A/HRC/7/28 page 12 30. More recently, she undertook a thematic analysis of communications focusing on the right to assembly (A/61/312); defenders working on economic, social and cultural rights (A/HRC/4/37); defenders at particular risk (A/HRC/4/37); and the right to protest in the context of freedom of assembly (A/62/225). 31. In her report to the General Assembly in 2006 (A/61/312), which contains an analysis of communications on freedom of assembly, based on violations suffered by human rights defenders in their exercise of freedom of assembly, the Special Representative identified six categories of violations: arrests; violence against defenders during assemblies including defenders who have been killed; threats against defenders; travel restrictions for defenders wishing to participate in assemblies to promote and protect human rights; assemblies that are interrupted or that are not allowed to be held; and restrictions imposed on freedom of assembly through legislation. 32. The report presented in 2007 to the General Assembly (A/62/225) built on that analysis and focused on the right to protest in the context of freedom of assembly. In order to give prominence to the protest element of the analysis, the information was organized on the basis of: groups of protesters i.e. women defenders, student activists, trade unionists and defenders working on the rights of lesbian, gay, transgender and bisexual persons (LGBT); and thematic areas of protest, i.e. the anti-globalization movement, demonstrations linked to elections, peace demonstrations and protests linked to land rights and environmental claims. 33. The analysis of communications related to violations committed against defenders working on economic, social and cultural rights identified issues on which defenders work and the specific violations they are exposed to because of their engagement in these areas. 34. Through her analysis of communications, the Special Representative has also been able to identify defenders who are at particular risk of becoming victims of human rights violations. Defenders at particular risk are those defending the rights of indigenous peoples and minorities; those defending the rights of LGBT persons; and women human rights defenders (A/HRC/4/37). 35. The high number of communications accumulated over the years made such a thematic analysis possible, and findings are credible as they are not based on anecdotal evidence but on a solid number of cases. 3. Building a constructive dialogue between Governments, the Special Representative and sources 36. The main purpose of communications is to provide some degree of protection to defenders whose rights are violated or at risk of being violated. The effectiveness of this protection depends on how constructive the dialogue between Governments, the Special Representative and sources is. 37. A constructive dialogue also facilitates follow-up to communications in a process whereby sources submit reliable information to the Special Representative, who transmits cases pertaining to her mandate to Governments, which provide replies to the communications received. This process, which visually represents a line with the sources and Governments at the extreme and the Special Representative acting as intermediary between the two, can turn into a cycle by