A/HRC/4/37 page 14 work […]” (art. 7) and the right of everyone to “form trade unions and join the trade union of his choice, subject only to the rules of the organization concerned, for the promotion and protection of his economic and social interests […]” (art. 8). 49. The question of labour rights is the most prevalent issue when it comes to alleged violations against defenders working on ESCR (115 cases). The alleged violations are very serious and include summary executions, torture, violent repressions and death threats. 50. Repression of defenders working on labour rights, especially to those working on this issue through trade unions, is prevalent in a large number of countries. During each of her official country visits, the Special Representative has met with trade union activists who have reported violations of the rights recognized by the Declaration on Human Rights Defenders. However, with respect to cases reported to the Special Representative, it is in Latin America that most threats to the physical integrity of trade union activists have been reported. 51. Defenders working on labour rights remain the most vulnerable group and 190 communications have been sent concerning defenders who have been killed because of their work in this field. Over a period of 10 months from January through October 2001, the Special Representative has received reports of 112 trade union activists assassinated in Colombia alone. She was also informed of 11 cases of assassinations in the Philippines in 2006. These figures do not include unsuccessful assassination attempts or death threats. 52. The majority of the defenders who work on labour rights do so within the framework of trade union work. Many Governments are not willing to view trade union activists as defenders of the right to work and all the rights connected to it, such as the right to form trade unions and the right to strike. In the majority of the cases where the Special Representative has sent communications to Governments on attacks or threats against trade union members, the authorities are alleged to have been behind these threats and attacks. After her visit to Nigeria in 2005, the Special Representative reported that raids by security forces against unions appeared to be a common practice (see E/CN.4/2006/95/Add.2). 53. The Special Representative has addressed cases where journalists are working to promote the rights of workers through investigative journalism. One example is the case of a correspondent for the newspaper La Tribune in Lumumbashi, Democratic Republic of the Congo, who reportedly published an article on 5 June 2003 on the poor working conditions of miners in Likasi. Subsequently, the journalist was sentenced to five years in prison for “criminal defamation”. 3. Marriage, mothers and children 54. Article 10 of the ICESCR is primarily concerned with protecting children and affords the widest possible protection and assistance to the family particularly while it is responsible for the care and education of independent children. It also provides protection to children and young persons from economic and social exploitation. Children’s rights are most comprehensively set forth in the Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC), which enjoys almost universal ratification.