A/HRC/36/31 They also expressed their particular concern at the arbitrary deferral of applications for consultative status of non-governmental organizations, which could prevent them from engaging with United Nations bodies and human rights mechanisms. The Committee Chair responded to the concerns raised by pointing out the public sessions of the Committee would now be webcast. I welcome these developments, which will bring more transparency to the work of the Committee, and call upon the Committee to apply the criteria for assessing organizations in a fair and transparent manner. IV. Information received on cases of intimidation or reprisal for cooperation with the United Nations, its representatives and mechanisms in the field of human rights A. General comments 13. The present report includes cases based on information gathered from 1 June 2016 to 31 May 2017.In accordance with Human Rights Council resolutions 12/2 and 24/24, it also contains information on acts of intimidation or reprisal against those who: • Seek to cooperate, or have cooperated with, the United Nations, its representatives and mechanisms in the field of human rights, or who have provided testimony or information to them; • Avail or have availed themselves of procedures established under the auspices of the United Nations for the protection of human rights and fundamental freedoms, and all those who have provided legal or other assistance to them for that purpose; • Submit or have submitted communications under procedures established by human rights instruments, and all those who have provided legal or other assistance to them for that purpose; • Are relatives of victims of human rights violations or of those who have provided legal or other assistance to victims. 14. The information received was verified and corroborated by primary and other sources to the maximum extent possible. Reference is made to the various United Nations publications in which the cases included in the present report were first made public. Responses provided by Governments by 31 July 2017, whether in writing or orally during sessions of United Nations human rights bodies and mechanisms, have also been included. Efforts were also made to follow up on cases included in the report of the previous SecretaryGeneral (see annex II). 15. The present report does not attempt to provide an exhaustive list of cases. In preparing it, the principle of “do no harm” and the consent of alleged victims to be named was strictly adhered to, and a risk assessment made for each case received and deemed credible. As a result, it was decided not to include cases where the risk to the security and well-being of the individuals concerned, or their family members, was deemed too high. Furthermore, a number of cases brought to my attention have been addressed confidentially and may not figure in the report. 16. During the period under review, individuals and groups wishing to engage with the United Nations human rights system have experienced acts of intimidation and reprisal for their engagement with a wide range of bodies, processes and actors. I have received information on threats, intimidation or reprisals against those who engaged on human rights issues with the Human Rights Council, the special procedures, the treaty bodies and the universal periodic review mechanism. Contacts with OHCHR or human rights components of peace missions were also not exempt from these types of retributions, for example the United Nations Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in the Central African Republic (MINUSCA), the United Nations Organization Stabilization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUSCO), the African Union-United Nations Hybrid Operation in Darfur (UNAMID) and the United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS). Others have also suffered serious consequences for attempting to travel to and report at sessions of the 5