A/HRC/45/36 exchange, such as the Forum on Minority Issues, where stakeholders should be able to participate and contribute in a free and open manner, without fear of intimidation or reprisals of any sort.27 28. In the context of the United Nations Voluntary Fund for Indigenous Peoples, OHCHR recorded 15 cases of reprisals against indigenous representatives in 2019, all of whom had received a participation grant. A total of 5 cases were recorded in relation to the session of the Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues held in April 2019, and 10 were recorded during or after the session of the Expert Mechanism on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples held in July 2019 (A/75/222, para. 26). 28 The Fund requested both bodies to develop a strategy to address reprisals against indigenous peoples (A/75/222, paras. 28 and 48), and that work is in progress. VI. Ensuring access to the United Nations, its representatives and mechanisms in the field of human rights 29. Successive reports have addressed obstacles hindering individuals and organizations from speaking out in United Nations forums. Reports of attempts by State representatives to block or delay the accreditation of certain civil society representatives continue to be received. Similarly, incidents of individuals photographed without their consent, or whose movements and statements are recorded without their consent at United Nations meetings, continue to be reported. 30. Human rights components of peace missions and others involved in the protection of civilians reported persistent challenges with regard to access to individuals and communities. The Security Council urged full and unhindered access and free movement for peace operations and associated personnel and for expert mechanisms to enable them to carry out their mandates.29 31. It was reported to OHCHR that during the high-level political forum on sustainable development held in 2019, civil society representatives, who had the right to make interventions,30 were discouraged by delegates from speaking during the presentation of the voluntary national reviews, in contravention of the process for their engagement. 31 Some national civil society representatives reported intimidation and declined to make a statement at Headquarters, for fear of additional security risks when they returned home. 32. Successive reports have noted the workload and working methods of the Committee on Non-Governmental Organizations, the body mandated to consider applications for consultative status with the Economic and Social Council. The Department of Economic and Social Affairs of the Secretariat reported having received 860 applications in 2020 compared with 204 in 2010, representing a fourfold increase over 10 years (E/2020/32 (Part I), para. 25). The Committee considered 632 applications in 2020, recommending 274 for consultative status and deferring 339, 32 a rate of deferral comparable to previous years (A/HRC/42/30, para. 29, and A/HRC/39/41, para. 22). 33. In January 2020, the Committee decided to amend the application questionnaire for consultative status to include screening questions to establish whether organizations applying or their representatives were included in the Consolidated United Nations Security Council Sanctions List or funded by individuals or entities therein, with effect from June 2021 (E/2020/32 (Part I), paras. 30–32).33 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 6 See www.ohchr.org/en/NewsEvents/Pages/DisplayNews.aspx?NewsID=25361&LangID=E. See also A/HRC/42/30, para. 40, and ibid., annex II, para. 27. See Security Council resolutions 2489 (2019) (Afghanistan), 2499 (2019) and 2507 (2020) (Central African Republic), 2502 (2019) (Democratic Republic of the Congo), 2486 (2019) and 2509 (2020) (Libya), 2480 (2019) (Mali) and 2514 (2020) (South Sudan). General Assembly resolutions 67/290, para. 15, and 70/1, para. 84. See https://sustainabledevelopment.un.org/content/documents/22610Process_for_MGoS_engagement_in_ the_VNR_Sessions_FINAL2.05.2019.pdf. See also www.un.org/press/en/2020/ngo908.doc.htm. See also www.un.org/press/en/2019/ecosoc6982.doc.htm.