A/60/316 that an invitation will soon be forthcoming. In 2005, the Special Rapporteur also requested invitations from the Governments of Belarus, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Ethiopia, the Islamic Republic of Iran, Nigeria, Sri Lanka, the Syrian Arab Republic, Togo and Zimbabwe. 11. The Special Rapporteur issued press statements jointly with other special procedures mandate holders concerning: the situation of Guantánamo Bay detainees following the fourth anniversary of the existence of the detention centres (4 February 2005); the situation following the state of emergency in Nepal (8 February 2005); allegations of human rights violations by the authorities of Uzbekistan in connection with the violent events in Andijan (23 June 2005); the lack of an invitation by the Government of the United States of America to visit Guantánamo Bay on the first anniversary of the request by the independent experts of the Commission on Human Rights (23 June 2005); the campaign by Zimbabwe of forced evictions of informal traders and persons living in informal settlements (24 June 2005); and the reported denial of medical treatment to an imprisoned journalist in the Islamic Republic of Iran (18 July 2005). 12. On 28 January 2005, the Special Rapporteur held an informal one-day meeting with representatives of the following international non-governmental organizations (NGOs) involved in torture issues: Amnesty International, Association for the Prevention of Torture, International Federation of ACAT (Action of Christians for the Abolition of Torture), International Federation of Human Rights Leagues, Human Rights Watch, International Commission of Jurists, International Rehabilitation Council for Torture Victims, International Service for Human Rights, and World Organization against Torture. The meeting was an opportunity for the NGO representatives to meet with the newly appointed Special Rapporteur, introduce their respective organizations and brief him on their activities. It was also an occasion for the representatives to discuss substantive issues, as well as cooperation. 13. On 4 February 2005, with a view to strengthening the collaboration among United Nations mechanisms dealing with the question of torture and ill-treatment, the Special Rapporteur met with members of the Committee on the Rights of the Child. On that occasion, issues of common interest were discussed, including the mutual follow-up to the recommendations of the respective mechanisms concerning specific countries, cooperation in terms of preparation of country visits by the Special Rapporteur, and the United Nations study on violence against children. 14. On 7 April 2005, he participated in a meeting of the European Network of Treatment and Rehabilitation Centres for Victims of Torture and Human Rights Violations in Cartigny, Switzerland. The Special Rapporteur presented an overview of the mandate and discussed the important role treatment centres played in the activities of the mandate, including preparation for and follow-up to country visits. 15. Also on 7 April 2005, during the sixty-first session of the Commission on Human Rights, the Special Rapporteur participated in a commemorative event to mark the 20 years since the establishment of the mandate, organized by the Government of Austria and the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights. The current mandate holder’s three predecessors Pieter Kooijmans, Sir Nigel Rodley and Theo van Boven, also participated. The Special Rapporteurs highlighted the achievements and challenges during their tenures and discussed the future of the mandate. 5