A/HRC/54/61 5. In this context, civil society actors and human rights defenders have largely discontinued their activities in most provinces, fearful of repercussions and restrictions imposed by the de facto authorities. United Nations interlocutors regularly report fears for their safety if they discuss human rights issues with UNAMA and often either request that what they say be kept confidential or simply decide not to report what happened to them. UNAMA has had to take additional steps to address the protection concerns raised by a number of actors during the reporting period. 6. On 11 October 2022, the Human Rights Council adopted resolution 51/20 on the situation of human rights in Afghanistan calling for the provision of an enabling environment for civil society actors and the media to carry out their activities without hindrance or fear of reprisal, and to ensure that civil society organizations, human rights defenders, victims, survivors, their families and other individuals have unhindered access to the Special Rapporteur, the special procedures of the Human Rights Council and the treaty bodies, and other international bodies seized with the situation in Afghanistan without fear of reprisals, intimidation or attack. (A/HRC/RES/51/20 paras. 18 and 23). 2. Algeria 7. On 16 February 2023, special procedures mandate holders addressed allegations of the dissolution of the association La Ligue Algérienne pour la Défense des Droits de l’Homme (LADDH) and expressed concerns that LADDH members had reportedly faced obstacles in regard to, and reprisals in connection with their participation in, the fourth cycle of Algeria’s Universal Periodic Review (UPR) in 2022. Mandate holders drew attention to reported obstacles in law and practice to the engagement of Algerian associations with international organisations, including the United Nations (DZA 2/2023).6 The LADDH is one of the oldest civil society organizations in the country working for the promotion and protection of human rights, and is a member of regional and global civil society networks. 8. On 20 January 2023, members of the LADDH reportedly learned through social media that a judgement dated 28 September 2022 and issued by the Administrative Court of Algiers had ordered its dissolution, although they had not been notified. Reportedly, the judgment followed a May 2022 petition by the Ministry of the Interior according to which LADDH had failed to comply with Article 23 of the Law on Associations 12/06 of 12 January 2012, which requires obtaining prior approval to engage with international organizations. The judgement referred to communications and “submission of false information” to the United Nations Human Rights Council, communications with Special Procedures mandate holders, as well as “suspicious activities” related to its engagement with human rights civil society networks outside the country. The Interior Ministry named several prominent LADDH members during the proceedings, such as Mr. Kaddour Chouicha, a trade unionist, vicepresident of the LADDH and responsible of the chapter in Oran, accusing them of “suspicious activities” and of disseminating false information detrimental to the national interest (DZA 2/2023). 9. In 2022, the LADDH was part of the process of preparing two alternative civil society reports referenced in the summary of stakeholders’ submission (A/HRC/WG.6/41/DZA/3)7 to the UPR of Algeria. LADDH members Ms. Jamila Loukil and Mr. Kaddour Chouicha had planned to travel to Geneva to participate in the UPR pre-session of Algeria, scheduled to take place in-person in Geneva (Switzerland). On 24 August 2022, Mr. Chouicha and Ms. Loukil were questioned by the border police services at Oran airport delaying them so that they missed their flight. During the interrogation, they were reportedly asked about their “involvement with foreigners” and the nature of their work. Mr. Chouicha reportedly refused to answer any questions and police officers warned him that they would take him to a police station. Ms. Loukil was allowed to fly but refused to do so given the perceived threats of 6 7 20 https://www.ohchr.org/en/press-releases/2023/02/algeria-un-expert-says-crackdown-civil-societyand-human-rights-defenders. See Universal Periodic Review, Joint submissions 14 and 17. GE.23-15378