced disappearance remains unclarified” (art. 13.6). 391. 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. Nepal Number of outstanding cases at the beginning of the period under review Cases transmitted to the Government during the period under review: 22 Cases sent under the urgent action procedure Cases sent under the standard procedure 0 22 436 Number of cases on which the Government has replied 0 Cases clarified during the period under review: 0 Government Nongovernmental sources Number of outstanding cases at the end of the year under review 0 0 458 Multiple replies on some cases Number of cases of possible clarification by Government (6month rule) N/A 0 General allegations N/A Government response N/A Prompt intervention letter N/A Government response N/A Working Group request for a visit Yes Government response Yes Standard procedures 392. The Working Group transmitted 22 newly-reported cases to the Government. These cases took place in Bardiya district between 1998 and 2004. The Army as well as the police are believed to be responsible for these disappearances. Information from the Government 393. The Government transmitted one communication on 2 October 2009, concerning the request of the Working Group to visit the country. 84 GE.09-17704