A/HRC/48/28 53. OHCHR received reports of wider patterns of intimidation by armed groups for providing information to MINUSCA, the Armed Forces of the Central African Republic and allied factions. China 54. Multiple United Nations actors addressed allegations of intimidation and reprisal against human rights defenders and civil society organizations that cooperated, or were perceived as cooperating, with the United Nations, in particular their arbitrary detention including in residential surveillance at a designated location. Names and additional details are withheld in some cases for fear of further reprisals. 55. Some representatives of civil society in Hong Kong, China, declined to engage further with or to have their cases raised by OHCHR and United Nations human rights mechanisms, due to a fear that they would be in contravention of the Law of China on safeguarding national security in Hong Kong, issued in June 2020.65 56. The human rights defender network Civil Human Rights Front was placed under police investigation, inter alia, for having sent a joint letter of 10 December 2020 addressed to the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights. The head of the network, Mr. Figo Hu-Wun Chan, received a formal letter of inquiry from the police concerning the purposes of the letter. 57. It was reported to OHCHR that Mr. Shen Youlian, human rights defender in Guizhou province, was administratively detained for 10 days following his posting an open letter to the High Commissioner online. 58. It was reported to OHCHR that human rights defender Ms. Li Qiaochu was detained, allegedly as a reprisal for the fact that she had met online with two experts from the Working Group on Enforced or Involuntary Disappearances.66 59. Annex II contains information on developments in the situations of Ms. Li Yuhan, Mr. Liu Zhengqing, Ms. Xu Yan, Ms. Chen Jianfang, Ms. Wang Yu, Mr. Qin Yongmin, Ms. Zhao Suli, Mr. Mi Chongbiao, Ms. Li Kezhen, Ms. Li Wenzu, Ms. Wang Qiaoling, Mr. Li Heping and Mr. Jiang Tianyong. 60. On 20 August 2021, the Government responded. Democratic Republic of the Congo 61. The United Nations Joint Human Rights Office in the Democratic Republic of the Congo documented five incidents of death threats, kidnapping and arbitrary arrest for cooperation with the MONUSCO in the conflict-affected eastern provinces. The incidents concerned 53 individuals, including 32 women, 48 of whom were victims and 5 were human rights defenders. Names and additional details are withheld for fear of further reprisals. 67 Egypt 62. Multiple United Nations actors addressed the targeting and prolonged detention of victims of alleged reprisals for cooperation with the United Nations, including based on counter-terrorism and national security legislation. 68 Special procedure mandate holders addressed the situations of detained individuals, including three mentioned in the present report, being held on terrorism-related charges following their cooperation with the Working 65 66 67 68 10 See CHN 17/2020; and A/HRC/40/52, paras. 60–61 and 65. See also https://www.ohchr.org/EN/NewsEvents/Pages/DisplayNews.aspx?NewsID=26033&LangID=E; https://www.ohchr.org/EN/NewsEvents/Pages/DisplayNews.aspx?NewsID=26640&LangID=E; https://www.ohchr.org/EN/NewsEvents/Pages/DisplayNews.aspx?NewsID=25978&LangID=E; and https://www.ohchr.org/EN/NewsEvents/Pages/DisplayNews.aspx?NewsID=26006. See CHN 4/2021. See A/HRC/45/49. See https://www.ohchr.org/EN/NewsEvents/Pages/DisplayNews.aspx?NewsID=26682&LangID=E; EGY 10/2020; and EGY 2/2021.

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