A/HRC/54/61 about an increase in self-censorship and that many members of civil society are wary of associating with individuals, who are known to be under State surveillance.75 106. The final report of the Panel of Experts on South Sudan noted that few sources were willing to be identified in the report, as many feared reprisals or harassment for having engaged with the Panel. In other cases, issues discussed carried social stigmas that the sources did not wish to incur.76 22. United Arab Emirates 107. The Committee against Torture, in its concluding observations of the initial report of the United Arab Emirates adopted on 22 August 2022, expressed concern at reports 77 of torture or ill-treatment of detainees in reprisal for their cooperation with the United Nations, its representatives and mechanisms in the field of human rights. The Committee expressed further concerns over reports received detailing a pattern of torture and ill-treatment against human rights defenders and persons accused of offences against State security who, by virtue of the State security or terrorism charges against them, are subject to a legal regime with fewer and more restrictive procedural guarantees. The Committee recommended the State party to ensure that human rights defenders, including those sharing information with United Nations human rights mechanisms, are able to work safely and effectively in the State party, including by creating an enabling environment in which they can carry out their work in the promotion and protection of human rights (CAT/C/ARE/CO/1 paras. 13, 14 (b)78). 23. United Republic of Tanzania 108. According to information received by OHCHR, civil society representatives of the Maasai people of Loliondo Division of the Ngorongoro District of Tanzania were reportedly subjected to intimidation by representatives of the Permanent Mission of Tanzania for their participation in the April 2023 session of the United Nations Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues (UNPFII) at United Nations Headquarters in New York and expressed fear of retribution upon their return to Tanzania for their engagement at the Forum. 109. Specifically, on 18 April 2023, Mr. Edward Porokwa, from Pingo’s Forum, participated in a side event organized on the margins of the UNPFII entitled Finding a Solution to the Crisis Facing the Maasai of Loliondo and spoke about the human rights situation of the Maasai people of Loliondo and Ngorongoro in Tanzania.79 At the beginning of the event, the organizers announced that it was not allowed to take photographs. Reportedly, a representative of the Government of Tanzania took photographs of the speaker without Mr. Porokwa’s consent. 110. On 19 April 2023, Mr. Edward Porokwa delivered a statement at the UNPFII on the human rights situation of the Maasai people of Loliondo and Ngorongoro, including the forced eviction of over 80,000 indigenous people from their homes, under agenda item 5(d). 80 During the meeting, a member of the UNPFII took the floor to emphasize that the Forum was a space for constructive and free dialogue between indigenous peoples and States. He urged a delegate of Tanzania to delete the recording reportedly made of Mr. Porokwa during his presentation, noting that the delegate had allegedly shared it already with a third person. Indicating that the Forum could facilitate a dialogue, the member stated that such behaviours 75 76 77 78 79 80 38 A/HRC/52/CRP.3, paras. 327 and 407. S/2023/294 para. 13. See, for example, A/HRC/45/36, annex II, paras. 126–133. See also A/HRC/WG.6/43/ARE/2. https://social.desa.un.org/sites/default/files/Side%20events%20at%20UNHQ%20calendar_24Apr 2023_clean.pdf. https://social.desa.un.org/issues/indigenous-peoples/unpfii/unpfii-twenty-second-session-17-28-april2023. See also https://media.un.org/en/asset/k1z/k1zkybodp8. GE.23-15378