A/HRC/7/28 page 19 66. The importance of regional mechanisms for the protection of human rights defenders was also addressed in some of her reports (A/57/102, and E/CN.4/2006/95, paras. 60-66). 67. This short review shows the areas developed by the Special Representative as it relates to current human rights challenges that affect the work of defenders, such as security legislation and counter-terrorism measures; gaps in defenders’ enjoyment of the rights and freedoms set forth in the Declaration, such as freedom of association, freedom of assembly and the right to protest; the situation of defenders enjoying less protection or more exposed to human rights violations; and the human rights mechanisms for the protection of human rights defenders as they develop at the regional level. 68. While the Special Representative hopes that this is an important basis for a better understanding of the Declaration as well as a set of recommendations to facilitate its implementation, there is no doubt that this work needs to be continued and expanded in order to advance the human rights discourse on defenders and to further empower them by equipping them with more knowledge on the Declaration and the implications and ramifications of its implementation and of the lack of implementation. 2. Report on country profiles 69. The Special Representative’s report to the Commission on Human Rights in 2006 contained a compilation of the developments in the situation of human rights defenders and the implementation of the Declaration in 118 countries since 2000. The countries included in the report were for the most part countries to which the Special Representative had addressed communications on individual cases over the past six years, as well as countries for which, despite not having been the object of communications, consistent and reliable information had been received in response to the questionnaire she had sent in preparation of the report. This comprehensive report offered a general picture of the situation of human rights defenders worldwide. It identified areas of progress in the implementation of the Declaration and remaining challenges faced by defenders. It was largely hailed by human rights defenders as a very useful tool for advancing their cause in their respective countries. 70. That report was supposed to be the final one of the Special Representative, as she had by then served two terms on the mandate. However, because of the developments within the Human Rights Council, the Special Representative’s tenure was extended for two more years. 71. That report can serve two purposes as regards follow-up. On the one hand, it represented a thorough exercise of follow-up and stocktaking of the activities of the Special Representative at the country level. Each country profile contained in the report reviewed the communications sent and the findings and recommendations of country visits when applicable. On the other hand, the wealth of information contained in that report and its pragmatic approach make it a benchmark against which progress on the implementation of the Declaration could be measured. Regular updating of that report would make it a lively tool with the potential to reflect processes in addition to contents.