A/HRC/54/61 NGOs and long-standing United Nations partners refrained from publicly engaging with human rights mechanisms, including treaty body reviews during the period 95 and the ongoing preparations leading up to the fourth cycle of the Universal Periodic Review of Viet Nam, scheduled to take place in April–May 2024, due to fear of retribution. Additional details of those concerned are withheld due to fear of reprisals. 27. Yemen 126. In its concluding observations on the third periodic report of Yemen, the United Nations Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights expressed concerns about credible and reliable reports of harassment, intimidation and reprisals against human rights defenders, including those working on economic, social and cultural rights and social justice (E/C.12/YEM/CO/3, para. 13). 127. OHCHR continued to document restrictions on humanitarian and development activities by the, the Houthi movement (also known as Ansar Allah) hindering United Nations operations and limiting engagement with civil society actors.96 OHCHR also documented the impact of these restrictions on human rights work and on civil society engagement with the United Nations on human rights. In March 2023, the authorities in the de facto Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Sana’a refused to grant approval to OHCHR to organize human rightsrelated commemoration and consultation events with civil society participation, including on the occasion of the International Women’s Day in Sana’a and Hajjah, and on the occasion of the International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination in Sana’a, Hajjah, and Hudaydah.97 128. OHCHR documented efforts to discourage contact with, and to undermine the confidence of local population in, the United Nations and international humanitarian organizations. Local partners of United Nations and international humanitarian organizations risked being labelled as agents or collaborators of international actors. In the Governorates of Hadramaut, Abyan, Sana’a, Al-Maharah, Dhale’, Ibb and Al Baydah, religious leaders reportedly used their sermons repeatedly to speak against the United Nations and international organizations operating in Yemen. They demanded the banning and expulsion of the United Nations and other international organizations, claiming that their continued presence would increase corruption, immorality and conspiring against Islamic values. 129. In addition, OHCHR documented an incident of intimidation and reprisals for cooperation with the United Nations. On 23 May 2022, late at night and for unknown reasons uniformed and plain-clothed security personnel reportedly surrounded the office in Sana’a of Mr. Abdulbasit Ghazi, a lawyer. The Yemeni Bar Association condemned the incident in a statement the following day. The incident was allegedly aimed at intimidating Mr. Ghazi and discouraging him from defending detainees and journalists in Houthi-controlled prisons in Sana’a, as well as from sharing information with the United Nations and other international organizations. 130. In its 2023 report to the Security Council, the United Nations Panel of Experts on Yemen reported to have received the names and contact details of 27 victims and eyewitnesses of the intimidation, violence and arrests carried out by the Houthis in the villagers of Al-Khodarya, Al-Maarif and Bani Al-Sabahi in the Al-Qasra area, as part of the alleged confiscation of land and buildings by the Houthis in Tihama and other regions under their control. While the panel interviewed several victims and eyewitness, the Panel could not directly contact all of them as they feared that they would be killed if they revealed anything to the Panel. (S/2023/130, Annex 26, p. 176 para. 1). 131. On 19 July 2023, the Government of Yemen responded to the note verbale sent in connection to the present report noting that most of the allegations on cases of intimidation and reprisals for cooperation with the United Nations had taken place in areas controlled by the “Houthi coup militias”. The Government condemned those actions. 95 96 97 42 Human Rights Committee and the Committee on the Rights of the Child. A/HRC/51/47 Annex I, paras. 86–87. A/HRC/23/39, paras. 50, 51, 53, 58–59. GE.23-15378