A/HRC/7/2 page 2 Summary Established by resolution 20 (XXXVI) of 29 February 1980 of the Commission on Human Rights, the Working Group on Enforced or Involuntary Disappearances was the first United Nations human rights thematic mechanism to be established with a global mandate. This report, submitted in accordance with Human Rights Council resolution 5/1, reflects communications and cases examined by the Working Group during its sessions in 2007. The total number of cases transmitted by the Working Group to Governments since the Working Group’s inception is 51,763. The number of cases under active consideration that have not yet been clarified or discontinued stands at 41,257 and concerns 78 States. The Working Group has been able to clarify 2,702 cases over the past five years. During the period under review, the Working Group transmitted 629 new cases of enforced disappearances to the Governments of Algeria, Bahrain, Chad, China, Colombia, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Ethiopia, Gambia, Honduras, India, Indonesia, the Islamic Republic of Iran, Japan, Lebanon, the Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Mexico, Myanmar, Nepal, Pakistan, Philippines, the Russian Federation, Saudi Arabia, Sri Lanka, Sudan, the Syrian Arab Republic, Thailand and United Arab Emirates. Of the newly reported cases, 84 allegedly occurred in 2007. A summary of activities during the last year is presented in a table for each country, with a detailed text description of the areas of activity. During the reporting period from November 2006 to November 2007 the Working Group conducted country visits to Honduras and El Salvador. The reports of the country visits are contained in addenda to this report.