A/HRC/31/55 I. Introduction 1. The present report is the second thematic report submitted to the Human Rights Council by the Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights defenders, pursuant to Council resolutions 16/5 and 25/18 and General Assembly resolution 66/164. 2. In the report, the Special Rapporteur provides a brief overview of the activities that he has carried out since the previous reporting period (chap. II). He then presents a thematic study on good practices in the protection of human rights defenders by first conceptualizing protection practices, including at the local, national, regional and international levels (chap. III). He subsequently outlines protection initiatives in three interrelated areas: practices that strengthen the resources and capacities of defenders (chap. IV); practices that foster an enabling environment for the defence of their rights (chap. V); and regional and international practices that support the protection of defenders at the local and national levels (chap. VI). The Special Rapporteur concludes the report by proposing seven principles that underpin good practices in the protection of defenders, and makes recommendations on ways to strengthen, disseminate and replicate them. II. Activities A. Communications 3. The Special Rapporteur is mandated to intervene directly with Governments on allegations of human rights violations by means of communications. Such intervention may relate to a violation that has already been committed, is ongoing or that has a high risk of occurring. The communications process involves addressing a letter to the State concerned, identifying the facts of the allegation, applicable international human rights norms and standards, the concerns and questions of the Special Rapporteur, and a request for followup action. 4. Communications are an essential tool for the work of the mandate, given that they draw attention to urgent cases of defenders that require the immediate attention of States. They allow the Special Rapporteur to raise concerns about individual situations and more general patterns, and can be instrumental in preventing violations against defenders. Defenders see the communications as one of the main forms of international protection at their disposal. 5. Between 1 December 2014 and 30 November 2015, the Special Rapporteur addressed 209 communications to 80 States. He drew attention to the situation of more than 422 persons; 184 of the communications were to follow up on persons or organizations that had previously been the subject of communications. A total of 12 communications related to cases of reprisal against groups or persons as a result of their cooperation with the United Nations, its mechanisms or representatives in the sphere of human rights. 6. Examined by region, 66 communications (31.6 per cent) were addressed to States in the Asia-Pacific region; 38 (18.2 per cent) to States in Latin America and the Caribbean; 35 (16.75 per cent) to States in the Middle East and North Africa; 35 (16.75 per cent) to States in Europe, North America and Central Asia; 34 (16.3 per cent) to States in Africa; and one to a business enterprise (0.4 per cent). 7. The annual report on communications submitted by the Special Rapporteur (A/HRC/31/55/Add.1) provides further detailed analysis, observations and replies from 3