A/HRC/24/29 I. Introduction 1. In its resolution 12/2, the Human Rights Council reiterated its concern at continued reports of intimidation and reprisals against individuals and groups who seek to cooperate, or have cooperated, with the United Nations, its representatives and mechanisms in the field of human rights. The Council condemned all acts of intimidation and reprisal by Governments and non-State actors against these individuals and groups. It also expressed deep concern at the seriousness of reported reprisals and the fact that victims suffer violations of their human rights, including the rights to life, to liberty and security of person, as well as the right to freedom from torture and cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment. 2. In resolution 12/2, the Human Rights Council invited the Secretary-General to submit an annual report to the Council on alleged reprisals for cooperation with the United Nations, its representatives and mechanisms in the field of human rights. 3. In my statement at the opening of the twenty-first session of the Human Rights Council, I defined reprisals as one of the challenges faced by the Council and the United Nations as a whole. I also stressed that the cases of reprisals included in my reports were only the “tip of the iceberg”, given that far too many people are fearful of reporting reprisals aimed at silencing them. I further recalled that States had the responsibility to respect human rights and to protect those who advocate for fundamental rights; when they failed to do so, the United Nations had to stand up and speak out. 4. Pursuant to Human Rights Council decision 18/118, the Council convened a panel discussion on the issue of intimidation or reprisal against individuals and groups who cooperate or have cooperated with the United Nations, its representatives and mechanisms in the field of human rights on 13 September 2012. The panel highlighted a number of possible measures to strengthen the response to reprisals, such as observation of trials involving human rights defenders; networking with non-governmental organizations; establishing a central registry of cases of reprisals to ensure proper follow-up; guaranteeing freedom of expression and the criminalization of exacerbating circumstances where human rights defenders were the subject of criminal activity; strengthening judicial efforts, combined with concrete steps to assist victims; nominating focal points at the national level who could act as interlocutors in cases of alleged reprisals; establishing national witness protection programmes; attributing a special role in the protection of individuals subjected to threats and harassment to national human rights institutions; and improving coordination between various actors, particularly with regional organizations and bodies.1 5. In their work, United Nations human rights mechanisms and the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) rely, to a large extent, on information from civil society actors operating on the ground. On many occasions, the High Commissioner and the Deputy High Commissioner have strongly condemned acts of reprisal and called for the protection of human rights defenders. In her statement made during the panel discussion on 13 September 2012, the High Commissioner underlined the fact that the cooperation of individuals and groups with the United Nations in the field of human rights in a free and safe manner was a key factor in ensuring an efficient approach to the promotion and protection of human rights, and regretted that responses by States had been insufficient. 1 See A/HRC/22/34. 3