A/HRC/45/36 lawyer and human rights defender, for her engagement with the United Nations (VNM 1/2020).78 124. In April 2020, special procedure mandate holders addressed alleged threats, travel restrictions and violence against and surveillance of members of independent religious communities and human rights defenders who had sought to participate or had participated in the 2019 annual international conference in Bangkok on freedom of religion or belief in South-East Asia, including interaction with and training by OHCHR. Individuals included Ms. Nguyen Xuan Mai, Mr. Pham Tan Hoang Hai, Mr. Nguyen Van Thiet, Mr. Tran Ngoc Suong, Ms. Luong Thi No, Mr. Nguyen Anh Phụng, Mr. Huynh Ngoc Truong, Ms. Nguyen Thi Hoai Phuong, Ms. Nguyen Pham Ai Thuy, Ms. Ngo Thi Lien, Mr. Thich Thien Phuc and Mr. Nay Y Ni (VNM 2/2020). 125. Annex II contains new developments in the situations of Mr. Pham Chi Dung and Mr. Nguyen Bac Truyen. On 13 July 2020, the Government responded. Yemen 126. In August 2019, the Group of Eminent International and Regional Experts on Yemen expressed regret at the lack of response to its multiple requests to enter the country, preventing access to victims and information, and denounced the environment of fear that had caused witnesses, victims and organizations to reconsider their cooperation with the Group of Experts (A/HRC/42/17, para. 7).79 127. Raids, threats, attempted kidnapping and torture, and a smear campaign on social media were reported against Mr. Akram al-Shawafi and his co-workers from Watch for Human Rights, who had documented human rights violations in Ta’izz Governorate, and engaged with the Group of Experts and the Security Council sanctions committee. Annex II contains new developments in the situation of the Mwatana Organization for Human Rights. State of Palestine 128. In November and December 2019, several Palestinian and international women’s organizations and activists were reportedly subject to smearing, intimidation and threats for their support for the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women, and their actual or perceived engagement with the Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women. Annex II contains new allegations of intimidation and reprisals against detainees interviewed by OHCHR. VIII. Conclusions and recommendations 129. I continue to receive a large number of reports of incidents of intimidation and reprisals against individuals or groups seeking to cooperate or having cooperated with the United Nations despite the cancellation of many activities owing to COVID-19 since March 2020. As I have repeatedly underlined, this is absolutely unacceptable, and I welcome the support of the General Assembly, Human Rights Council and Security Council, among other intergovernmental bodies, on this issue. Allegations of reprisals and intimidation reinforced the assertion that I made in my last report that repeated incidents can signal patterns. In this context, I remain concerned about the deteriorating environment for those engaging with the United Nations. 130. There is a range of those who continue to be affected, including victims and witnesses, representatives of civil society and national human rights institutions, public officials and members of political parties, as well as their close relatives. The targeting of independent experts with United Nations mandates continues, which in turn has a negative effect on the individuals and groups with whom they engage. As in the past, a number of cases or names have not been included in this report owing to 78 79 18 See also https://spcommreports.ohchr.org/TMResultsBase/DownLoadFile?gId=35311. See also conference room paper A/HRC/42/CRP.1, paras. 395, 494, 577 and 609. Available at www.ohchr.org/EN/HRBodies/HRC/YemenGEE/Pages/Index.aspx.