E/CN.4/1994/31 page 8 acknowledge the existence of persistent acts of violence committed by armed groups when these are brought to his attention, within the context of acts falling under his mandate. 14. On the basis of the aforementioned, the Special Rapporteur transmitted during the period under review 84 urgent appeals to 31 Governments concerning roughly 400 individuals (at least 12 known to be women), as well as several groups of persons, with regard to whom fears of torture had been expressed. He also sent 42 letters containing about 500 cases (about 30 known to be women) or incidents of alleged torture. If the information received contained a critical analysis of a more general nature regarding the phenomenon of torture, this information was also brought to the attention of the Governments concerned. In addition, 20 countries provided the Special Rapporteur with replies on about 250 cases submitted during the current year, whereas 17 did so with respect to roughly 130 cases submitted in previous years. 15. As to the matter of visits to States and territories where serious allegations of torture arise, no such visits have taken place since the Special Rapporteur was appointed. In its resolution 1993/97, the Commission on Human Rights urged the Government of Indonesia to invite the Special Rapporteur, inter alia, to visit East Timor. On 13 September 1993 the Special Rapporteur addressed a letter to the Government of Indonesia drawing its attention to this resolution. So far he has received no reply. 16. Despite the repeated encouragement to Governments expressed by the Commission, most recently in resolution 1993/40, "to give serious consideration to inviting the Special Rapporteur to visit their countries so as to enable him to fulfil his mandate even more effectively", no Government has taken the initiative to invite the Special Rapporteur. Nevertheless, he has had contacts with a number of Governments that he believes could result in his being invited to undertake visits. The (hopefully positive) results of these contacts will be indicated to the Commission in the next report of the Special Rapporteur. 17. In this connection, the Special Rapporteur is aware of the need expressed in the Commission and at the World Conference on Human Rights (see following paragraph) for cooperation among the United Nations human rights procedures and for the avoidance of unnecessary duplication. Accordingly, he will not as a rule seek to visit a country in respect of which the United Nations has established a country specific mechanism such as a special rapporteur on the country, unless a joint visit seems to both to be indicated. As regards countries where the mandates of other thematic mechanisms may also be affected, he will seek consultation with them, with a view to exploring with the Government in question, either jointly or in parallel, the possibility of a joint visit. In any event, he will seek to avoid broadly contemporaneous visits. Similarly, where the Committee against Torture is considering or has recently considered the situation in a country under article 20 of the Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment, especially if that consideration involves a visit or a possible visit to the country in question, the Special Rapporteur will not also seek a visit.