A/HRC/16/44 notably to the Islamic Republic of Iran (31 communications); China (10 communications); Nepal (eight communications), and Pakistan (six communications). In this region, the alleged violations against women defenders and those working on women’s rights and gender issues were mostly judicial by nature, including arrests, judicial harassment, administrative detentions, and sentences to prison. However, violations by non-State actors were also alleged, including intimidation, attacks, death threats, and killings by armed individuals, family and community members, and unidentified individuals. 39. By contrast, defenders working on these issues in the Americas, where 51 communications were sent in this regard, seem to face a largely different set of risks, predominantly threats, death threats, physical attacks, killings and attempted killings. Alleged perpetrators were largely reported to be unknown or unidentified individuals, occasionally armed, often with reported links to non-State actors, including paramilitaries. 40. A smaller number of communications regarding defenders working on these issues (33) were sent to countries in sub-Saharan Africa. The largest number of these concerned defenders in Zimbabwe. Alleged violations of a judicial nature were reported against defenders working on these issues in the Sudan and Uganda (particularly with regard to LGBT defenders). Communications were also sent to the Central African Republic and the Democratic Republic of the Congo where women’s rights defenders faced risks such as attacks, raids, death threats, attempted rape, and sexual violence. 41. In the Middle East and North African region, the 13 communications sent indicate that women’s rights defenders in Iraq face risks such as killings, death threats, and armed attacks. By contrast, activists for women’s rights in Bahrain, Morocco, Saudi Arabia, Tunisia, and the United Arab Emirates reported harassment of a more judicial nature, such as arrests, violations of freedom of assembly, and travel bans. 42. The 28 communications sent regarding defenders working on women’s rights or gender issues in Europe and Central Asia predominantly concerned LGBT activists in East and Central European countries including Poland, Moldova, Serbia, and the Russian Federation, as well as women’s rights activists operating in Uzbekistan and Belarus. Alleged violations against LGBT activists in this region generally related to freedom of assembly or association, such as denial of permits for peaceful rallies or refusal to register an organization. Other reported violations against women’s rights defenders were again largely judicial by nature, including arrests, detentions, judicial harassment, and conviction. 43. During the period, the mandate sent 47 communications regarding defenders working on LGBT issues. Aside from the aforementioned alleged violations related to freedom of assembly and association, killings of LGBT human rights defenders were alleged in five communications, with rape and sexual violence, including against males, being reported in a further six. Various other communications detailed many instances of threats, death threats, physical attacks and violence, and stigmatization. Further, the criminalization of homosexuality has in some countries led to alleged arrests, torture and ill-treatment, including of a sexual nature, while in other countries it effectively prevented defenders from engaging in any advocacy for LGBT rights. 44. The mandate has also received and acted upon allegations of violations against defenders working in areas of sexual and reproductive rights. All seven communications sent from the mandate regarding specifically sexual and reproductive rights concerned Chinese human rights defenders advocating against the alleged use of forced abortions and sterilizations. However, responses to the questionnaire sent in preparation for the report have provided further information regarding defenders working on these issues in other countries and regions. 45. According to the information received, human rights defenders who work on sexual and reproductive rights face risks including harassment, discrimination, stigma, 9