A/HRC/54/61 space, and fear of reprisals for speaking out and also addressed incidents of reprisals against civil society actors for their cooperation with the United Nations. 70. The Human Rights and Protection Division (HRPD) of the Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in Mali (MINUSMA) documented several instances of intimidation and reprisals for cooperation with the United Nations. Incidents were attributed to State and non-state actors affecting civil society representatives and victims and witnesses of human rights violations. 71. Specifically, MINUSMA documented that, on 25 April 2022, 10 victims and witnesses of human rights violations were arrested in Mopti region, while they were being interviewed by HRPD human rights officers.54 The Territorial Brigade, composed of seven policemen, entered the location of the interview without a search or arrest warrant, and ordered all victims and witnesses to go to the police station, while one of them fired a warning shot in the air. The victims and witnesses, including a woman with her infant, were taken to the police station in police cars. HRPD human rights officers were forced to stay in the compound of the Police station while the victims and witnesses were taken inside the station and accused of engaging in suspicious activities with MINUSMA. The same day, the human rights officers and the woman with her infant left the police station without charges. The other victims and witnesses remained in custody and were only released on 29 April 2022, without charges. 72. A civil society actor was subjected to intimidation and reprisals for cooperation with the United Nations in the form of death threats and an online smear campaign. Several civil society actors declined to engage publicly with United Nations human rights bodies and mechanisms out of fear of reprisals. Names and details of those concerned are withheld due to fear of further reprisals. 73. On 27 January 2023, Ms. Aminata Dicko, a civil society actor and President of Association Protection Sahel, briefed the Security Council on the situation of Mali. 55 In his statement to the Council, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Mali questioned Ms. Dicko’s representativeness and credibility.56 74. Following her briefing to the Security Council, Ms. Dicko was subjected to a smear campaign and verbal attacks on social networks. 57 The National Commission for Human Rights of Mali expressed concern and called on the authorities to protect human rights defenders and their families.58 The Special Representative of the Secretary-General engaged the authorities who indicated that they would ensure the security and safety of the briefer. 59 75. On 30 January, the association “Collectif pour la Defense des Militaires” (CDM), filed a complaint for defamation, slander and high treason against Ms. Dicko for her statement at the Security Council on 27 January 2023 before the Public Prosecutor of the Court of First Instance of Commune IV of the District Bamako (Tribunal de Grande Instance de la Commune IV du district de Bamako). 60 The complaint included the video of Ms. Dicko’s statement at the Security Council as evidence. 76. On 20 February 2023, upon completion of his official visit to the country, the United Nations Independent Expert on Mali stated publicly that human rights defenders, journalists, and other media professionals with whom he had spoken were no longer willing to discuss certain allegations of human rights violations or abuses for fear of reprisals by Malian 54 55 56 57 58 59 60 32 While these incidents took place at the end of the 2022 reporting period, they could only be fully documented and corroborated in the weeks and months that followed, hence their inclusion in the present report. S/PV.9251 pp. 5–6; https://media.un.org/en/asset/k1x/k1xq63hd9o. S/PV.9251 p. 24; https://media.un.org/en/asset/k1x/k1xq63hd9o. S/2023/236 para. 46. https://cndhmali.com/index.php/2023/02/03/communique-n0002-2023-cndh-p/. S/2023/236 para. 46. Communiqué Nr. 0005-2023/CDM de condamnation et de dénonciation suite à la sortie ratée de Aminata Dicko lors du Conseil de Sécurité sur la situation au Mali. GE.23-15378