A/HRC/22/47 I. Introduction 1. The present report is the fifth submitted to the Human Rights Council by the Special Rapporteur, and the thirteenth thematic report submitted by the mandate holder on human rights defenders since 2000. The report is submitted pursuant to Human Rights Council resolutions 7/8 and 16/5. 2. Since the inception of the mandate, the key role played by national human rights institutions in the promotion and protection of human rights has continuously been emphasized. As independent public bodies, national institutions can play an important part in advising Governments on national developments in the light of their human rights obligations as well as mainstreaming international human rights principles and standards in public law and policymaking. The Special Rapporteur is of the opinion that national institutions can be considered as human rights defenders. 3. In addition, the interaction between such institutions and individuals and associations acting in defence of human rights has always been considered essential by the mandate holder. National institutions can cooperate with defenders to assess the human rights situation on the ground and ensure accountability for human rights violations. As emphasized by the Special Rapporteur in her 2010 report to the Human Rights Council, national institutions, especially those mandated to receive complaints and follow individual cases, can be powerful allies of human rights defenders and contribute significantly to their protection if needed.1 4. After providing an overview of her activities during the reporting period, the Special Rapporteur briefly outlines her approach to national human rights institutions and the methodology used in the current report. She then focuses on the vital role played by national institutions in the promotion and protection of human rights. She goes on to provide observations on the current mechanisms in place within these institutions to protect human rights defenders. In the last section, the Special Rapporteur provides her conclusions and recommendations. II. Activities during the reporting period A. Communications transmitted to States 5. Between 1 December 2011 and 30 November 2012, the Special Rapporteur sent 252 communications. Communications were sent to 83 States, and, at the time of writing, 104 responses had been received, which indicates only a 41 per cent response rate. In addition, the Special Rapporteur received 40 responses to communications sent prior to the current reporting period. Observations on communications sent during the period and on the corresponding responses by Governments are included in addendum 4 to the present report (A/HRC/22/47/Add.4). B. Country visits 6. During the reporting period, the Special Rapporteur visited Honduras from 7 to 14 February 2012; Tunisia from 27 September to 5 October 2012; and Ireland from 19 to 23 1 A/HRC/13/22, para. 108. 3