A/HRC/51/47 mitigate incidents of intimidation and reprisal associated with cooperation with the United Nations. V. Ensuring access to the United Nations, its representatives and mechanisms in the field of human rights 24. The obstacles facing individuals and organizations who speak out in United Nations forums have been addressed in previous reports.24 Reported attempts by representatives of Member States to block or delay the accreditation of certain civil society representatives continue to be received. Incidents of individuals photographed or otherwise placed under surveillance or whose movements and statements were recorded without their consent or on the way to United Nations meetings continued to be reported. Reports of threats against and the harassment and stigmatization of individuals and NGOs during online United Nations meetings and against those who publicly contribute to the work of the Organization or have their cases considered by United Nations bodies and mechanisms continue to be received. 25. Human rights components of peace operations and United Nations entities involved in the protection of civilians reported persistent challenges in accessing individuals and communities. In addition, obstacles to United Nations human rights monitoring and humanitarian assistance activities were reported. The Security Council continued to urge all parties and Member States to ensure full and unhindered access and free movement, allowing peace operations and associated personnel and expert mechanisms to carry out their mandates.25 26. Concerns related to the workload and working methods of the Committee on NonGovernmental Organizations, the body mandated to consider applications for consultative status with the Economic and Social Council, have been noted in its successive reports.26 The Committee received a record number of 855 new applications for status at its regular session27 and 651 applications at its resumed segment. The Committee recommended 432 applications for consultative status at its regular session and deferred 386 for further consideration.28 It recommended 264 applications at its resumed session and deferred 320 others.29 27. At the 2021 resumed session of the Committee on Non-Governmental Organizations, several Member States stressed that concerns regarding the COVID-19 pandemic should not weaken the participation of civil society organizations in the work of United Nations at a time when their ideas are more critical. They recalled ongoing discussions regarding the possibility of incorporating a hybrid component in the interactive question-and-answer segment of the Committee with NGOs during its sessions and reiterated that NGO representatives should be allowed to participate remotely in the sessions. They also reiterated concerns about the lack of transparency, objectivity and efficiency of the Committee’s accreditation process. Several Member States urged the Committee to end the practice of unjustified delays with applications, which disproportionally affects human rights NGOs.30 28. The Secretary-General welcomes greater participation of civil society organizations in the work of the Committee on Non-Governmental Organizations, including through remote interactive engagement, where possible. He reiterates his call upon the Committee to ensure that the criteria applied for assessing organizations are fair and transparent. As previously highlighted, continued deferral of applications for consultative status has, in some 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 6 See the three most recent reports: A/HRC/48/28, A/HRC/45/36 and A/HRC/42/30. Security Council resolutions 2593 (2021), 2596 (2021) and 2626 (2022) (Afghanistan); 2588 (2021), 2558 (2021) and 2605 (2021) (Central African Republic); 2618 (2022) (Cyprus); 2612 (2021) (Democratic Republic of the Congo); 2584 (2021) (Mali); 2592 (2021) and 2628 (2022) (Somalia); 2625 (2022) (South Sudan); 2624 (2022) (Yemen); and 2602 (2021) (Western Sahara). See previous reports of the Committee on Non-Governmental Organizations at http://csonet.org/index.php?menu=93. Consistent with 860 applications in 2020, compared with 204 in 2010; see also E/2020/32 (Part I), para. 25; E/2021/32 (Part I); and E/2022/32 (Part I), para. 21. See https://www.un.org/press/en/2021/ngo919.doc.htm. See https://www.un.org/press/en/2021/ngo929.doc.htm. E/2022/32 (Part I), paras. 90–100.