A/HRC/45/36 18. In February 2020, the High Commissioner for Human Rights noted that “In Cambodia, we continue to receive reports of acts of intimidation against civil society and human rights organizations, which impede their capacity to monitor and report – including to this Council.”13 19. On 4 August 2020, the Government responded to the note verbale sent in connection with the present report, noting that the statement in the Special Rapporteur’s report is misleading and non-transparent based on information and opinions of one party that do not reflect the actual situation, and that it was made without cooperation with the police to verify information and facts. The Government stated that the presence of local police outside of forums or meetings or gatherings with local people was owing to the duty of the police to observe and prevent any insecurity that may occur at those sites and is not meant to threaten, intimidate or disrupt. The Ministry of Interior stated that activities of civil society at the local level are undertaken normally without any restrictions and are not closely monitored by local authorities as before. The Directorate General of Prisons clarified that the agency responsible has already addressed the alleged denial of confidential interviews of detainees with the Special Rapporteur and OHCHR in Cambodia. 7. Cameroon 20. It was reported to OHCHR that Ms. Esther Omam Njomo, her relatives and coworkers faced threats and attacks as acts of reprisals following her 13 May 2019 testimony before the Security Council in an Arria Formula meeting in New York on the humanitarian situation in Cameroon.14 Ms. Omam Njomo is affiliated with Reach Out Cameroon and South West/North West Women Task Force (SNWOT), which advocates for the protection of women and children in the North-West and South-West regions. In addition to the threats through texts and voicemail received by Ms. Omam Njomo, her co-workers were reportedly harassed and threatened on social media. Further, in September 2019, a group of unidentified men, believed to be low-ranking members of a faction of non-state armed groups in the region, allegedly tried to break into her house while she was inside with her children. In October 2019, unidentified armed men associated with non-state armed groups in the region reportedly abducted two of her children for a few hours and released them afterwards. 21. On 29 May 2019, special procedures mandate holders expressed concern about a defamation campaign against the civil society organization Organic Farming for Gorillas Cameroon (OFFGO) who had published information about abuses and disputes linked to land and business operations in Cameroon (CMR 3/2019), in particular by the Baba Ahmadou Group (see also OTH 22/2019). They had raised concern about the May 2016 expulsion from the country of Mr. Jan Joris Capelle, a Belgian national, and co-founder with Mr. Prince Vincent Awazi of OFFGO. They also addressed death threats against Mr. Awazi, the traditional chief of Tudig village (Mbengwi district) and death threats and threats of abduction against Mr. Elvis Brown Luma Mukuna, the lawyer of OFFGO. 22. It was reported to OHCHR that, following the May 2019 action by special procedures mandate holders on their case, Mr. Luma Mukuma and Mr. Awazi faced serious security risks and had to go into hiding for periods of time. In one of the incidents, on 21 March 2020 Mr. Luma Mukuma was reportedly subject to an attempted kidnapping in Bamenda and on 27 March 2020, he and his brother in-law were attacked by unidentified armed men. On 18 September 2019, special procedures mandate holders sent a follow-up communication addressing a violent attack on OFFGO’s offices (CMR 5/2019). They noted that on 19 June 2019, a grenade attack reportedly took place in Tudig village by unidentified armed actors in a military truck allegedly targeting OFFGO’s offices and its staff. 13 14 OHCHR, “High Commissioner updates the Human Rights Council on human rights concerns, and progress, across the world” (27 February 2020), https://www.ohchr.org/EN/NewsEvents/Pages/DisplayNews.aspx?NewsID=25621&LangID=E. http://webtv.un.org/search/arria-formula-meeting-of-the-un-securitycouncil/6036271424001/?term=2019-05-13&sort=date. 23