A/HRC/30/29 I. Introduction 1. In its resolution 12/2, the Human Rights Council, condemned all acts of intimidation and reprisal against individuals and groups who seek to cooperate, are cooperating or have cooperated with the United Nations, its representatives and mechanisms in the field of human rights committed by State and non-State actors. As mandated by resolution 12/2, I have reported annually on cases of alleged intimidation and reprisals and analysed relevant developments within the United Nations system and made recommendations on how to address this issue. 2. As I have stressed in my previous reports, all acts of intimidation and reprisal, no matter how subtle or explicit, are completely and utterly unacceptable and should be halted immediately and unconditionally. The targeting of individuals or groups seeking to cooperate, cooperating or having cooperated with the United Nations in the field of human rights, their families, legal representatives and affiliated non-governmental organizations runs contrary to the principle of human dignity and violates numerous human rights, showing complete contempt and disregard for the United Nations system as a whole. II. Developments in response to acts of intimidation and reprisal 3. On 8 September 2014, the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, in his opening statement to the Human Rights Council at its twenty-seventh session, condemned all acts of reprisal against individuals for their engagement with the United Nations stressing that their continued support and contributions are needed to realize progress and encouraging the Council to ensure that their voices can be raised safely. On 22 October 2014, in his address to the General Assembly at its sixty-ninth session, he added that “if despite all the power and authority at its disposal, the future of a Government hangs on a tweet, a street protest or a helpful report to an NGO or UN agency, then that Government is in far deeper trouble than it believes. For it has forgotten the fundamental principle that the State is the servant of its people – not the other way round”. On 2 March 2015, at the twenty-eighth session of the Council, he appealed to States to “focus on the substance of the complaint rather than lash out at the critic”. 4. On 25 February 2015, the Director-General of the United Nations Office at Geneva, during the annual civil society briefing, stated that he would continue to work closely with the Office of the High Commissioner (OHCHR) and remain vigilant to situations of intimidation and reprisals. While awaiting further action on Human Rights Council resolution 24/24 by the General Assembly, I welcome the proactive stance of the different United Nations human rights representatives and mechanisms and their recent steps taken towards providing a coherent and coordinated response to reprisals. 5. Over the past year, the Presidency of the Human Rights Council has developed a consistent approach to all cases of intimidation or reprisal relating to the Council, its mechanisms and procedures brought to its attention. During the twenty-seventh session, on 19 September 2014, and at each subsequent session, the President reminded those present of the Council’s firm position that any act of intimidation or reprisal against individuals or groups, or anyone linked to them, is unacceptable, and that all such cases brought to the President’s attention would be followed up bilaterally with the States concerned. During his closing statement at the twenty-eighth session, on 27 March 2015, the President expressed his alarm at the continued reports of intimidation and reprisals against those that sought to cooperate with the Council, and stated that much more needed to be done to stop these attacks. 3