At the 7th regular Session of the UN Human Rights Council, the representative of South Korea stated on 3 March that the country will extend its standing invitation to all thematic Special Procedures mandate holders. South Korea is the third in Asia to do so, allowing the UN Special to visit the country anytime without invitation.
(Bangkok) South Korea announced its decision to extend its standing invitation to all thematic Special Procedures mandate holders on 3 March, at the United Nations Human Rights Council during its 7th regular session.

“With the expectation of an overwhelming participation of the international community, the Republic of Korea would like to extend a standing invitation to all thematic special procedures mandate-holders”, said In-kook Park, who is also Deputy Minister for International Organisations and Global Issues.

He also emphasised that the standing invitation is a “clear evidence of a government’s willingness to cooperate with and contribute to the strengthening of the special procedures system”.

According to the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR), “a standing invitation is an open invitation extended by a Government to all thematic special procedures”.

By extending a standing invitation, the states announce that they will accept requests of visit from all special procedures. FORUM-ASIA has repeatedly urged all Asian governments to extend the standing invitation as a sign of commitment to human rights obligations. As of October 2007, 57 countries have extended a standing invitation to thematic procedures. South Korea is the third in Asia to do so, including Iran and Mongolia.