A/HRC/13/22 verbal and sexual harassment and rape. Since January 2009, the Special Rapporteur has sent 86 communications concerning the situation of women defenders. 48. To enhance the security of women defenders, States should also ensure that those women’s specific security needs are dealt with in a gender-sensitive manner and that their participation and collaboration is sought when protection mechanisms are designed. In particular, gender-sensitive training should be put in place for law enforcement officials, protection officers and those in charge of designing protection programmes. Universal and regional mechanisms granting interim measures to women defenders should also request that States take their specific needs into account and report on the exact measures taken. 49. The Special Rapporteur is deeply concerned about the continuing denigration campaigns and the violent threats against defenders of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender rights. The right to peaceful assembly is also often denied to defenders working on lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender issues or, alternatively, the police does not provide adequate protection for such demonstrations. Complaints related to violence and attacks are often not taken seriously by the police and are not always investigated properly. 2. Maximizing the security of human rights defenders 50. Even though the obligation of protecting human rights defenders and ensuring their security rests primarily with the States, defenders themselves may also take some measures to enhance their own safety. In this regard, the Special Rapporteur has identified examples of situations of vulnerability which may help both States and defenders to anticipate imminent threats in order to minimize risks and prevent attacks. (a) Situations of insecurity and seasonal changes in the vulnerability of human rights defenders 51. As noted by the former Special Representative of the Secretary-General on the situation of human rights defenders in all parts of the world and on possible means to enhance their protection in full compliance with the Declaration on the Right and Responsibility of Individuals, Groups and Organs of Society to Promote and Protect Universally Recognized Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms, “certain categories of defender are more likely to be targeted during certain periods of time, for example according to the political agendas in their countries or provinces … These ‘seasonal’ changes in the vulnerability of human rights defenders could be a basis for the adoption of strategies for protection that would be especially active on behalf of certain defenders precisely during periods of expected vulnerability”.7 Information received by the Special Rapporteur and the types of violations encountered by defenders shed some light on the circumstances and situations where human rights defenders are most likely to be vulnerable and in greater need of State protection. States should take these situations into account while developing early warning systems to anticipate threats against defenders. The Special Rapporteur would like to differentiate between the types of situation triggering defenders’ insecurity. (i) Short-term triggers 52. Defenders are often threatened before and upon return to their home countries after travel abroad to talk about the human rights situation in their own country. Participation in conferences, workshops and meetings, and travel to and from these events provide occasions for targeting defenders. Defenders continue to be arrested and detained, thereby 7 10 E/CN.4/2003/104, para. 23. GE.10-10012