A/HRC/7/12 page 3 Introduction 1. The present report is the third report to be submitted to the Human Rights Council by the Special Rapporteur on the human rights of migrants, and it covers activities carried out in 2007. The activities of the Special Rapporteur are carried out in accordance with Commission on Human Rights resolution 1999/44, in which the Commission established the mandate and defined its functions. At its sixty-first session, the Commission decided, in its resolution 2005/47, to extend the Special Rapporteur’s mandate for an additional three years, and this mandate was renewed by the Human Rights Council pursuant to its resolution 5/1. I. ACTIVITIES OF THE SPECIAL RAPPORTEUR A. Country visits 2. Since his appointment to the mandate in July 2005, the Special Rapporteur has requested invitations to visit the following countries: Australia, Bahrain, Canada, Guatemala, Japan, Indonesia, Malaysia, Mauritania, Mexico, the Philippines, Qatar, the Republic of Korea, Senegal, South Africa, Spain and the United States of America. 3. Australia, Guatemala, Indonesia, Mexico, the Republic of Korea, South Africa and the United States of America have responded positively to the Special Rapporteur’s request. The Special Rapporteur visited the Republic of Korea and Indonesia in December 2006.1 From 30 April to 18 May 2007, the Special Rapporteur undertook an official visit to the United States of America.2 4. Visits to Mexico and Guatemala are scheduled to take place from 9 to 15 March and from 24 to 28 March 2008, respectively. Other visits to be undertaken in 2008 are under discussion. The Special Rapporteur would like to thank the Governments of the countries that have responded positively to his requests for visits and to urge the Governments that have not yet done so to reply to his requests. B. Communications with member States 5. From 1 January to 31 December 2007, the Special Rapporteur sent a total of 25 communications alleging violations of the rights of migrants to 22 member States. Of the communications that were sent, 14 were in the form of urgent appeals, while the remaining communications were letters of allegation. Communications were sent to the following countries: Angola, Bulgaria, China, Congo, Ethiopia, Guatemala, Guinea, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Italy, Lebanon, the Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Mexico, Mozambique, New Zealand, Saudi Arabia (2), Sweden, South Africa, Switzerland, Thailand, the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland (2), the United States of America (2) and Yemen. 1 A/HRC/4/24/Add.2 and A/HRC/4/24/Add.3. 2 A/HRC/7/12/Add.2.