A/HRC/45/36 20. Following its statement in 2018 on retaliation against civil society and project stakeholders, 21 the International Finance Corporation is now systematically tracking allegations, and, in June 2020, published guidance for businesses to minimize the risk of reprisals during the COVID-19 pandemic.22 21. The policy on the protection of civilians in United Nations peacekeeping, issued by the Department of Peace Operations in November 2019, directs all mission components, including military and police operations, not to expose civilians to risk or to cause harm, including possible reprisals for cooperation with the mission. 23 22. According to the policy, specific measures and tools, including for risk mitigation and protection, should be developed in peace operations, and adequate documentation and internal reporting of incidents ensured. The complementary handbook, published in 2020, provides guidance to ensure adherence to the “do no harm” principle.24 V. Groups facing particular risks and challenges 23. OHCHR identified particular risks and challenges faced by certain groups, communities and sectors of the population. Among the many under threat, the below were highlighted during the compilation of the present report. As noted previously, women and lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex persons face gender- or sexual orientationspecific barriers, threats and violence in their engagement with the United Nations (A/HRC/40/60, paras. 48–51 and 109 (b), and A/69/365, para. 76). Those working on protecting their rights, including sexual and reproductive health, seem to be particularly targeted (A/HRC/39/41, para. 81, and A/HRC/42/30, para. 91). Threats of rape, online smear campaigns, sexual assault in detention, and humiliating and degrading treatment have been reported. 24. Between 2017 and 2019, there was an increase in allegations of reprisals publicly reported concerning women or those working on women’s human rights and gender-related issues (see A/HRC/36/31, A/HRC/39/41 and A/HRC/42/30). The number of States mentioned with such allegations more than doubled from 2017 (11) to 2019 (27), and in 2019 those States represented more than half of the total (48). 25 This represented a fourfold increase in the number of individuals affected, from 17 in the 2017 report to 68 in the 2019 report. Women report being targeted mainly through monitoring and surveillance and being arbitrarily arrested and detained. OHCHR reports that, since 2018, cases not publicly reported or kept anonymous owing to protection or other concerns are predominantly women. 25. In October 2019, I expressed concern about reports of civil society members having been threatened after delivering briefings to the Security Council. I urged Council members to explicitly condemn all forms of intimidation and reprisals against civil society representatives and those who provide briefings to the Council and to work with those individuals to determine the appropriate responses, on a case-by-case basis (S/2019/800, para. 113). 26. In December 2019, I noted that youth activists and their families had experienced retaliation and detention for speaking out at the United Nations and I affirmed that they must be protected,26 a point which I reinforced in a report to the Security Council in March 2020 (S/2020/167, para. 35). 27. Intimidation and reprisals against minority groups have also been reported. The High Commissioner underscored the importance of United Nations spaces for dialogue and 21 22 23 24 25 26 Available at www.ifc.org/wps/wcm/connect/ec379db4-56f1-41e1-9d868ea05945bc67/EN_IFC_Reprisals_Statement_201810.pdf?MOD=AJPERES. Available at www.ifc.org/wps/wcm/connect/7959fcf5-3b4d-4da5-a25242cc5544281f/Tip+Sheet_Reprisals_COVID19_June2020.pdf?MOD=AJPERES&CVID=naGtY29. Available at https://peacekeeping.un.org/sites/default/files/poc_policy_2019_.pdf. Available at https://peacekeeping.un.org/sites/default/files/dpo_poc_handbook_final_as_printed.pdf. See www.ohchr.org/en/NewsEvents/Pages/DisplayNews.aspx?NewsID=25021&LangID=E. See www.un.org/sg/en/content/sg/statement/2019-12-10/secretary-generals-remarks-human-rightsday-%E2%80%9Cyouth-standing-for-human-rights%E2%80%9D-delivered. 5