A/HRC/48/28
101. Ms. Karen Gomez-Dumpit, a commissioner of the Commission on Human Rights of
the Philippines (see also annex II), and Ms. Jacqueline Ann C. De Guia, the Executive
Director of the Commission, and the institution itself, were reportedly red-tagged by an army
commander, following Ms. Gomez-Dumpit’s statements at the Human Rights Council;93 the
case was addressed in January 2021 by mandate holders.94
102. The Human Rights Council condemned all acts of intimidation and reprisal, both
online and offline, by State and non-State actors, in its resolution 45/33.
103. Annex II contains information on developments in the situations of Mr. Jose Luis
Martin (Chito) Gascon, Ms. Leila de Lima, the Karapatan Alliance for the Advancement of
People’s Rights and Ms. Cristina Palabay.
104.
On 2 August 2021, the Government responded.
Saudi Arabia
105. Multiple United Nations actors addressed alleged cases of harassment, arbitrary arrest
and detention, torture and ill-treatment, and heavy sentencing as reprisal against individuals,
and their relatives, who cooperate or attempt to cooperate with the Organization. The present
report includes allegations concerning six individuals in detention and one who has died in
custody. Additional updates to previously reported cases have not been included for fear of
further reprisals.
106. In July 2020, the Working Group on Enforced and Involuntary Disappearances
addressed the important risk of reprisal in Saudi Arabia, in the form of threats against those
who report the disappearance of family members to the Working Group, and a culture of
fear.95
107. Special procedure mandate holders addressed the use of counter-terrorism legislation
and security-related measures to target civil society representatives,96 including in response
to their cooperation with the Organization. In December 2020, mandate holders commented
on the Law on Combating Crimes of Terrorism and its Financing, of 2017, echoing concerns
previously raised (see annex II).97
108. Annex II contains information on developments in the situations of Ms. Loujain AlHathloul, Ms. Samar Badawi, Mr. Mohammad Fahad Al Qahtani, Mr. Essa Al Nukheifi, Mr.
Issa Hamid Al-Hamid, Ms. Amal Al Harbi and Mr. Abdullah Al Hamid.
South Sudan
109. The Human Rights Division of the United Nations Mission in South Sudan reported
three cases of arrest, detention and ill-treatment by government security operatives of three
victims, including one lawyer, for real or perceived cooperation with the United Nations.
Government representatives and armed opposition elements reportedly regularly intimidate
the civilian population to deter them from sharing sensitive information with the
Organization, including on conflict-related sexual violence, creating an atmosphere of fear,
in particular among victims and witnesses. Names and additional details are withheld for fear
of further reprisals.
Sri Lanka
110. In February 2021, the High Commissioner noted that a pattern of intensified
surveillance and harassment of civil society organizations, human rights defenders and
victims appeared to have intensified over the previous year, including of those who had
93
94
95
96
97
See https://media.un.org/en/asset/k1u/k1u4npdneb.
See https://www.ohchr.org/en/NewsEvents/Pages/DisplayNews.aspx?NewsID=26696&LangID=E.
A/HRC/WGEID/121/1, annex I, para. 47.
SAU 3/2021. See also https://spcommreports.ohchr.org/TMResultsBase/DownLoadFile?gId=36137;
and https://spcommreports.ohchr.org/TMResultsBase/DownLoadFile?gId=36216.
SAU 12/2020. See also
https://www.ohchr.org/EN/NewsEvents/Pages/DisplayNews.aspx?NewsID=21585&LangID=E.
15