A/HRC/27/49 Democratic People’s Republic of Korea 72. The Working Group is particularly concerned about the extent and scale of enforced disappearance in the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, as also highlighted by the work of the commission of inquiry on human rights in the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (A/HRC/25/63, paras. 75–76), which has revealed the nature of crime against humanity of enforced disappearances that have been committed and are ongoing in the country. Consequently, the Working Group has decided to call for action by the highest United Nations bodies to tackle the issue and, in particular, has requested the Security Council to consider referring the matter to the International Criminal Court (see para. 32 above). 73. The Working Group regrets that no reply has been received to the general allegation dated 3 October 2012 concerning reports of serious human rights violations, including enforced disappearances, in the context of an extensive labour camp system for political prisoners.38 In that respect, and in relation to the nature of the replies received from the Government concerning the cases outstanding before it, the Working Group recalls Human Rights Council resolution 21/4, which urges States to cooperate with the Working Group to help it to carry out its mandate effectively. Egypt 74. The Working Group is concerned that during the reporting period, it transmitted three cases under the urgent action procedure (A/HRC/WGEID/103/1, paras. 72–75). The Working Group is concerned that the situation continues to deteriorate in Egypt, which may facilitate the occurrence of multiple human rights violations, including enforced disappearance, and recognizes the need for the Government to adopt measures to secure truth, justice and reconciliation. 75. On 30 June 2011, the Working Group requested an invitation to undertake a visit to the country. No response yet has been received from the Government in spite of reminders sent. The Working Group hopes that a positive reply will be received soon. Guatemala 76. The Working Group thanks the Government for the substantive reply dated 12 March 2014 to the general allegation transmitted after its 101st session concerning, inter alia, the risk of jeopardizing the progress on the investigation of cases of enforced disappearances owing to the Government’s stance that it is not possible to investigate enforced disappearances committed during the armed conflict, given that the crime of enforced disappearance was not punishable by law at the time and because such cases would be subject to a statute of limitations (A/HRC/WGEID/101/1, paras. 55–64). In that respect, the Working Group recalls article 13, paragraph 6 (“an investigation … should be able to be conducted for as long as the fate of the victim of enforced disappearance remains unclarified”); article 17, paragraph 1 (“acts constituting enforced disappearance shall be considered a continuing offence as long as perpetrators continue to conceal the fate and the whereabouts of persons who have disappeared and these facts remain unclarified”); and article 18, paragraph 1 (“persons who have or are alleged to have committed [acts of enforced disappearance] shall not benefit from any special amnesty law or similar measures 38 18 A press release followed, dated 27 February 2013.

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