A/HRC/42/30
in the organization of COP24. The Government noted that principally the law was aimed at
efficient organization and financing of the conference and the regulation of how state
institutions will cooperate to ensure full security. It also noted that the Ministry of
Environment gave the assurance of the right of social partners to manifest their views freely
at the conference and noted the important role of non-governmental organizations, per the
Paris Agreement.92
88.
On 1 February 2019, the Government responded to the Assistant Secretary-General
stating that the scope and international character of the climate summit required additional
temporary security measures to provide participants with sufficient security and ensure
effective counter-terrorism protection. It stated that the Internal Security Agency
cooperated 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
92
93
94
95
Response from Government: https://spcommreports.ohchr.org/TMResultsBase/
DownLoadFile?gId=34052.
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.
35