A/HRC/48/28 (see also A/HRC/46/50, para. 6) and drew attention to the lengthy prison sentences imposed on his brothers (IRN 22/2020). 40 In addition to their prolonged solitary confinement, the brothers have reportedly been subjected to ill-treatment in detention. Their family members have also faced repeated threats and harassment for calling for an end to the brothers’ solitary confinement. 13. Israel 56. During the reporting period, multiple UN actors addressed the alleged targeting of civil society,41 affecting their participation at UN events and cooperation with UN human rights mechanisms, addressed in previous reports of the Secretary-General.42 57. On 13 May 2020, the Israeli Ministry of Strategic Affairs released a public report on Palestinian human rights organization Addameer, which provides legal aid to Palestinian prisoners. The report references Adameer’s cooperation with the UN and claims that the organization is “tied to terrorism” and is among the NGOs which “advocate for the boycott of Israel and have a radically anti-Israel agenda.” 43 The report alleges that previous and current staff of Addameer are “affiliates” of the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP), which has been defined as illegal under Israeli military law, and that Addameer is linked to terrorism, including for its provision of legal aid. The report specifically states that “Addameer was active in UN institutions and took part in the Human Rights Council’s discussions on Israel, including in March 2018, where it urged the International Criminal Court to take action against Israel. The NGO continues to interact with the UNHRC on issues pertaining to Israel.” 44 The Ministry calls on “Western governments, international humanitarian organizations, social media networks, financial institutions and foundations” to refrain from meeting with Addameer’s personnel or issuing them visas, to audit their social media posts, and to increase oversight and transparency regarding Addameer’s financial accounts to ensure compliance with terror financing laws. 45 58. On 17 August 2021, the Government responded to the note verbale sent in connection to the present report noting that while Israel does not seek to curtail freedom of expression nor to limit humanitarian activity, it does seek and will continue to act to stop terror and cut off its funding. Regarding Addameer in particular, the Government stated that it promotes the interests of PFLP operatives who serve prison terms in Israel, with emphasis on terrorists who are responsible for serious terrorist attacks committed against Israelis, and that calls by the Ministry of Strategic Affairs to increase oversight and transparency regarding Addameer’s financial accounts are legitimate and appropriate. 14. Lao People’s Democratic Republic 59. On 27 April 2021, special procedures mandate holders raised concern about alleged reprisals for cooperation with the UN by the Lao People’s Armed Forces against the relatives of four members of the Hmong indigenous community who were forcibly disappeared in March 2020 (LAO 3/2021). The four disappeared Hmong members had been the subject of an earlier communication in August 2020 about alleged indiscriminate attacks against the community, enforced disappearances and the denial of their right to access food, adequate housing, medical care and safe drinking water (LAO 3/2020), and their situation has been under consideration by the Working Group on Enforced or Involuntary Disappearances since June 2020. Reportedly, three of the disappeared individuals were seen in a detention center in the Phou Bia region in early July 2020, but the source of information is unwilling to provide additional information due to a fear of further reprisals (LAO 3/2021). 40 41 42 43 44 45 32 https://spcommreports.ohchr.org/TMResultsBase/DownLoadFile?gId=35711. A/HRC/46/63. A/HRC/45/36, paras. 81–82; A/HRC/42/30, Annex I, paras. 62–66, Annex II, paras. 63–65. https://4il.org.il/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/blood-money-European-funding-palestinian-ngod-Acase-study-Addameer.pdf, p. 6. Ibid, page 24. Ibid, page 6.