A/HRC/21/18
United Nations
General Assembly
Distr.: General
13 August 2012
Original: English
Human Rights Council
Twenty-first session
Agenda items 2 and 5
Annual report of the United Nations High Commissioner
for Human Rights and reports of the Office of the
High Commissioner and the Secretary-General
Human rights bodies and mechanisms
Cooperation with the United Nations, its representatives and
mechanisms in the field of human rights
Report of the Secretary-General
Summary
The present report is submitted pursuant to Human Rights Council resolution
12/2, in which the Council invited the Secretary-General to submit a report to the
Council at its fourteenth session, and annually thereafter, in accordance with its
programme of work, containing a compilation and analysis of any available
information, from all appropriate sources, on alleged reprisals against the persons
referred to in paragraph 1 of the resolution, as well as recommendations on how to
address the issues of intimidation and reprisals.
The report contains information gathered from 15 June 2011 to 15 July 2012.
Efforts made by various stakeholders to raise awareness of the issue of reprisals and
intimidation, and related measures to combat such acts, are highlighted. The report
provides an account of situations in which persons have been reportedly intimidated or
suffered reprisals for having cooperated with the United Nations, its representatives and
mechanisms in the field of human rights. In some instances, it was not possible to
record cases due to specific security concerns or because the individuals subjected to
reprisals explicitly requested that their cases not be raised publicly. The report also
contains follow-up information received regarding cases mentioned in previous reports,
and concluding remarks and recommendations.
GE.12-15899