A/HRC/7/4 page 2 Summary During 2007, the Working Group visited Norway and the Republics of Angola and Equatorial Guinea at the invitation of the Governments of these countries. The reports on these visits are contained in addenda 2, 3 and 4 to the present document. During that period, the Working Group adopted 40 Opinions concerning 146 persons in 24 countries. These Opinions are contained in addendum 1 to the present document. Also during the period 9 November 2006 to 30 November 2007, the Group transmitted a total of 169 urgent appeals concerning 1,344 individuals, including 129 women, 119 boys and 4 girls, to 55 Governments. Governments informed the Working Group that they had taken measures to remedy the situation of the detainees: in some cases, the detainees were released in other cases, the Working Group was assured that the detainees concerned would enjoy fair trial guarantees. The Working Group has continued to develop its follow-up procedure and has sought to engage in a continuous dialogue with those countries visited by the Group, in respect of which it had recommended changes of domestic legislation governing detention. Information about the implementation of the Working Group’s recommendations was received from the Governments of Belarus and Latvia, countries visited by the Working Group in 2004. The present report includes several issues which have given rise to concern during 2007. In particular, the Working Group identifies several shortcomings it has observed in connection with the detention of illegal immigrants and asylum-seekers. The Working Group recalls the obligation of States to consider alternatives to administrative custody from which foreigners can benefit. The report also analyses the situation of certain vulnerable groups of detainees and prisoners susceptible to sexual violence by co-inmates and prison staff, including minors, young women, the mentally disabled, indigenous people, vulnerable men and the poor. The Working Group recommends that States establish an effective complaint procedure to assure that abuses do not go unpunished. The Working Group reiterates its concerns that states of emergency are a root cause of arbitrary detentions. It recalls that, in addition to those enumerated in article 4, paragraph 2 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, certain other rights are non-derogable during a state of emergency, such as the right to take proceedings before a court to enable the court to decide without delay on the lawfulness of detention. The Working Group also reiterates its concern about the recourse to military, special or emergency codes, especially in the context of countering terrorism. The report also considers the question of registration systems in detention facilities as well as the establishment by law of time limits for pretrial detention.