A/HRC/16/44 I. Introduction 1. The present report is the third submitted to the Human Rights Council by the present Special Rapporteur, and the eleventh thematic report submitted by the mandate-holder on human rights defenders since 2000. The report is submitted pursuant to Council resolution 7/8. 2. The mandate has consistently addressed the specificities of the situation of women human rights defenders and the particular challenges they face. But in the present report, the Special Rapporteur focuses, for the first time, explicitly and solely on the situation of women defenders and those working on women’s rights or gender issues. 3. The report reviews the international legal framework as well as the approach of the mandate to the particular situation of women human rights defenders and those working on women’s rights or gender issues. The report further examines the risks that these defenders face, identifies the nature of the activities of the reported victims, the alleged violations and the perpetrators involved. The report also looks at the existing protection mechanisms and the strategies that these defenders use to keep themselves safe. 4. For the preparation of this report, the Special Rapporteur has analysed the communications sent by the mandate during the 2004-2009 period and also sent a questionnaire to States, non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and intergovernmental and regional organizations on the situation of women human rights defenders and those working on women’s rights or gender issues. The Special Rapporteur would like to thank all States and organizations that have responded to this questionnaire. Part of this report is derived from the answers received and, in order to better reflect the situation of women human rights defenders and those working on women’s rights or gender issues in each region, a compilation of the replies appears in addendum 3 of the present report. II. Activities during the reporting period A. Communications transmitted to States 5. Between 11 December 2009 and 8 December 2010, the Special Rapporteur sent 246 communications. Communications were sent to 73 States, and, at the time of writing, 100 responses had been received, which indicates only a 40 per cent response rate. All communications sent during the period covered by this report, as well as responses received between 11 February 2010 and 8 February 2011, will be included in addendum 1 to the present report. B. Country visits 6. During the reporting period, the Special Rapporteur visited Armenia from 12 to 18 June 2010. A separate report on this visit has been submitted to the sixteenth session of the Human Rights Council as addendum 2 to the present report. Pending requests 7. As of December 2010, the Special Rapporteur has made the following outstanding visit requests: Belarus (2002, 2003, 2004, 2010), Bhutan (2001, 2002), Chad (2002, 2003, 2004), China (2008, 2010), Egypt (2003, 2008, 2010), Equatorial Guinea (2002), Fiji (2010), Ireland (2008), Kenya (2003, 2004), Malaysia (2002, 2010), Mozambique (2003, 3