E/CN.4/2003/68 page 8 latter’s replies thereto. The Special Rapporteur may also include general observations on specific countries. Nevertheless, it should be noted that no conclusions as to individual cases are drawn. He may also address specific issues of concern and developments that have an impact on the fight against torture and usually draws general conclusions and makes recommendations. Because of financial constraints and limitations on the length and time of submission of documentation, summaries of communications sent to Governments and replies received by the Special Rapporteur have in recent years not been translated; they appear in addendum 1 to the main report to the Commission in the original working language of the United Nations Secretariat used to communicate with the respective Governments. Interim reports to the General Assembly outline overall trends and recent developments of relevance to the Special Rapporteur’s mandate. 20. In the mission reports, which are addenda to the main Commission report, the Special Rapporteur outlines legislation of relevance to the prohibition of torture such as provisions making torture a crime and provisions governing arrest and detention. Special attention is paid to periods of incommunicado detention, disciplinary sanctions, access to qualified legal representation and legal aid, access to family members and medical care, bail provisions, witness protection, the admissibility of confessions, the status and independence of medical experts and forensic services, and access of members of civil society to places of detention. 21. As indicated in his first report to the Commission (E/CN.4/2002/137, para. 6), the Special Rapporteur attaches great importance to follow-up activities and considers them to be an essential requirement of his mandate. He therefore intends to seek ways to enhance the quality of such activities, in particular in cooperation with the Quick Response Desk. He also pays particular attention to cooperation with other mechanisms, especially other special procedures mandate-holders, with a view to taking concerted actions and avoiding duplication of work. In that respect, he seeks the cooperation of other special rapporteurs/representatives when sending communications, be they urgent appeals or allegation letters, regarding information that falls within other special procedures mandates. II. ACTIVITIES OF THE SPECIAL RAPPORTEUR 22. The Commission, in its resolution 2002/38 (para. 31), requested the Special Rapporteur to present an interim report to the fifty-seventh session of the General Assembly on overall trends and developments with regard to his mandate. In his report (A/57/173), the Special Rapporteur addressed the following issues: the prohibition of torture in the context of anti-terrorism measures (arrest, pre-trial detention, access to a lawyer and the right to habeas corpus, places of pre-trial detention, length of pre-trial detention, confessions and evidence, immunity from prosecution of law enforcement officials; the right to seek asylum, the principle of non-refoulement and extradition), international and national mechanisms for visits of places of deprivation of liberty and corporal punishment of children. 23. On 22 January 2002, the Special Rapporteur addressed the Open-ended working group to elaborate a draft optional protocol to the Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment. On 21 March, he met with the Deputy Executive Secretary of the European Committee on the Prevention of Torture and Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment (CPT) of the Council of Europe in Strasbourg, France. On 15 May, the