A/HRC/57/60 28. According to information received by OHCHR, in June and July 2023, two individuals received threats from elements of the Azande Ani Kpi Gbe armed group in the Haut Oubangui region due to their perceived advocacy with the population to support activities organized by MINUSCA. Names and details of those concerned are withheld due to fear of further reprisals. 29. In January 2024, a human rights defender in Equateur region received threats from state actors due to perceived collaboration with MINUSCA. The human rights defender was allegedly perceived as reporting human rights violations committed by the national security forces to MINUSCA. 30. Some members of the community refused to exchange or collaborate with MINUSCA during field activities, particularly during human rights investigations and protection of civilians’ operations, due to threats and fear of reprisals from non-state armed groups, national armed forces and other security personnel. Threats made by elements of the national armed forces were reported in January 2024 in the Equateur region. Similar threats were reported in the Fertit region in March 2024 where Sudanese combatants threatened the population with reprisals for collaborating with MINUSCA. 31. These threats affected the willingness of the broader population to collaborate with MINUSCA, with members of the communities refusing to speak directly and openly to MINUSCA because of fear of reprisals. 5. China 32. On 1 May 2023, the Working Group on Arbitrary Detention found the detention of Ms. Hang Tuan Chow to be arbitrary (A/HRC/WGAD/2023/30). 11 In its opinion, the Working Group referred to the reply of the Government of Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) and in particular to its statement that the proceedings against Ms. Chow were ongoing and therefore, any interference with the case of Ms. Hang Tuan Chow would be a matter inconsistent with the principle of sub judice. The Working Group noted that the Government’s reply also pointed out that under common law publishing statements that were intended to interfere with or obstruct the due administration of justice or perform acts with the same intention may constitute “criminal contempt of court”. 12 According to information received by OHCHR, there are concerns that the submission by the source to the Working Group on the alleged arbitrary detention of Ms. Hang Tuan Chow, may accordingly be deemed to constitute “criminal contempt of court” and trigger corresponding liability. 33. On 12 May 2023, in its concluding observations on the ninth periodic report of China, the Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women recommended that the State party ensure the protection of women human rights defenders from intimidation, harassment and reprisals for their work, including when they have engaged or sought to engage with the Committee, to immediately stop any such reprisals and ensure the protection of the women human rights defenders concerned and investigate and prosecute those responsible, including police officers and other State agents (CEDAW/C/CHN/CO/9, para. 36 b). 34. During the fourth Universal Periodic Review of China on 23 January 2023, the State received one recommendation to enable all members of civil society to freely engage with international human rights mechanisms without fear of intimidation or reprisals and another to implement the concluding observations of the Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women (see above) and the Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities to immediately stop reprisals against human rights defenders, journalists and individuals belonging to minority groups (A/HRC/56/6, paras. 22.43 and 22.387).13 China 11 12 13 22 See also A/HRC/WGAD/2023/30/Corr.1. A/HRC/WGAD/2023/30, para. 59. See also A/HRC/WGAD/2023/30/Corr.1. See at: https://uprmeetings.ohchr.org/Sessions/45/China/Pages/default.aspx. GE.24-14259