A/HRC/42/30 that “one of the most challenging aspects was to access individuals, families and organizations defending the right to housing.”71 36. Prior to the visit, individuals reported phone calls by Government officials enquiring whether they intended to meet the Special Rapporteur. After the visit, individuals reported being followed by unknown persons and photographed in their place of residence; house demolitions and forced evictions against community leaders who met the Special Rapporteur; the undisclosed detention of one resident for two days and a physical attack against one witness. 72 It was reported that one person fled Egypt for security reasons following the visit. 37. On 1 January 2019, the Government responded to the concerns of special procedures,73 expressing that it contained “numerous unfounded allegations, including intimidations and demolition of homes, without any details about the individuals in question or the areas.” It noted that the authorities were unable to verify allegations and initiate investigations as insufficient details were provided. The Government confirmed its full respect and observance of the assurances given that no one would be subject to intimidation or reprisal in relation to the visit. 38. In March 2019, several representatives of civil society reported harassment and surveillance during the Human Rights Council and its side events, including on panels related to Egypt. The targeted representatives reported being slandered in the press and on social media, including being associated with terrorism for their statements at the Council. Some individuals reported being video recorded, and believe the footage was shared with Egyptian security agencies monitoring Egyptian defenders’ activities outside Egypt. 13. Eritrea 39. At its 38th session, the Human Rights Council encouraged States to protect and pay due attention to the safety of those who have cooperated with the Commission of Inquiry and the Special Rapporteur, and in particular to protect them from reprisals (A/HRC/RES/38/15, para. 8). On 25 June 2018, the Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Eritrea noted that she was unable to obtain details about the killing of a young man shot dead as he tried to cross the border near a frontier town due to fear of reprisals (A/HRC/38/50, para. 61). In her statement at the 73rd session of the General Assembly,74 the Special Rapporteur urged the Government to actualize key responsibilities associated with its membership to the Human Rights Council, including the protection of survivors, witnesses, and civil society cooperating with human rights organs both at the UN and regional levels from intimidation and reprisals. 14. Guatemala 40. It was reported to OHCHR that judges, especially those with jurisdiction in “highrisk” cases related to corruption, organized crime, and transitional justice, as well as public prosecutors, continued to face attacks, reprisals and intimidation. Such acts included spurious injunctions and requests to lift immunity in order to remove some of these judges from their posts (A/HRC/40/3/Add.1, paras. 15–18). A joint report by the national human rights institution (Procurador de los Derechos Humanos) and OHCHR, described numerous acts of intimidation and reprisals against judges, magistrates and prosecutors in cases of 71 72 73 74 End of mission statement, Leilani Farha, Visit of the Special Rapporteur on the right to adequate housing to Egypt (3 October 2018). OHCHR, “Egypt: UN experts alarmed by treatment of human rights defenders after visit,” (4 December 2018); OHCHR, Statement by Leilani Farha at the 40th session of the Human Rights Council (4 March 2019). Response from Government: https://spcommreports.ohchr.org/TMResultsBase/ DownLoadFile?gId=34459. Statement by Sheila B. Keetharuth, Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Eritrea at the 73rd session of the General Assembly, New York (24 October 2018). 25