A/HRC/48/28 23. Saudi Arabia 92. Multiple UN actors identified alleged acts of intimidation and reprisals in the form of harassment, arbitrary arrest and detention, torture and ill-treatment, and heavy sentencing of those who cooperate or attempt to cooperate with the UN and their relatives. The present report includes allegations of reprisals concerning six individuals in detention and one who died in custody. Additional updates to previously reported cases have not been included due to fear of further reprisals. In its July 2020 report, 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,” stating that Saudi Arabia has been included in eight out of ten reports of the Secretary-General from 2010–2019 (A/HRC/WGEID/121/1, Annex I, para. 3 and 47).58 93. UN actors in particular continued to draw attention to the use of counter-terrorism legislation and security-related measures in Saudi Arabia to justify the targeting and prolonged detention of civil society representatives (SAU 3/2021), including for their cooperation with the UN. In December 2020, special procedures mandate holders provided comments to the 2017 Law on Combating Crimes of Terrorism and its Financing (SAU 12/2020). The analysis echoed concerns they raised previously, 59 including in the context of legal justification for the targeting of the Saudi Civil and Political Rights Association (ACPRA),60 four members of which are mentioned in the present report (see Annex II). 24. South Sudan 94. The UN Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) Human Rights Division reported three cases of reprisals or intimidation during the reporting period for real or perceived cooperation with the UN. All documented cases were reportedly perpetrated by government security operatives, with the alleged aim of discouraging the sharing of information on human rights violations with the Mission (in particular in regard to conflict-related sexual violence) 95. In particular, a pervasive climate of fear was reported about extensive National Security Services (NSS) surveillance, arbitrary arrest and detention without judicial oversight which contributed to a fear of cooperation with the Mission. NSS reportedly routinely used defamation charges as a tool to harass critics and punish dissent, which contributed to induce self-censorship and under-reporting of reprisals incidents to the Mission. According to trends documented by the Commission for Human Rights of South Sudan (A/HRC/43/56, paras. 71–81) the UN is obliged to seek NSS approval for public trainings or other events and to include a NSS operative in the event as a pre-condition for this permission, contributing to a climate of intimidation. 96. In one case not reported to the UN until the current reporting period, the victim reportedly faced arbitrary arrest and detention by NSS after briefing a visiting Security Council delegation in March 2020. The NSS reportedly accused the individual of being paid to raise the issue of sexual violence and accountability during a meeting with members of the Security Council. The individual was interrogated and released the following day. After release, the victim faced ongoing harassment until November 2020, including at their residence, and the confiscation of their identity documents, making them unable to travel and access their bank account. The victim has discontinued any direct contact with UN staff in public, as well as resigned from the civil society organization they represented, and ceased UN cooperation when NSS intimidated their co-workers. 58 59 60 https://www.ohchr.org/Documents/Issues/Disappearances/Allegations/121-SaudiArabia.pdf (para. 47). https://www.ohchr.org/EN/NewsEvents/Pages/DisplayNews.aspx?NewsID=21585&LangID=E. SAU 12/2017 and https://www.ohchr.org/EN/NewsEvents/Pages/DisplayNews.aspx?NewsID=22570&LangID=E; https://www.ohchr.org/Documents/Issues/Detention/Opinions2015AUV/Opinion%202015%2038_Sa udiArabia_Sheikh_al_Rashudi%20and%20et_final_AUV.pdf. 39