A/HRC/16/44 105. Based mostly of the review of the communications sent by the mandate during the period between 2004 and 2009, women defenders and those working on women’s rights or gender issues seem to be more at risk of being threatened, including death threats, and being killed in the Americas region than in other parts of the world. Arrest and further judicial harassment and criminalization of the work of have been more commonly reported in Asia, sub-Saharan Africa, Europe and Central Asia. Moreover, these defenders also risk being exposed to the reported torture, mistreatment and widespread use of excessive force by State agents in the context of arrests and detention. Furthermore, women defenders face a greater risk of being subject to sexual harassment, sexual violence and rape. 106. The majority of threats, death threats, physical attacks, killings, and attempted killings were attributed to unknown or unidentified individuals. In many such cases, particularly with regard to killings and attempted killings, perpetrators were reported as non-State actors, including armed groups and/or paramilitary groups, most notably in the Americas and parts of Africa. 107. The Special Rapporteur is concerned at the large number of violations which appear to be perpetrated by agents or representatives of the State, including police officers, military, Government officials and the judiciary. These violations reportedly include arrests, mistreatment, torture, criminalization, wrongful sentencing but also stigmatization, threats, death threats and killings. 108. The Special Rapporteur would like to make the following recommendations, which should be read in conjunction with her previous guidelines and recommendations regarding protection programmes for human rights defenders in general. 109. The Special Rapporteur recommends that member States: • Publicly acknowledge the particular and significant role played by women defenders and those working on women’s rights or gender issues in the consolidation and advancement of plural and inclusive societies as a first step to preventing or reducing the risks that they face; • Protect women defenders and those working on women’s rights or gender issues from violations perpetrated by State and non-State actors by acknowledging such violations and by offering effective security measures; • Ensure that violations against women defenders and those working on women’s rights or gender issues committed by State and non-State agents are promptly and impartially investigated and that those responsible are punished in an appropriate manner. Fighting impunity is essential for the security of this group of defenders; • Specifically involve women defenders and those working on women’s rights or gender issues in any consultation with human rights defenders, whether it be in the context of protection programmes or otherwise; • Ensure that the programmes supported for the security and protection of human rights defenders integrate a gender perspective and address the specific risks and security needs of women defenders and those working on women’s rights or gender issues; • Promote projects to improve and further develop the documentation of cases of violations against women defenders and those working on women’s rights or gender issues; 20