A/HRC/28/63 well revert to sending a greater number of communications relating only to his own mandate. 10. The breakdown by region shows that 80 communications were sent to countries in the Asia-Pacific region (35 per cent); 47 to the countries of Latin America and the Caribbean (20 per cent); 37 to the Middle East and North African region (16 per cent); 39 to countries in Europe, North America and Central Asia (17 per cent); and 26 to countries in Africa (11 per cent). 11. In these communications, the Special Rapporteur highlighted the situation of more than 530 individuals, of whom 119 were women. He sent 32 communications on cases of reprisals against groups or individuals for having engaged with the United Nations, its mechanisms or representatives in the field of human rights, or with international human rights bodies. 12. At the time of writing, 110 responses have been received, indicating a slightly higher response rate at 47 per cent, but approximately the same as the previous year. Responses by Governments are, as before, often general or evasive. This situation is particularly worrying in view of the serious nature of the allegations received and the urgency of some of the cases and situations. The Special Rapporteur therefore intends to step up his efforts to follow up communications, which too often remain unanswered or are inadequately answered by some governments. Over the reporting period, he has followed up more than one third of the communications or cases sent during his tenure. 13. The Special Rapporteur has sent 28 communications concerning developments in national legislation that could have an impact on the environment in which human rights defenders conduct their activities. He intends to step up communications to governments to offer advisory services to those that so wish. 14. The Special Rapporteur will continue to submit an annual progress report, which will, as it has since 2012, contain observations on communications. The report will include information on the communications sent during the previous reporting cycle and the replies received from States, as well as observations by States in relation to cases considered by his predecessors, which require follow-up or in which States have made comments on specific contexts or patterns. The Special Rapporteur intends to use this tool to carry out a more systematic quantitative and qualitative analysis of communications sent and responses received, so that he can provide States with this information and join them in drawing the right conclusions. 15. The Special Rapporteur also intends to use communications as the empirical basis for his thematic reports. Together with country visits, communications keep the mandate close to the reality on the ground and can contribute to improving the situation of thousands of human rights defenders worldwide. 16. The Special Rapporteur is aware of the serious difficulties that arise in the use of communications, mainly owing to the daunting volume of cases received and the lack of resources available to address properly all cases that would merit attention under the mandate. 17. The Special Rapporteur has chosen to use his voice to focus the attention of some States and the international community. During the period under consideration, he has issued more than 20 public statements on the situation of human rights defenders in 16 countries. These address a variety of issues, such as the general situation in a country, including legislative changes that may negatively affect the situation of human rights defenders; individual cases relating to defenders, including reprisals against those that have attempted to engage with the United Nations, its mechanisms and representatives in the field of human rights; and questions relating to certain groups of defenders working in a 4 GE.14-25280