A/HRC/42/30 Human Rights Council (resolution 31/36), and petitioning the UN Secretary-General on further issues related to business and human rights in the OPT. In January 2019, a second report84 alleging ties between NGOs promoting BDS and terrorist organizations was published by the Ministry. It includes information on their engagement with the Human Rights Council, the 2009 UN fact-finding mission on Gaza, and their petitioning of the UN Secretary-General on issues relating to business and human rights in the OPT. The report calls on governments and donor organizations providing funds to these organizations to halt such support. 64. In their letter, the three special procedures mandate holders also raised concerns about reported harassment of staff members of a Palestinian human rights organization while participating in side events and in private meetings with OHCHR staff during the Human Rights Council in March 2019 (ISR 8/2019). The special procedures mandate holders note they were followed and photographed by staff members of an organization reportedly involved in discrediting members of Palestinian civil society. 65. On 31 July 2019, the Government responded in detail,85 rejecting alleged attacks on civil society organizations operating in Israel and the Palestinian territories and referring to the 2017 UPR in which it emphasized the recurring opportunities for dialogue and free discourse between civil society, academia and government representatives. Regarding the alleged stigmatization, the Government noted that despite the important role NGOs play in Israeli society, they are not “immune from criticism” and stated that BDS organizations often hide behind human rights claims. It noted that the Ministry of Strategic Affairs in its reports revealed direct links between BDS-promoting NGOs and designated terrorist organizations, information which it has aimed to provide to the EU and other European countries so they could re-examine the transfer of funds and make sure they are used for their intended purpose. 66. Regarding the claims of intimidation at the March 2019 Human Rights Council, the Government stated that these are “unfounded accusations hidden behind the veil of anonymity” and it cannot respond to claims against an Israeli NGO whose identity is unknown. 21. Kazakhstan 67. In March 2019, the New Generation of Human Rights Defenders Coalition, established to coordinate civil society inputs to the third cycle of the UPR of Kazakhstan, was reportedly subject to surveillance, called for questioning related to their cooperation with the UN, and had their private channels of communication compromised. Between 20 and 30 March 2019, two National Security Service (KNB) officials reportedly called for questioning a representative of the Coalition and inquired about their activity. The two officials were privy to detailed information on the discussions of the Coalition, and specifically referred to an encrypted message exchange (through an intercepted WhatsApp chat) that the Coalition had used to coordinate input to the UPR. The questioning occurred the same week that the Coalition sent its UPR submission on Kazakhstan to the United Nations for consideration. Another member of the Coalition reported an incident of surveillance the following week. 22. Malaysia 68. On 10 May 2019, five special procedures mandate holders raised concerns about the summoning for questioning of LGBT+ human rights defender Mr. Numan Afifi in connection with his participation in the 40th session of the Human Rights Council in Geneva (MYS 2/2019). Mr. Numan Afifi is associated with the PELANGI Campaign and has worked with the Coalition of Malaysian NGOs (COMANGO) during Malaysia’s UPR 84 85 32 https://4il.org.il/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/The-Money-Trail-2nd-Edition-January-2019.pdf. Response from Government: https://spcommreports.ohchr.org/TMResultsBase/ DownLoadFile?gId=34808. GE.19-15332