A/HRC/28/63 I. Introduction 1. This report is the first submitted to the Human Rights Council by the Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights defenders and the fifteenth thematic report submitted under this mandate since its establishment in 2000. It is submitted pursuant to Council resolution 25/18 and General Assembly resolution 66/164. 2. The work of the Special Rapporteur is also underpinned by thematic resolutions, including General Assembly resolution 68/181 and Council resolutions 22/6 and 13/13. 3. After providing an overview of his activities during the reporting period, the Special Rapporteur submits his strategic workplan and the vision that will drive the implementation of his mandate. He sets out the way in which he intends to carry out his mandate. This constitutes a road map for the action that he means to take in future. II. Activities 4. The Special Rapporteur draws heavily on the working methods developed by his predecessors, in accordance with the Code of Conduct for Special Procedures Mandateholders of the Human Rights Council and the working methods described in the practical guide for the special procedures mandate holders of the Human Rights Council, adopted in June 2008 at the fifteenth annual meeting of special procedures. A. Communications 5. The Special Rapporteur has made use of communications and press statements to engage in dialogue with Member States on issues relating to certain human rights defenders and legislative developments that might negatively affect the environment in which defenders operate. 6. The Special Rapporteur believes that communications are an essential tool for the work of the mandate; they address urgent cases that require the immediate attention of States, allowing him to raise concern about situations and patterns, and can thereby be instrumental in preventing violations against defenders. He firmly believes that communications are the main form of protection that the mandate holder can provide for human rights defenders. 7. Between 1 December 2013 and 30 November 2014, the Special Rapporteur sent 231 communications, of which 128 were urgent appeals and 103 were letters of allegation to 84 States. 8. All these communications were formulated jointly with other mandate holders. The Special Rapporteur fully supports the idea of launching joint appeals; they have the advantage of increasing and reinforcing the impact and power of appeals, making it possible to address cases and situations in a more comprehensive manner and emphasize the indivisibility, interdependence and interrelatedness of all human rights. He intends to consider the possibility of launching joint activities with regional human rights mechanisms. 9. The Special Rapporteur notes, however, that the greater frequency of joint appeals has the risk of sometimes greatly increasing response times, given that the agreement of each mandate holder has to be obtained before action can be taken. He intends to consider the question more closely and, having weighed up the advantages and disadvantages, may GE.14-25280 3