A/HRC/42/30 the form of travel bans and restrictions. 67 In August 2018, CERD noted with concern information on travel restrictions placed on human rights defenders, preventing them from participating in the Committee’s session. The Committee expressed regret that Cuba did not acknowledge that these events occurred and had not taken steps to investigate or prevent them. The Committee urged Cuba to adopt the necessary measures to ensure that rights defenders, particularly those working against racial discrimination, are not subjected to arbitrary restrictions that prevent them from participating in meetings by international human rights mechanisms (CERD/C/CUB/CO/19-21, paras. 13–14). 28. In November 2017, Mr. Norberto Mesa Carbonell, Afro-descendant and founding member of the Cofradía de la Negritud (“Black Brotherhood”), had participated in the United Nations Forum on Minority Issues and engaged with Cuba’s UPR. In July 2018, Mr. Mesa Carbonell was reportedly intimidated by State security agents with legal action against a relative if he submitted information to CERD. Due to this, Mr. Mesa Carbonell decided not to submit the alternative report. On 30 August 2018, the Committee sent a letter to the authorities addressing these allegations and requesting a response with information on measures taken to prevent and address reprisals against those who cooperate with the UN. On 15 October 2018, the Government responded to the Committee. On 30 April 2019, Mr. Mesa Carbonell was arrested by the police without charges, held in a cell overnight without access to necessary medicine or to a phone call, and released the next day. 29. On 20 June 2019, the Government responded denying the allegations, including the alleged pattern of reprisals against those who cooperate with the UN. The Government asserted that allegations are taken by the UN as valid despite information put forward by the authorities that is not taken into account. In the view of the Government, this does not respect the principles of objectivity, impartiality and non-selectivity and contributes to the politicization of the issue, in particular “the selective and arbitrary use of the mechanism against developing countries.” The Government stated that the defense of human rights is a noble cause that it has always supported and will continue to support, and it is not acceptable that it is manipulated as a pretext to violate the right of the peoples to selfdetermination. 11. Democratic Republic of the Congo 30. In January 2019, a member of civil society in Kwilu Ngongo (Central Kongo Province) reported and publicly denounced an incident to the UN Joint Human Rights Office (UNJHRO) of the United Nations Organization Stabilization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUSCO), where two men had been arrested, stripped and walked naked in the street mid-day on the order of a police officer. After UNJHRO brought the incident to the attention of the relevant authorities, criminal proceedings were initiated against the police officer involved. On 8 February 2019, during a public meeting in Kwilu-Ngongo, the deputy administrator of the Mbanza-Ngungu Territory announced the suspension of the defender from his functions and appointed an interim chairman of the civil society organization. The local authority refused to give the floor to the defender in question during the meeting, calling him a whistle-blower and an informant of the UNJHRO. The decision was later announced through the local community radio, threatening legal proceedings against the defenders in case of non-compliance. 31. On 12 April 2019, five special procedures mandate holders expressed concerns at death threats and kidnapping attempts against human rights defenders working with the Réseau d’aide aux Femmes et Enfants Nécessiteux (RAFEN) as reprisals for cooperation with the World Bank (COD 1/2019; CHN 2/2019; OTH 15/2019; OTH 16/2019). Defenders reportedly documented and denounced to the World Bank and its Inspection Panel acts of gender-based violence and the use of child labour by employees of the Zhengwei Technical Cooperation Company (SZTC) in charge of building the BukavuGoma road, as part of the High-Priority Roads Reopening and Maintenance Project in the DRC (ProRoutes). 67 24 OHCHR, Press Briefing Note, Spokesperson of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (11 May 2018). GE.19-15332