A/HRC/51/47 3. Belarus 10. In the context of an intensified crackdown on human rights defenders and civil society organizations, the High Commissioner for Human Rights11 and special procedures mandate holders addressed multiple raids, arrests of human rights defenders as well as the dissolution of a large number of civil society organizations, including long-standing partners of the UN human rights bodies and mechanisms.12 Legislative changes during the period reportedly affected the ability and willingness of civil society actors to engage with the UN were also addressed. 11. In her 2022 report to the Human Rights Council, 13 the Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Belarus noted that, unlike in previous years, the report withheld information about the civil society organizations that contributed input noting the high risks of reprisals that individuals and groups face for engaging with international human rights mechanisms (para. 17). Noting the “virtual annihilation” of civil society, she referred to reprisals against two NGOs for their cooperation with the UN (paras. 93–96, and see also Annex II below). 12. The Special Rapporteur expressed concerns about amendments to the Criminal Code in June 2021 and January 2022 (ibid., paras. 24–30). In particular, she noted that criminal liability for “discrediting the Republic of Belarus” was subject to an increased penalty of four years of imprisonment and applicable, among other things, to the “dissemination of deliberately false information about the political, economic, social, military or international situation of the Republic of Belarus” (ibid para. 24). The Special Rapporteur also noted that the concept of “extremist activities” was significantly expanded to include acts such as disseminating deliberately false information about the situation in Belarus and discrediting Belarus (ibid para. 29). 13. According to information received by OHCHR, the dissolution of civil society organizations, including long-standing partners of the UN, has negatively impacted their ability to engage with the UN during the reporting period. The aforementioned legislative changes, in particular, increased penalties for “discrediting the Republic of Belarus” and expanded of the concept of “extremist activities” and have reportedly inhibited civil society actors from cooperating or visibly sharing information and testimony with the UN given the increased risks of criminal liability. Names and details of individuals and groups affected are withheld for fear of further reprisals. 4. Brazil 14. On 18 February 2022, mandate holders addressed allegations of intimidation and threats against Ms. Alessandra Korap Munduruku following her participation in the 2021 UN Climate Change Conference (COP26), which took place in Glasgow, United Kingdom (BRA 2/2022). Ms. Munduruku is an environmental human rights defender, an indigenous leader and the coordinator of the Associação indígena Pariri of the Tapajós Itaituba region. 15. In November 2021, Ms. Munduruku participated in the COP26 as part of a delegation of Indigenous Peoples from Brazil. During the conference, Ms. Munduruku and other indigenous activists allegedly received threats and were intimidated when they denounced large mining and logging corporations for the encroachment of indigenous territories as well as the lack of protection from the State, and its failure to demarcate the territories. At the conference, Ms. Munduruku reportedly suffered an aggressive rebuke by an individual. Security guards at the event had to intervene and ask the man to leave the venue. Upon return to her community, Ms. Munduruku allegedly experienced increased threats and intimidation, 11 12 13 20 https://www.ohchr.org/en/2021/07/comment-un-high-commissioner-human-rights-michelle-bacheletbelarus. https://www.ohchr.org/en/2021/09/interactive-dialogue-interim-oral-update-ohchr-situation-humanrights-belarus. A/HRC/50/58, covering the period from 1 April 2021 to 30 March 2022.