A/HRC/13/22 protected, refuse police protection. Furthermore, the protection programme is still not implemented equally throughout the country and many defenders at risk are not covered by it. The State should urgently review its methodology to ensure a coherent implementation at the national level. The Special Rapporteur believes that the federal authorities should remain primarily responsible for the implementation of such programmes or put in place the necessary mechanisms and funds to ensure their full implementation by States. The federal structure of a State should not impede the functioning of a programme. More generally, the Special Rapporteur calls upon the Government to increase its efforts to fully implement the recommendations formulated by the former Special Representative of the SecretaryGeneral on the situation of human rights defenders after her visit to Brazil in 2005.14 81. In Colombia, innovative protection mechanisms have been put in place at the national level to contribute to the physical protection of human rights defenders. The Protection Programme for Human Rights Defenders, Trade Unionists, Journalists and Social Leaders, administered by the Ministry of Interior and Justice and launched in 1997, aims to safeguard the life, well-being and safety of journalists and social communicators, leaders or activists of political groups, social, civic, community, labour and rural organizations and ethnic groups, among others, who find themselves at certain, imminent and exceptional risk as a direct consequence and by reason of carrying out their political, public, social or humanitarian activities or duties.15 However, this programme is not without problems, which must be addressed by the Government. 82. An early warning system, which aims at preventing violations of international humanitarian law and human rights by alerting the Government of Colombia of potential violations, has also been set up. This system is administered by the Office of the National Ombudsman and operates in 22 regions, with a national office in Bogotá. More generally, on the situation of human rights defenders in Colombia, the Special Rapporteur would like to refer to her country mission report, which is presented as addendum 3 to this report. 83. The Special Rapporteur welcomes these initiatives and encourages other States that have not yet done so to consider developing similar measures and maximizing their efficiency. At the same time, she wishes to express her concerns about the efficiency and sustainability of the existing programmes. Among other issues of concern, the large number of Government entities and ministries in charge of implementation of the programmes often causes confusion and a lack of confidence within the community of defenders. The Special Rapporteur believes that they should be revised, in consultation with human rights defenders, so that the latter receive timely and efficient physical protection. (c) Protection programmes developed by non-governmental organizations 84. Human rights defenders have also developed national and regional programmes to ensure their own safety and protection. 85. The Special Rapporteur would like to refer to the report of the Special Representative of the Secretary-General on the situation of human rights defenders on her follow-up mission to Guatemala.16 She calls on NGOs to draw upon the example of the NGO unit for the protection of human rights defenders, developed by the National Movement for Human Rights and other Guatemalan NGOs in 2003, which monitors attacks on defenders, including those working on environmental issues, freedom of expression and labour rights. 14 15 16 GE.10-10012 See A/HRC/4/37/Add.2. See Decree No. 2816, Official Gazette, No. 46.368, 22 August 2006. A/HRC/10/12/Add.3, paras. 17–19. 15