A/63/161 approaches that promote tolerance towards individuals and groups of diverse religions and beliefs. The mandate also involves an early-warning function in order to identify emerging obstacles to the enjoyment of the right to freedom of religion or belief. A. Communications 4. Since the beginning of the mandate in 1986, the Special Rapporteur has sent a total of 1,130 communications to 130 countries. The majority of communications have been sent as letters of allegation to the permanent mission of the State concerned. The Special Rapporteur resorts to urgent appeals in cases where the alleged violations are time sensitive in terms of potential loss of life, lifethreatening situations, or either imminent or ongoing damage of a very grave nature to victims that cannot be addressed in a timely manner by a letter of allegation. 5. The individual cases transmitted to Governments and replies received are summarized in annual reports to the Council (see A/HRC/7/10/Add.1). These reports use the framework for communications (E/CN.4/2006/5, annex) which enables the Special Rapporteur to determine which elements of the mandate, if any, are raised by the allegations received. She has also developed this framework for communications into an online digest, which illustrates the international standards according to the various categories with pertinent excerpts of the mandate-holders’ findings since 1986. The online digest is available on the website of the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) (www.ohchr.org). 6. The communications give only a general picture. The Special Rapporteur receives many more allegations than are finally transmitted to Governments. There may be still further allegations that have not been brought to the attention of the Special Rapporteur. Consequently, the “communications report” is only an indication of the forms of violation of freedom of religion or belief. In the past, the Special Rapporteur has received reports that people had been murdered, arrested or discriminated against on the basis of their religion or belief. Certain groups tend to be particularly vulnerable with regard to their freedom of religion or belief; consequently, the Special Rapporteur has paid specific attention to the situation of women, minorities, persons deprived of their liberty, refugees, children and migrant workers. 7. Since many cases raise concern with regard to a number of human rights violations, the Special Rapporteur again acted jointly with other special procedures mandate holders. Since 1 July 2007, joint letters of allegation or joint urgent appeals have been sent with the Special Rapporteur on extrajudicial, summary or arbitrary executions; the Special Rapporteur on the promotion and protection of the right to freedom of opinion and expression; the Special Rapporteur on the right of everyone to the enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of physical and mental health; the Special Rapporteur on violence against women, its causes and consequences; the Special Rapporteur on contemporary forms of racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance; the independent expert on minority issues; the Special Rapporteur on the independence of judges and lawyers; the Working Group on Arbitrary Detention; the Special Representative of the Secretary-General on the 08-43442 5