A/HRC/39/41
Guyana
42. On 18 October 2017, the Working Group of Experts on People of African Descent
expressed concern about alleged reprisals by prison authorities and guards against an
individual (name withheld by the Working Group) incarcerated at Lusignan Prison, whom
they had interviewed during their visit to Guyana in October 2017. They subsequently
received information that the individual had been verbally threatened by the prison
authorities and guards for having cooperated with them (GUY 1/2017).
Honduras
43. Following his official visit to Honduras on 12 May 2018, the Special Rapporteur on
the situation of human rights defenders, said that he was “extremely concerned with the
increasing number of acts of intimidation and reprisals against human rights defenders in
connection with their engagement with the United Nations…These reprisals take the form
of smear campaigns, harassment, intimidation, threats, physical attacks and killings.”
44. On 7 June 2017, special procedures mandate holders expressed concern about
allegations of death threats, attacks and reprisals against Ms. Hedme Castro, of the
Asociación para una Ciudanía Participativa (HND 3/2017) in relation to cooperation with
OHCHR and the Human Rights Council. On 29 June 2017 the Government responded.
45. On 24 July 2017, the Human Rights Committee raised concern about reports of
disparaging statements made by senior government officials in the media about individuals
and civil society organizations who had submitted information for the second periodic
report of Honduras (see CCPR/C/HND/CO/2, para. 42), including in relation to the murder
of Ms. Berta Cáceres (see A/HRC/36/31, annex II, paras. 1–3). On 18 July 2018 the Chair
of the Committee met with the Government.
46. The Assistant Secretary-General visited Honduras in July 2017 and raised a number
of allegations of reprisals with the Government.
Hungary
47. On 21 June 2017, special procedures mandate holders addressed the targeting of
Budapest-based international disability rights NGO Validity (formerly Mental Disability
Advocacy Centre) following the release of a report on allegations of human rights
violations at the Topház social care institution (HUN 3/2017), which were addressed by the
Human Rights Committee in March 2018 (see CCPR/C/HUN/CO/6, para. 21, and
CCPR/C/SR. 3464 and 3465). Validity are of the view that their targeting is related in large
part to their advocacy with the United Nations human rights mechanisms.
48. It was reported that among objections by Member States to NGO participation in the
Conference of the States Parties to the United Nations Convention against Corruption in
Vienna in November 2017 was an attempt to block the participation of K-Monitor, a
Hungarian anti-corruption NGO, in an effort to place obstacles in the way of participation
by organizations raising corruption pertaining to the authorities. The Bureau voted against
the objection of the State (see CAC/COSP/2017/14, para. 25) and K-Monitor was able to
resume its participation.
49. Two organizations that participated in the review of Hungary by the Human Rights
Committee in March 2018, the Hungarian Helsinki Committee and Amnesty International
Hungary, have been targeted, at least in part, for their advocacy on migrants’ rights at the
United Nations. On 3 August 2018 the Government responded to the allegations.
India
50. On 9 November 2017, special procedures mandate holders expressed concern at the
use of the Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Act 2010 to restrict the work of NGOs
cooperating with the United Nations, for example by a refusal to renew or grant licences,
including for Mr. Henri Tiphagne of the Centre for Promotion of Social Concerns (OTH
2/2017 and IND 14/2018). Related issues concerning Mr. Nobokishore Urikhimbam of the
Centre for Social Development have also been reported.
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