A/HRC/60/62
Indigenous Peoples to penalize and criminalize cooperation with international organizations,
including as intimidation and reprisal for cooperation with the United Nations human rights
mechanisms (A/HRC/RES/57/20).
116. On 17 July 2025, the Government responded to the note verbale sent in connection to
the present report, asserting that, with regard to the Russian Federation, the report does not
accurately reflect the facts and the allegations should not be included. Specific allegations
included in the report were not otherwise addressed. The Government provided additional
information unrelated to allegations of intimidation and reprisals for cooperation with the
United Nations.
19.
Sri Lanka
117. During the reporting period, OHCHR documented harassment and intimidation by
state security officials against five individuals (male and female) due to their engagement
with United Nations human rights bodies and mechanisms. All five individuals are from the
northern and eastern regions of the country. Names and details of those concerned are
withheld due to fear of further reprisals. OHCHR is following the situation of those
concerned.
118. Three of the five individuals concerned collaborated with OHCHR on a public report.
Following the release of the report, state security officials reportedly summoned and
interrogated the individuals involved, as well as their family members, questioning their
negative portrayal of the country to the international community and inquiring who the
sources behind the report were. The other two individuals were questioned by officials of the
Counter-Terrorism Investigation Division about their previous visits to Geneva and
participation in the Human Rights Council, and/or activities of their organization.
119. In his 2024 report presented to the Human Rights Council pursuant to resolution 51/1,
the High Commissioner for Human Rights reported having received six cases of intimidation,
surveillance, and reprisals against family members of the disappeared engaging with the
United Nations or international actors, including members of the diplomatic community
(A/HRC/57/19 para 22). The report noted that the female victims had reportedly received
late-night calls from individuals claiming to be from the Criminal Investigations Department
or the Terrorism Investigation Division, who had questioned them about their participation
in protests and visits to Colombo or Geneva, including funding for the visits and whom they
had met (A/HRC/57/19 para 22).
120. Since March 2024, the Committee on Enforced Disappearances’ rapporteur on
reprisals received one allegation related to cooperation with the Committee in the context of
an urgent action request that had been closed after the disappeared person had been located
in Sri Lanka. At the time of writing, the State party had not replied to the allegation. In view
of the situation and the inability to further undertake follow -up on the case in the context of
the Urgent Action procedure, the rapporteur on reprisals brought the case to the attention of
the State party, expressing the Committee’s concern that the family’s submission to the
Committee, along with the other activities they had undertaken to search for their loved one,
may have contributed to the alleged acts of intimidation and reprisals, including by State
officials.
121. The Committee requested the State party to adopt protection measures in favour of
the alleged victims, ensuring differential approaches that take into account their specific
needs.
20.
Sudan
122. During the reporting period, the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for
Human Rights in Sudan documented four incidents of intimidation and reprisals against
Sudanese women human rights defenders and one organization in connection with their
cooperation with the United Nations. Names and details of those concerned are withheld due
to fear of further reprisals.
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