A/HRC/51/47 III. Cooperation with the United Nations during the COVID-19 pandemic: risks and opportunities of online channels 12. Cooperation with the United Nations continued to be significantly affected by the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic, including through the postponement or cancellation of in-person activities. While digital technologies have allowed more diverse and inclusive engagement with the United Nations through remote participation, the shift to online meetings and interactions raised important issues and concerns related to accessibility, cybersecurity and confidentiality. 13. In connection with the 2022 meeting of the Chairs of the treaty bodies, OHCHR noted 16 that fewer allegations of reprisals or intimidation against those submitting information to or cooperating with the treaty bodies were reported during the COVID-19 pandemic. One factor contributing to the decline in the reporting of reprisals or intimidation is reduced participation owing to lack of clarity and awareness on how to participate through online channels, lack of access to online channels by victims, their relatives and lawyers and civil society actors and lack of trust in such online channels, in particular when reporting on sensitive issues or engaging from high-risk environments. 14. In her report to the Human Rights Council on civil society space and COVID-19,17 the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights noted that the massive move towards digital platforms had exacerbated related risks, including privacy intrusion, interference with online content without adequate safeguards and coordinated online hostile acts, which were often gender-based. The report reflected civil society concerns, in particular the fact that, 18 months after the start of the pandemic, accredited non-governmental organizations (NGOs) had been unable to access United Nations Headquarters, and the High Commissioner noted that, from March 2020 up to the time of writing the present report, there had been no NGO in-person side events during the sessions of the Human Rights Council and its Working Group on the Universal Periodic Review. The High Commissioner also highlighted that older persons and persons with disabilities faced additional technical barriers, including in using online platforms that did not accommodate accessibility requirements, as well as their lack of knowledge about how to use such tools. 15. In the same report, the High Commissioner emphasized positive changes in the modes of engagement of civil society with United Nations forums and processes. The Human Rights Council, for instance, had allowed NGOs to participate through video statements and the number of written statements from NGOs during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic increased by 63 per cent over the pre-pandemic period. Many virtual events had been made more accessible through the provision of simultaneous interpretation into sign language, including caption services, as well as live broadcasts on United Nations WebTV and United Nations social media platforms. IV. Policy developments and good practices 16. Good practices by Member States to prevent and address intimidation and reprisals reported previously18 were welcomed by the Human Rights Council in its resolution 48/17, including: legislative frameworks ensuring the right to access, and communicate and cooperate with international bodies; promotion and support of a safe and enabling environment for civil society for cooperation with the United Nations on human rights; accountability and access to remedy for alleged incidents. 17. In the context of the election of members of the Human Rights Council for the 2022– 2024 term, in accordance with General Assembly resolution 60/251, one candidate Member State voluntarily pledged support for the active and meaningful participation of civil society and human rights defenders in the work of the Council, including by contributing to efforts to combat all forms of reprisal against such persons.19 In December 2021, a group of Member 16 17 18 19 4 HRI/MC/2022/4, para. 3. A/HRC/51/13, paras. 20–37 and 53–60. See https://www.ohchr.org/en/reprisals/good-practices-preventing-and-addressing-reprisals. Note verbale from the Permanent Mission of Luxembourg (A/76/84).