Requested - Visit request to a Government

Request sent from a mandate-holder to a Government to visit the country; the request may or may not include dates proposal

Invited - Invitation from a Government

Invitation sent spontaneously by a Government to a mandate-holder to visit the country; the invitation may or may not include dates proposal.

An invitation sent by a Government to a mandate-holder after a visit request has been sent by that same mandate-holder (or her/his predecessor) will fall under « acceptance of visit request », even if the invitation does not mention the preceding visit request.

Reminder - Reminder of visit request

A mandate-holder sends to a Government of reminder to a visit request sent by him/herself, or by his or her predecessor.

Accepted - Acceptance of visit request

A Government accepts a visit request by a mandate-holder in principle.

In the case where the acceptance of the request includes dates proposal, the document will fall under « dates proposal ».

Declined - Declination of visit request

A Government declines a visit request by a mandate-holder.

Accepted - Acceptance of invitation

The mandate-holder accepts the invitation sent by a Government for a visit.

In the case where the acceptance of the invitation includes dates proposal, the document will fall under « dates proposal ».

Declined - Declination of invitation

The mandate-holder declines the invitation sent by a Government.

Acknowledged - Acknowledgement of visit request or invitation

The Government sends an acknowledgement letter to the mandate-holder in response to his or her visit request.

The mandate-holder sends an acknowledgement letter to the Government in response to an invitation. The Government sends an acknowledgement letter to the mandate-holder in response to his or her visit request.

The acknowledgement letter is not an acceptance letter; in case a Government or a mandate-holder acknowledges a request, respectively an invitation, indicating that the visit cannot take place for the moment, but is possible at a later stage, without providing a time-frame for such visit, it falls under « acknowledgement » and not « acceptance » of request or invitation.

Agreed with dates - Agreement with dates

The Government and the mandate-holder have agreed on dates for the visit to take place.

Postponed - Postponement of visit

Either by the Government / by the mandate-holder The Government or the mandate-holder postpone an agreed upon visit; the postponement may or may not include new dates proposal.

Cancelled - Cancellation of visit

Either by the Government / by the mandate-holder The Government or the mandate-holder cancel an agreed upon visit.

Suspended - Suspension of visit

Either by the Government of the mandate-holder The Government or the mandate-holder take the decision to suspend an on-going mission.

Visit underway - Media Advisory

Press release by the mandate-holder to announce that she/he will undertake a visit in a country.

Report forthcoming - End of Mission Statement

Statement released by the mandate-holder at the end of the visit.

Reported/Completed - Report to the HRC

The report is either under preparation or has been submitted to the HRC or has been presented to the HRC.

Inactive - Inactive request or invitation

Visit request by a mandate-holder or invitation by a Government, on which no action has been taken for a least 5 years, by either the Government or the mandate-holder concerned.