A/HRC/7/28 page 14 46. If replies were constructed in a methodological and informative manner, this would greatly enhance the mandate’s capacity to analyse them and arrive at conclusive results. Comprehensive replies would enable the Special Representative and Governments to fully grasp the situation of human rights defenders and the progress and setbacks in the implementation of the Declaration. This would enhance the efficiency as well as the mutual benefits of the communication between Governments and the Special Representative, reducing the need for the mandate to request further information, as replies can act as benchmarks against which subsequent developments in the situation of human rights defenders can be monitored and measured. 5. An expanded network of sources on the ground in a position to follow cases 47. A large network of sources, including and especially those on the ground, is essential to follow up on cases addressed in communications. The Special Representative is not in a position herself to gather information on the ground for the hundreds of cases she handles every year. As explained in the section below, she can do so in a limited number of cases, usually through and during her country visits. 48. In order to ensure that an increasing number of sources can inform the mandate of follow-up to communications, potential sources must be adequately informed and trained on how to use the mandate as well as on the importance of submitting such information. Outreach initiatives and training activities are instrumental to reach more defenders on the ground and to build their capacity to use the mandate. 49. At the grass-root level, the question of language is often a barrier that prevents local and national organizations from accessing the mandate directly. At the same time, defenders and organizations that address the mandate for the first time and are not familiar with its procedures need much more feedback and guidance from OHCHR staff. This is where regional and international organizations and networks that act as hubs for defenders on the ground play an important role as interfaces between the Special Representative and sources at the grass-root level. Reinforcing the capacity of these organizations is therefore strategic to do more follow up-work. 6. Ad hoc meetings, country visits and press releases as a means to follow up on communications 50. During her tenure, the Special Representative has on several occasions held ad hoc meetings to follow up on cases brought to her attention through the communications mechanism and during country visits. She discussed cases with some Permanent Missions to the United Nations in Geneva to learn about developments on defenders whose situation she had addressed in communications. 51. Country visits have also been an opportunity to directly follow up on cases on the ground with national authorities and civil society. During her visits, the Special Representative consistently raised cases previously addressed to the country in communications that she considered as still pending.