A/HRC/36/31 18. In March 2017 the Assistant Secretary-General for Human Rights informed the Peacebuilding Commission and members of the Security Council about allegations of reprisals against persons who had cooperated or sought to cooperate with the United Nations, including with OHCHR in Bujumbura. 4. China 19. In the course of 2016, several allegations of reprisals against individuals in relation to meetings with the Special Rapporteur on extreme poverty and human rights during his visit to People’s Republic of China in August 2016 were received by special procedure mandate holders who took action and have been in contact with the Government (see A/HRC/34/75, para. 10 CHN 9/2016 and CHN 13/2016). 20. On 26 October 2016, some mandate holders raised concerns over the alleged arbitrary arrest and detention of Li Wenzu, as well as alleged acts of intimidation and harassment against her and Wang Qiaoling in reprisal for their cooperation with the Special Rapporteur on extreme poverty and human rights during his visit in August 2016 (see A/HRC/34/75, CHN 9/2016). Ms. Li and Ms. Wang are married to two human rights lawyers, Li Heping and Wang Quanzhang, respectively. Both men were arrested on 10 July 2015 by police during the “709” incidents concerning human rights lawyers, legal assistants and law firm staff, and activists across the country, named for the date on which it took place (9 July 2015) and addressed in a prior communication by special procedure mandate holders (see CHN 6/2015). 21. On 16 August 2016, Ms. Li and Ms. Wang planned to meet with the Special Rapporteur on extreme poverty and human rights at the United Nations office in Beijing. When she left home, Ms. Li noticed that three individuals, allegedly guobao (domestic security) officers were following her, and later physically prevented her from entering the United Nations building. As a result, Ms. Li was unable to meet with the Special Rapporteur. Since this incident, Ms. Li has reportedly been subject to various forms of surveillance and harassment by the domestic security forces. In its reply dated 19 December 2016, the Government stated that it understood that the freedom of movement of neither Ms. Li nor Ms. Wang had been restricted and that neither Ms. Li nor Ms. Wang had been subject to unlawful surveillance or harassment. 22. On 2 December 2016, some mandate holders raised their concerns regarding the disappearance of Jiang Tianyong, a prominent human rights lawyer (See A/HRC/34/75, CHN 13/2016). On 17 November 2016, Mr. Jiang travelled to Changsha, Hunan Province, to visit the wife of a human rights lawyer who had been arrested in the “709” incidents and who currently remains in detention at the Changsha Detention Centre. On 21 November, Mr. Jiang sent a message to a friend informing that he was boarding the train back to Beijing. Since this communication, he has gone missing. In their letter, the experts stated that given Mr. Jiang’s meeting with the Special Rapporteur on extreme poverty and human rights in Beijing in August 2016, they are also concerned that his disappearance may have occurred, at least in part, in reprisal for his cooperation with the Special Rapporteur. 23. On 28 December 2016, some mandate holders raised new information on allegations about Mr. Jiang with the Government. On 20 January 2017, the Government responded, stating that the Gong’an (law enforcement authority) has lawfully taken compulsory criminal measures against Mr. Jiang for fraudulently using the identification documents of others and on suspicion of illegal possession of national confidential documents and espionage. The Government’s reply did not address the allegations relating to reprisals. 24. On 7 June 2017, in his statement to the Human Rights Council, the Special Rapporteur on extreme poverty and human rights made a special plea to the Government to release Mr. Jiang. During the interactive dialogue with the Special Rapporteur, the Government noted that the Special Rapporteur had criticized several cases of detention of criminals which went beyond his mandate and infringed on the sovereignty of China. The Government said it would not tolerate that the protection of human rights be used to support activities that go against public order. 19