A/HRC/15/44 VI. Thematic issues and working methods A. Strengthening the effectiveness of the special procedures: a joint report on communications 26. OHCHR briefed participants on the preparation of a joint communications report under the guidelines suggested by the Secretariat, pursuant to the decision of the sixteenth annual meeting of special procedures. 1 The first report, to be submitted to the Council in 2011, would contain summaries of communications, and statistical information would be disaggregated according to country, mandate, number of communications sent and responses received. The joint report would aim to harmonize working methods, to ensure consistency in reporting of communications to the Council, and to avoid duplication of work. 27. Participants highlighted the value added of the joint report. It was stressed that information contained in communications could be used for early warning and fed into the universal periodic review process more efficiently. Challenges in receiving substantive State responses in good time were highlighted. Participants stressed the need to build on good practices, and to keep sources and victims informed about developments, including State responses. While supporting the joint report, several participants noted that they might continue making observations on communications in their annual reports. It was suggested that an evaluation of State responses could be included in the report. B. Integration of gender perspectives in the work of special procedures: recent and forthcoming thematic institutional developments 28. Participants were briefed on developments relating to the establishment of the United Nations Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women (UN Women), and attention was drawn to the follow-up to the 15-year review and appraisal of the implementation of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action, the implementation of Security Council resolution 1888, and the forthcoming tenth anniversary of Security Council resolution 1325 on women, peace and security, with special procedures being encouraged to contribute to these processes. C. The role of special procedures in early warning, including the responsibility to protect; and the protection of human rights in the context of natural disasters 29. The Representative of the Secretary-General on the human rights of internally displaced persons and the Independent Expert on the situation of human rights in Haiti, presented information on developments relating to human rights in the context of natural disasters. They noted that allegations of human rights violations, such as sexual abuse and discrimination of minority groups, tended to be reported immediately after the occurrence of natural disasters and in the recovery process. In the aftermath of the January 2010 earthquake in Haiti, allegations of sexual violence and trafficking in human beings were reported. 1 See the report of the sixteenth meeting of special rapporteurs/representatives, independent experts and chairpersons of working groups of the special procedures of the Human Rights Council (A/HRC/12/47), para. 26. 9