A/HRC/4/27 page 5 international, regional, national organizations and non-governmental organizations; media professionals and writers’ associations, students groups, trade unions, political parties, from all regions of the world. 7. This analysis aims at identifying new trends and adding new elements to issues already examined in previous reports, in order to draft conclusions and make recommendations to the Human Rights Council and other relevant stakeholders for the implementation of legislative measures to increase the level of protection of the right to freedom of opinion and expression and its continuing promotion. 8. A second significant feature of the Special Rapporteur’s mandate is the examination of communications on alleged violations of the right to freedom of opinion and expression. The assessment of the credibility of this kind of information is a preliminary step, which may ultimately lead to the preparation of communications for Governments’ attention and comments. Communications on alleged violations received are not confined to countries where the political, social and economic situation is particularly difficult, but also concern violations occurring in transitional or long-established democracies. 9. In this connection, the Special Rapporteur wishes to reiterate that, first and foremost, urgent appeals and allegation letters represent a request for information on a precise case and on relevant national legislation. By no means do urgent appeals and allegation letters constitute a judgement on the human rights situation of a country. Conversely, Governments have the opportunity of exercising, if they wish so, their right to freedom of expression through the presentation of their views on individual cases as well as any other information they may consider of relevance. 10. The third noteworthy feature of the Special Rapporteur’s mandate is the identification of new trends concerning the implementation of the right to freedom of opinion and expression. Owing to the advent of new technologies and the resulting increase of the request for information, the notion of freedom of opinion and expression has quickly taken new directions, while legislation on new technologies appears to be linked to obsolete concepts that prevent the full enjoyment of the right to freedom of expression, even in traditionally favourable environments. Internet governance and its boundaries have also revived the debate between the extent of the right to access to information and the right to privacy. 11. Regrettably, repressive machineries are speedily adapting to new technologies, which are often used as tools for political propaganda and a conduit for racial discrimination and hate speech. Together with a constant trend towards the polarization of ideas and ethnic tension, the systematic oppression of the most active supporters of the free circulation of information and opinions - journalists, trade unionists, social workers, students and teachers, writers and artists - continues to remain an issue of concern throughout the entire world. 12. The form and the extent of repression can considerably differ, depending, inter alia, on the existence of the rule of law and its implementation in a given society. Unfortunately, the range of violations still includes killings, enforced disappearances, arbitrary arrest and detention, mistreatments, threats and harassment, unfair trial, and various types of judicial and administrative measures. More than ever, the safety and security of media professionals remain essential for the progress of freedom of expression. Finally, a positive trend is the adoption, by