A/HRC/36/31 rights defenders, in his report on observations on communications, referred to the substantive response of the Government of Japan to the communication dated 30 May 2016 regarding allegations of surveillance of Ms. Ito, who had facilitated and organised meetings of the Special Rapporteur on freedom of opinion and expression with representatives of civil society during his official country visit to Japan in April 2016 (see A/HRC/34/52/Add.1, paras. 399 and 400). These allegations stemmed from a magazine that reported information received through a leaked memo, allegedly produced by Japanese intelligence agency members, ordering the surveillance of Ms. Ito’s movements ahead of the Special Rapporteur’s visit to Japan. According to the Government’s response, following Ms. Ito’s inquiry and the communication sent from special procedures, the allegations were investigated and both the Public Security Intelligence Agency (PSIA) and the National Police Agency confirmed that they “had neither received such instructions nor conducted such research activities as were reported by the media.” 4. Morocco 6. In the report on cooperation with the United Nations, its representatives and mechanisms in the field of human rights of 16 August 2016, concerns were raised about Ms. El Ghalia Djimi, who was subjected to reprisals for seeking to engage with the Human Rights Council (see A/HRC/33/19, para 26). The Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights defenders, in his report on observations on communications, reiterated concerns that Ms. El Ghalia Djimi did not receive authorization to leave the country to travel to the thirtyfirst session of the Human Rights Council in Geneva (A/HRC/34/52/Add.1, para. 722). The mandate holder further expressed concern that the case of Ms. El Ghalia Djimi is not isolated, but is rather representative of a larger trend of reprisals, harassment and intimidation of human rights defenders. Information has since been received that Ms. El Ghalia Djimi was able to attend the thirty-second session of the Human Rights Council. 5. Uganda 7. The report on cooperation with the United Nations, its representatives and mechanisms in the field of human rights of 16 August 2016 (see A/HRC/33/19) referred to the case of Douglas Bulongo, the Executive Director of the United Association for Peace and Development, who was subjected to reprisals in connection with his role in the submission of a report by the Lutheran World Federation to the universal periodic review on Uganda in November 2016. Mr. Bulongo was allegedly attacked on multiple occasions, including an instance on 1 March 2016 when a group of armed men broke into his home and led all his family members into one room. The armed men remained in Mr. Bulongo’s home until he handed over all the workshop documents on the review process of Uganda (A/HRC/33/19, para. 31). On 20 March 2016 Mr. Bulongo was arrested and detained by police officers. He has reportedly since been granted bail by the court, yet still remains in hiding as he has allegedly been receiving threats by unknown persons. 34