A/HRC/54/61 7. During the reporting period, Member States noted concerns over reported cases of reprisals against human rights defenders and civil society actors in the context of the universal periodic review during the fifty-first and fifty-second sessions of the Human Rights Council. 8. The special procedure mandate holders of the Human Rights Council continued to dedicate communications, statements and reports to intimidation and reprisals related to cooperation with them and entities of the wider United Nations system. 5 The present report includes new allegations from 10 communications concerning 9 States (see annex I) and 1 non-State actor,6 and follow-up information on cases and legislation concerning 12 States (see annex II).7 The mandate holders noted concerns about reprisals due to cooperation with the United Nations in eight reports8 and one oral statement9 to the Human Rights Council, and in three reports to the General Assembly. 10 They also included references to the issue in two public statements following country visits 11 and in five press releases addressing restrictive legislation, actions at a United Nations conference and two individual cases concerning four countries.12 9. The Committee on Enforced Disappearances and the Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination addressed reprisal allegations, and the Committee against Torture put in place preventative measures following fear of reprisals expressed by civil society actors for their engagement with the Committees. 13 Four treaty bodies granted interim measures addressing allegations of risk of reprisals following the registration of individual communications, or reiterated requests for interim measures granted previously. 14 10. On 26 January 2023, the treaty body rapporteurs and focal points on reprisals participated in the first meeting on preventing and addressing reprisals against those who cooperate with the treaty bodies. 15 Participants discussed challenges, such as a perceived culture of denial by States parties and the lack of awareness among civil society actors on how to report reprisals and the possible outcomes. Recommendations included regular meetings of treaty body focal points on reprisals, coordinated awareness-rising initiatives, emphasis on preventative measures and protection-related partnerships to support treaty body interlocutors. 11. The United Nations Voluntary Fund for Victims of Torture noted that its grantees increasingly faced risks, including reprisals, for their work with United Nations human rights mechanisms, including the Fund.16 In 2022, six grantees reported undue closures, resulting in 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 GE.23-15378 A/HRC/52/70, paras. 66–67. Algeria, Bangladesh, Egypt, Germany, Pakistan, Qatar, Russian Federation, Saudi Arabia, Viet Nam and Google. See communications BGD 4/2022; DEU 3/2022; DZA 2/2023; EGY 9/2022; PAK 1/2023; QAT 1/2023; RUS 15/2022; SAU 10/2022; VNM 2/2023 and OTH 19/2023. Bahrain, Bangladesh, Belarus, Cameroon, Egypt, Guatemala, Indonesia, Nicaragua, Pakistan, Russian Federation, Saudi Arabia and Viet Nam. See communications BHR 1/2023; BGD 1/2023; BLR 1/2022; CMR 4/2022; EGY 10/2022; GTM 6/2022; IDN 1/2023; NIC 2/2022; PAK 8/2022; RUS 16/2022; SAU 10/2022; VNM 2/2023; VNM 6/2022. A/HRC/50/23/Add.1, para. 7; A/HRC/50/25, para. 33; A/HRC/50/29/Add.1, para. 9; A/HRC/50/58, paras. 7, 17 and 93; A/HRC/51/29, paras. 28–30; A/HRC/51/31, paras. 44 and 80; A/HRC/52/39/Add.1, para. 55; and A/HRC/52/36, para. 32. https://media.un.org/en/asset/k1r/k1rry4647r. A/77/178, paras. 108–113; A/77/181, para. 6; A/77/195, paras. 10 and 42. See https://www.ohchr.org/sites/default/files/documents/issues/detention-wg/country-visit/2022-1013/EOM_statement_Visit_Mongolia_14Oct2022_EN.pdf; and https://www.ohchr.org/sites/default/files/documents/issues/defenders/2022-12-08/EoM-VisitTajikistan-9Dec2022-EN.docx. See https://www.ohchr.org/en/press-releases/2022/09/russia-un-expert-alarmed-continued-targetinghuman-rights-defenders; https://www.ohchr.org/en/press-releases/2022/10/egypt-un-experts-alarmedrestrictions-civil-society-ahead-climate-summit; https://www.ohchr.org/en/pressreleases/2022/11/saudi-arabia-allow-immediate-contact-human-rights-defender-held; https://www.ohchr.org/en/press-releases/2022/11/egypt-un-experts-alarmed-harassment-civil-societyactors-cop27-climate. HRI/MC/2023/2, paras. 29–35. Ibid., para. 37. Ibid., paras. 14–25. A/HRC/52/57, paras. 21 and 22. 3