A/HRC/54/61 Discrimination against Women, the Government stated that neither Ms. Vanessa Mendoza nor the Stop Violences Association are the subject of any intimidation or reprisals. 2. Bahrain 6. The case of Mr. Abdulhadi Al-Khawaja, a Danish-Bahrani human rights defender, was included in the 2011, 2012, 2021 and 2022 reports of the Secretary-General 5 on allegations of arbitrary arrest, torture and lengthy sentence following his engagement with United Nations human rights mechanisms. Mr. Al-Khawaja is the former Protection Coordinator of Frontline Defenders as well as former President of the Bahrain Centre for Human Rights. He is currently serving a life sentence on terrorism related charges. In 2012, the Working Group on Arbitrary Detention found the detention of Mr. Al-Khawaja arbitrary on the basis that his deprivation of liberty was the result of the exercise of his fundamental freedoms and human rights as well as due to the non-observance of the international norms relating to the right to a fair trial. 6 United Nations treaty bodies 7 and special procedures mandate holders have addressed Mr. Al-Khawaja’s situation on numerous occasions, 8 to which the Government has responded.9 7. On 17 February 2023, special procedures mandate holders addressed allegations of ill-treatment, additional criminal charges, and deteriorating health conditions of Mr. AlKhawaja (BHR 1/2023). On 17 April 2023, the Government responded 10 providing information on Mr. Al-Khawaja’s health conditions and rejecting allegations of restrictions of communications and ill-treatment. On 7 November, during the 41st session of the Working Group on the Universal Periodic Review, a Member State made a recommendation to release all arbitrarily detained persons in Bahrain, including Mr. Al-Khawaja (A/HRC/52/4, para. 194.24), and the Government took note of it (A/HRC/52/4/Add.1, para. 37). On 3 April 2023, the Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights defenders expressed concerns publicly at reports of the worsening health condition of Mr. Al-Khawaja and called on the Government to provide urgent medical care and immediately release him. 11 8. The case of Mr. Abduljalil Al-Singace was included in the 2011, 2012, 2021 and 2022 reports of the Secretary-General 12 on allegations of arbitrary arrest, torture and the imposition of a life-imprisonment sentence following his engagement with several United Nations bodies and mechanisms. Mr. Al-Singace was the Director of the Human Rights Bureau of the Haq Movement for Civil Liberties and Democracy and is currently serving a life sentence on terrorism related charges. Mr. Al-Singace has a disability and requires the use of a wheelchair. United Nations treaty bodies13 and special procedures mandate holders have addressed Mr. Al-Singace’s situation on numerous occasions, 14 to which the 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 44 A/HRC/18/19, paras. 15–24;A/HRC/21/18, paras. 53–54; A/HRC/48/28 Annex II paras. 7–8; A/HRC/51/47, Annex II paras. 5 and 9 and 14. A/HRC/WGAD/2012/6. E/C.12/BHR/CO/1, paras. 8–9. BHR 3/2012; BHR 18/2011; 17/2011; 9/2011; 5/2011; 4/2011; 2/2009; 2/2007; 6/2005; see also: https://www.ohchr.org/en/press-releases/2021/06/bahrain-un-expert-alarmed-prolonged-detentionhuman-rights-defenders. See government reply at: https://spcommreports.ohchr.org/TMResultsBase/DownLoadFile?gId=30542; https://spcommreports.ohchr.org/TMResultsBase/DownLoadFile?gId=30543; https://spcommreports.ohchr.org/TMResultsBase/DownLoadFile?gId=30544; https://spcommreports.ohchr.org/TMResultsBase/DownLoadFile?gId=30545; https://spcommreports.ohchr.org/TMResultsBase/DownLoadFile?gId=30187. See government reply at: https://spcommreports.ohchr.org/TMResultsBase/DownLoadFile?gId=37486. https://twitter.com/UNHumanRights/status/1642931311978463244. A/HRC/18/19, paras. 15–24; A/HRC/21/18, paras. 53–54; A/HRC/48/28, Annex II paras. 7–8; A/HRC/48/28, Annex II paras. 7–8; A/HRC/51/47, Annex II paras. 6–9. E/C.12/BHR/CO/1 paras. 8–9. BHR 5/2021, BHR 4/2021, BHR 1/2019, BHR 5/2016, 18/2011, 4/2011, 7/2010, and 5/2010; see also: https://www.ohchr.org/en/press-releases/2021/06/bahrain-un-expert-alarmed-prolongeddetention-human-rights-defenders. GE.23-15378