A/HRC/48/28
I. Introduction
1.
The Human Rights Council, in its resolution 12/2, expressed its concern over
continued reports of intimidation and reprisal against individuals and groups seeking to
cooperate, or having cooperated, with the United Nations, its representatives and mechanisms
in the field of human rights. It condemned all acts of intimidation and reprisal committed by
Governments and non-State actors and invited the Secretary-General to report annually on
alleged reprisals and recommendations on how to address the issue. The present report is the
twelfth report submitted pursuant to resolution 12/2.1
II. Activities in response to acts of intimidation and reprisal
2.
Forms of reprisal, retaliation for ongoing or past cooperation, and intimidation,
designed to discourage future participation or cooperation, have continued in relation to
cooperation with a wide range of United Nations organizations at Headquarters and in the
field, perpetrated by both State and non-State actors. During the reporting period, incidents
or trends were addressed within the United Nations system in the Secretariat, its field offices
and peace operations, and in the United Nations Entity for Gender Equality and the
Empowerment of Women (UN-Women), and by the General Assembly, the Security
Council, the Human Rights Council and the special procedure mechanisms of the Council,
the treaty bodies, the high-level political forum on sustainable development and the
Committee on Non-Governmental Organizations.
3.
The General Assembly2 and the Human Rights Council3 addressed reprisals in several
thematic and country resolutions. In October 2020, 75 Member States at the General
Assembly jointly recognized the crucial role of civil society and human rights defenders in
enriching decision-making, noting that every intimidation and reprisal diminished their
ability to deliver to the people they served.4
4.
Successive Human Rights Council presidents have addressed five alleged incidents,
including two in which State representatives directed accusations and personal attacks
towards civil society at plenary meetings. In her inaugural statement, the fifteenth cycle
President recognized the input of representatives of civil society, who support, contribute to
and enrich the Council’s work and ensure the inclusivity of its dialogues, and she committed
to ensuring the safety of civil society space and to defending the rights of non-governmental
organizations and human rights defenders who seek to cooperate with the Council and its
mechanisms.5 Of a total of 28 States reviewed in the context of the third universal periodic
review cycle, one received an explicit recommendation regarding reprisals.6
5.
The Bureau of the Human Rights Council noted instances in which possible
intimidating language had been directed towards non-governmental organizations during
virtual informal consultations, emphasized that all acts of intimidation and reprisal related to
the work of the Council, virtually or in-person, were unacceptable and reiterated that all
delegations should refrain from any such acts.
6.
The special procedures of the Human Rights Council continued to dedicate
communications, public statements, reports and dialogues to intimidation and reprisals
related to cooperation with them and the wider system. 7 The present report includes new
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5
6
7
2
A/HRC/14/19, A/HRC/18/19, A/HRC/21/18, A/HRC/24/29 and A/HRC/24/29/Corr.1, A/HRC/27/38,
A/HRC/30/29, A/HRC/33/19, A/HRC/36/31, A/HRC/39/41, A/HRC/42/30 and A/HRC/45/36.
General Assembly resolutions 75/191 and 75/287.
Human Rights Council resolutions 43/20, 45/2, 45/12, 45/19, 45/33, 46/2 and 46/21.
See https://www.gov.uk/government/speeches/every-reprisal-diminishes-our-ability-to-deliver-forthe-people-we-serve.
See
https://www.ohchr.org/EN/HRBodies/HRC/Pages/NewsDetail.aspx?NewsID=26728&LangID=E.
A/HRC/46/11, para. 84.51.
A/HRC/46/61, paras. 78–79.