A/HRC/42/30 Cotonou prison. It requested information from the Government on measures taken to prevent reprisals (see CAT/OP/BEN/3, paras. 107–108). Bolivia (Plurinational State of) 42. In July 2018, the Subcommittee on Prevention of Torture reported that members of its delegation had been unable to speak in private to inmates in two prisons owing, inter alia, to fear of reprisals. After the visit, the Government provided information on measures taken to address the allegations (see CAT/OP/BOL/3, paras. 3, 14 and 126–131). Burundi 43. On 15 September 2018, the Permanent Mission of Burundi in Geneva sent a note verbale to OHCHR requesting the withdrawal of the badges of defenders with Economic and Social Council accreditation, including members of the Burundian Coalition of Human Rights Defenders. The defenders named in the note were later attacked on social media. Ms. Marie Louise Baricako, Mr. Janvier Bigirimana, Ms. Yvette Ininahazwe, Mr. Pierre Claver Mbonimpa, Ms. Eulalie Nibizi, Mr. Alexandre Niyungeko, Mr. Pacifique Nininahazwe and Mr. Vital Nshimirimana consented to be named, while others did not owing to the fear of further reprisals. Annex II contains allegations of continued reprisals against Mr. Armel Niyongere, Mr. Dieudonné Bashirahishize, Mr. Vital Nshimirimana and Mr. Lambert Nigarura. 44. On 5 October 2018, the Human Rights Council urged the Government to stop any reprisals against human rights defenders who were cooperating with international human rights mechanisms, including the Council. 40 On 5 March 2019, the High Commissioner announced with deep regret that the OHCHR office in Burundi had been closed at the insistence of the Government and that its staff had been “severely hampered in their ability to look into allegations of violations” since the October 2016 suspension of cooperation.41 China 45. Several activists, human rights defenders and lawyers reported to OHCHR that they had been targeted for attending training sessions, including with United Nations staff, or engaging with the United Nations human rights mechanisms. Reprisals reportedly included detention and prison sentences, ill-treatment while in detention, seizure of property and surveillance. Those affected included Ms. Li Xiaoling, Ms. Li Yuhan, Mr. Liu Zhengqing, Ms. Xu Yan and Mr. Zhen Jianghua. 46. It was reported to OHCHR that staff members of the Chinese Human Rights Defenders NGO had faced intimidation and harassment for sharing information with the United Nations and conducting human rights training sessions for China-based human rights defenders. Annex II contains information on new developments on the ongoing cases of Ms. Chen Jianfang, Ms. Wang Yu, Mr. Qin Yongmin, Ms. Zhao Suli, Mr. Mi Chongbiao, Ms. Li Kezhen, Ms. Li Wenzu, Ms. Wang Qiaoling, Mr. Li Heping, Mr. Jiang Tianyong and Mr. Dolkun Isa. On 1 July 2019, the Government responded. Colombia 47. Lieutenant Wilmer Orlando Anteliz Gonzalez, a key protected witness in a criminal investigation by the National Prosecutor’s Office, was reportedly the subject of disciplinary investigations, demotions, unsolicited transfers, lack of adequate protection measures and death threats against him and his family for cooperating with OHCHR in Colombia. On 15 November 2018, the Assistant Secretary-General raised concern in writing. It was also reported that a woman human rights defender (name withheld) in Ituango (Antioquia Department) had received death threats from an illegal armed group for meeting with OHCHR and other United Nations agencies, and had been forced to relocate and avoid all 40 41 Human Rights Council resolution 39/14, para. 15. https://www.ohchr.org/en/NewsEvents/Pages/DisplayNews.aspx?NewsID=24254&LangID=E. 9

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