A/HRC/7/28 page 9 Women defenders per region Number of defenders and proportion of women 1400 1600 321 1400 1000 1200 149 171 800 400 185 800 1000 600 235 1200 600 1239 105 832 206 46 1115 756 200 75 740 400 579 459 489 549 0 200 Africa Asia Pacific 0 2004 2005 2006 2007 North Latin Europe, N. America, America and African and Central Asia Caribbeans Middle East 23. The average rate of Governments’ replies to communications is 52 per cent, five points higher than the average rate of replies for communications sent by the whole system of special procedures (47 per cent). Older communications received a considerable higher rate of replies with 64 per cent of communications replied to for those sent in 2004 and only 34 per cent of replies received for communications of 2007.4 While the Special Representative welcomes a rate of replies of some two thirds for older communications and understands that time appears to be an important factor to respond to communications, she nevertheless invites States to reply to them more consistently and in a timely manner. Replies received many months or a few years after the alleged facts took place lose much of their relevance and allow only for limited follow-up. Governments replies 400 350 300 250 200 150 100 50 0 2004 2005 2006 2007 Communications Replies 24. The Special Representative also follows up on cases through the additional information that sources submit on the same case. Further information can report positive or negative 4 64 per cent of communications were replied to in 2004; 58 per cent in 2005; 52 per cent in 2006; and 34 in 2007.