A/HRC/48/28 supported the implementation of Human Rights Council resolution 30/1, which was creating a chilling effect on civic and democratic space and leading to self-censorship.98 111. Further to the adoption of resolution 46/1 by the Human Rights Council in March 2021, a senior government official accused civil society activists and members of the political opposition in State-owned media of being “traitors” for their cooperation with United Nations human rights mechanisms. 112. On 10 August 2021, the Government responded. Syrian Arab Republic 113. The Independent International Commission of Inquiry on the Syrian Arab Republic reported that its investigations remained curtailed by the denial of access to the country and protection concerns in relation to interviewees, and that risks of reprisals and other protection concerns had continued to affect the Commission’s ability to investigate detention-related human rights violations.99 It noted that sources in areas under the control of the Government, Da’esh, Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham or the Syrian Democratic Forces had been reluctant to report on violations by the entities controlling the territory, owing to the risk of reprisals.100 114. The Working Group on Enforced or Involuntary Disappearances noted that it continued to receive reports concerning the intimidation of, and reprisals against, relatives of the disappeared, in response to their legitimate inquiries about the fate and whereabouts of their family members.101 United Republic of Tanzania 115. Civil society actors reported to OHCHR that the strict implementation of restrictive legislation limited their operations and posed obstacles to the use of funding for human rights advocacy,102 affecting their engagement with the United Nations and contributing to selfcensorship.103 Two victims of violations declined to provide consent for action by United Nations human rights mechanisms, due to a fear of retaliation. Names and additional details of individuals are withheld for fear of reprisals. Turkmenistan 116. Special procedure mandate holders addressed allegedly meritless charges, judicial harassment and seemingly arbitrary detention against Mr. Nurgeldi Halykov, an independent journalist sentenced to four years in prison shortly after he shared a photograph of a World Health Organization delegation visiting Turkmenistan in July 2020 to study the COVID-19 pandemic.104 117. On 18 August 2021, the Government responded. United Arab Emirates 118. Multiple special procedure mandate holders addressed cases of arbitrary detentions, long prison sentences and the use of counter-terrorism legislation to target human rights 98 99 100 101 102 103 104 16 A/HRC/46/20, para. 32. See also https://www.ohchr.org/en/NewsEvents/Pages/DisplayNews.aspx?NewsID=26695&LangID=E. A/HRC/44/61, para. 3; and A/HRC/45/31, para. 20. A/HRC/46/54, para. 36; and A/HRC/46/55, paras. 10 and 69 and annex III, para. 7. A/HRC/WGEID/122/1, para. 144. See https://www.ohchr.org/en/NewsEvents/Pages/DisplayNews.aspx?NewsID=26117&LangID=E. See also TZA 2/2020, TZA 3/2020, TZA 4/2020, TZA 5/2020, TZA 6/2020 and TZA 2/2021 and the replies of the Government thereto, including https://spcommreports.ohchr.org/TMResultsBase/DownLoadFile?gId=35991; and https://spcommreports.ohchr.org/TMResultsBase/DownLoadFile?gId=35993. See https://www.ohchr.org/EN/NewsEvents/Pages/DisplayNews.aspx?NewsID=26489; https://www.ohchr.org/EN/NewsEvents/Pages/DisplayNews.aspx?NewsID=26226; and https://www.ohchr.org/EN/NewsEvents/Pages/DisplayNews.aspx?NewsID=26806&LangID=E. TKM 1/2021.