A/HRC/45/36
Egypt
65.
Multiple United Nations actors identified alleged intimidation and reprisals, in
particular in the months leading up to and following the universal periodic review of Egypt
in November 2019 (A/HRC/43/51/Add.3, paras. 611 and 650; and see annexes I and II). In
July 2019, the Working Group on Enforced or Involuntary Disappearances expressed
concern about reprisals against relatives of disappeared persons and civil society
organizations working on their behalf (A/HRC/42/40, para. 72).
66.
In its report of December 2019, the Working Group on the Universal Periodic
Review noted multiple recommendations on reprisals for cooperation with the United
Nations (A/HRC/43/16, paras. 31.195, 31.196 and 31.205), which were accepted by the
Government (A/HRC/43/16/Add.1, para. 7). In December 2019, the Assistant SecretaryGeneral addressed patterns of intimidation and reprisals in writing to the Government.
67.
In October 2019, special procedure mandate holders and the Spokesperson for the
High Commissioner addressed the arbitrary arrest, ill-treatment and charges against Mr.
Mohamed el-Baqer, of the Adalah Center for Rights and Freedoms, for his engagement
during the universal periodic review.51
68.
In September 2019, mandate holders addressed allegations of harassment and
intimidation of human rights defenders Ms. Salma Ashraf Abdel Halim Abdelghaffar, of
Human Rights Monitor, and Mr. Mohamed Zarea, of the Arab Penal Reform Organization,
following their engagement on the margins of the Human Rights Council in March 2019
(EGY 8/2019). Reprisals were reported to OHCHR regarding Mr. Amr Magdi, of Human
Rights Watch, who was subjected to threats and a smear campaign (ibid.).
69.
In December 2019, mandate holders addressed the arbitrary arrest, detention and
torture of Mr. Ramy Kamel Saied Salib, of the Maspero Youth Foundation, reportedly to
prevent his participation at the twelfth session of the Forum on Minority Issues, held in
November 2019 (EGY 13/2019).52
70.
Annex II contains new developments in the situations of Mr. Ebrahim Abdelmonem
Metwally Hegazy, Mr. Ahmed Mefreh Ali Elsaeidy, Dr. Ahmed Shawky Abdelsattar
Mohamed Amasha, and Mr. Bahey el-Din Hassan, and addresses legislation restricting civil
society.
Equatorial Guinea
71.
In September 2019, special procedure mandate holders addressed alleged reprisals
against Mr. Alfredo Okenve, of the NGO Centro de Estudios e Iniciativas para el
Desarrollo de Guinea Ecuatorial, following his engagement during the State’s universal
periodic review in May 2019 and with the Human Rights Committee in July 2019 (GNQ
2/2019).
72.
In August 2019, the Human Rights Committee addressed confidentially the alleged
broadcast of unauthorized footage and stigmatization of civil society at its 126th session.
On 23 June 2020, the Government responded.
Honduras
73.
Following the visit in August 2019 of the Special Rapporteur on the independence
of judges and lawyers (see A/HRC/44/47/Add.2), in November 2019, Ms. Julissa
Villanueva Barahona, of the Directorate-General of Forensic Medicine, was reportedly
dismissed in connection with her cooperation with the visit. Annex II contains new
developments in the situation of Ms. Hedme Castro.
51
52
See www.ohchr.org/EN/NewsEvents/Pages/DisplayNews.aspx?NewsID=25073,
www.ohchr.org/EN/NewsEvents/Pages/DisplayNews.aspx?NewsID=25164 and
www.ohchr.org/en/NewsEvents/Pages/DisplayNews.aspx?NewsID=25217.
See www.ohchr.org/EN/NewsEvents/Pages/DisplayNews.aspx?NewsID=25419&LangID=E and
https://spcommreports.ohchr.org/TMResultsBase/DownLoadFile?gId=35195.
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