A/HRC/42/30 with foreign partners to this end and that only those individuals identified as previously involved in disturbing the peace and committing unlawful acts were denied entry to COP24 as a preventive tool. 89. It was reported that Poland’s national human rights institution and the Commissioner on Human Rights, Mr. Adam Bodnar, have been continually subject to acts of intimidation and reprisals in connection to their work, including for their cooperation with the UN. Since 2016, there has reportedly been a reduction of the budget assigned to the Office of the Commissioner for Human Rights by the Parliament, in part because of Mr. Bodnar’s international engagement. In September 2017, an unsuccessful motion for dismissal of Mr. Bodnar was put forward by two Members of Parliament invoking Mr. Bodnar’s collaboration with international bodies. Despite numerous international recommendations to provide the Commissioner with appropriate resources, 93 it does not have enough to effectively fulfil its statutory obligations. 90. In October 2016, Mr. Bodnar presented an alternative report to the Human Rights Committee in Geneva during its review of Poland. In its concluding observations (CCPR/C/POL/CO/7), the Committee addressed points raised by Mr. Bodnar, who was subsequently accused in the media of having influence over the Committee’s observations, including contacting them in advance. A public official accused Mr. Bodnar of a lack of objectivity, which could have constituted breaking his oath as Commissioner. On 5 March 2019, two special procedures mandate holders addressed allegations about a civil lawsuit against Mr. Bodnar by the public broadcaster, Telewizja Polska SA (TVP), in relation to advocacy against hate speech (POL 1/2019). The Government responded on 17 April 2019, detailing the circumstances of immunity of the Commissioner in Poland and providing an update on the status of the case.94 29. Saudi Arabia 91. On 8 February 2019, four special procedures mandate holders issued an urgent appeal with renewed concerns about the situations of several women human rights defenders, including Ms. Samar Badawi (see Annex II) and Ms. Loujain Al-Hathloul, both of whom had cooperated with the United Nations and were being held in Dhabban prison in Jeddah (SAU 1/2019).95 They raised concerns about reports of detention, torture, sexual harassment and ill-treatment including in the form of gender-based violence committed against them. On 9 April 2019, the Assistant Secretary-General addressed these cases with the Government in writing. 92. On 27 February 2018, Ms. Loujain Al-Hathloul cooperated with CEDAW during the consideration of Saudi Arabia. In early March 2018, shortly after Ms. Al-Hathloul’s return from Geneva, she was arrested in Abu Dhabi by Emirati authorities and taken to Riyadh by Saudi authorities for interrogation. After three days she was released and a travel ban was imposed. On 15 May 2018, Saudi police forces raided Ms. Al-Hathloul’s home, arrested her and held her in incommunicado detention for three months. The charges against Ms. AlHathloul reportedly include using social media to communicate with international actors and contact with foreign entities and participating in an exam of the United Nations. The case of Ms. Al-Hathloul has been raised by several special procedures mandate holders (SAU 15/2014; SAU 7/2018 and A/HRC/40/60/Add.1, para. 637; SAU 1/2019). 96 93. The CEDAW Chair and Committee Focal Point on Reprisals wrote confidential letters to the Government97 related to the allegations of arbitrary detention and degrading 93 94 95 96 97 GE.19-15332 E/C.12/POL/CO/6; CCPR/C/POL/CO/7; and A/HRC/36/14, paras. 120.27–32. Response from Government: https://spcommreports.ohchr.org/TMResultsBase/DownLoadFile?gId=34630. Response from Government: https://spcommreports.ohchr.org/TMResultsBase/DownLoadFile?gId=34611. https://spcommreports.ohchr.org/TMResultsBase/DownLoadFile?gId=32787. OHCHR “Saudi Arabia must immediately free women human rights defenders held in crackdown, say UN experts,” (27 June 2018). 25 May 2018, 20 July 2018, 7 August 2018, 13 November 2018, and 20 November 2018. 37