A/HRC/16/44 Colombia, Ecuador, Guatemala, and Honduras; trade unionists, particularly in Colombia and Guatemala; and women’s rights and/or LGBT defenders in the region. 59. Threats and death threats were also reported in all other regions, although in much smaller numbers. In Asian countries, threats were reported in countries such as the Islamic Republic of Iran (eight communications), the Philippines (five communications), Sri Lanka (five communications), Nepal (five communications), China (four communications), and Pakistan (four communications), among others. The activities carried out by the WHRDs subjected to threats in this region varied widely by country, including women’s rights activists, primarily in the Islamic Republic of Iran; and indigenous and other minority activists, particularly in the Islamic Republic of Iran, China and the Philippines, among others. Explicit death threats were reported in the Philippines (three communications), Sri Lanka (two communications), Nepal (two communications), the Islamic Republic of Iran (two communications), Pakistan (two communications), China, the Maldives, and Malaysia. 60. In Europe, of the 37 communications sent regarding alleged threats and death threats, some 23 concerned defenders working in the Russian Federation and Uzbekistan. In the Russian Federation, to which 13 such communications were sent, those most at risk appear to have been those working on impunity and human rights issues related to the conflict in Chechnya and the North Caucasus region generally, as well as those working with minority groups and those involved in bringing cases before the European Court of Human Rights. The nature of the threats included death threats, and threats of criminal prosecution. 61. In Uzbekistan, to which 10 communications were sent regarding alleged threats and death threats, a wide range of women defenders were allegedly targeted as well as a significant number of family members. Among these, explicit death threats were common, along with others including threats of committal to psychiatric hospitals, threats of violence against family members, and threats of eviction. A further 14 communications were sent to other European countries, including four to Serbia and the former Federal Republic of Yugoslavia (Serbia and Montenegro), and two to Turkey. 62. During the 2004-2009 period, the mandate sent some 29 communications regarding threats and death threats against this group of defenders in sub-Saharan African countries. Half of these communications concerned those working in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. In this context, those regularly targeted included members of organizations working on women’s rights issues, particularly impunity for sexual and other forms of violence against women in the context of the armed conflict, and their family members, along with wives and other female family members of male human rights defenders. The threats delivered included numerous death threats and often accompanied attacks or break-ins at the home of the defender in question. The sources of such threats were often armed individuals and members of the armed groups party to the conflict in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, including State forces and police. A similar pattern of threats against defenders working on women’s rights, albeit less frequently reported, was notable in Zimbabwe, primarily women’s rights defenders. Other communications were also sent to the Central African Republic, Kenya and Uganda. 63. Finally, 18 communications were sent regarding threats and death threats against those working in the Middle East and North Africa. Of these, eight concerned defenders working on women’s rights, while various others concerned women defenders working on issues such as the rights of minorities, refugees, as well as on enforced and involuntary disappearances. 64. An alarming number of women human rights defenders and their relatives have paid the highest price for their work. During the 2004-2009 period, 39 communications were 12