Section 1 of the report describes the Special Representative's activities during 2003, and refers to cases of concern she raised with Governments, country visits, her increasing collaboration with UN bodies, regional institutions and non-governmental organizations, as well as conferences and other events to which she contributed during the year; Section 2 analyzes trends and patterns in the cases of concern taken up by the Special Representative with States over the year, using these to describe the situation of human rights defenders; Section 3 analyzes responses sent by Governments to the Special Representative's communications; Section 4 contains conclusions and recommendations.

26 p.