A/64/159 36. These communications to Governments and their replies have been a valuable tool for examining incidents and governmental actions that are incompatible with the provisions of the 1981 Declaration on the Elimination of All Forms of Intolerance and of Discrimination Based on Religion or Belief. They have also proven useful for the identification of existing and emerging obstacles to the enjoyment of the right to freedom of religion or belief. Indeed, through information received and related communications sent to the Governments, the Special Rapporteur has been able to identify recurrent issues relating to her mandate and to initiate a constructive dialogue with the Governments concerned. In addition, she receives background information from individuals, civil society organizations and academic experts, which, even if they do not result in a communication to the Government, enable the mandate holder to study developments with regard to religious issues in different countries and regions. 37. Since her appointment in July 2004, the Special Rapporteur has sent more than 280 allegation letters and urgent appeals on a great variety of issues relating to freedom of religion or belief. Nonetheless, a number of recurrent issues have been identified over the past five years. These issues include: acts of harassment, arrests and physical attacks against members of religious minorities; obstacles to one’s freedom to change or renounce a religion and penal sanctions imposed thereupon; destruction or desecration of places of worship; discrimination against members of religious minorities preventing them from manifesting their religion or belief; obstacles set up against the registration of certain religious or belief groups; the wearing of religious symbols; sanctions against conscientious objectors; the vulnerable situation of persons in detention with regard to their freedom of religion or belief; and national legislation or draft bills unduly restricting freedom of religion or belief. In general, the Special Rapporteur is concerned about the little progress achieved in all these areas over the past five years. She unfortunately continues to receive numerous worrying reports about violations of freedom of religion or belief in many countries and is particularly concerned about the trend indicating a rise in the number of laws or bills which aim at limiting the freedom of religion or belief of individuals and communities. 38. Most issues encountered in the mandate practice are also referred to in the Special Rapporteur’s online digest of her framework for communications. 21 The Special Rapporteur regularly updates this online digest in order to illustrate the international human rights standards pertaining to freedom of religion or belief with pertinent excerpts of the reports since the inception of the mandate. B. Country visits 39. Country missions constitute another important opportunity for the mandate holder to identify any existing or emerging obstacles to the enjoyment of the right to freedom of religion or belief, as the Special Rapporteur can engage directly with governmental and non-governmental representatives and obtain first-hand information. The Special Rapporteur would like to emphasize that during her missions, she experienced a very satisfactory level of cooperation from the __________________ 21 09-40869 Available online at www2.ohchr.org/english/issues/religion/standards.htm; see also E/CN.4/2006/5, annex. 13