A/HRC/57/60 User Guide for Human Rights Defenders, originally produced by UNAMI. The guide was tailored to the Afghan context and translated into Dari and Pashto. It was released in March 2024 and is in the process of being rolled out with training sessions for women human rights defenders. 30. The Special Rapporteur on environmental defenders, established under the Convention on Access to Information, Public Participation in Decision-Making and Access to Justice in Environmental Matters (Aarhus Convention), continued his efforts to closely track and monitor reprisals for cooperation with the mandate holder and introduced a practice to address reprisals in his letters of allegations to the State party or company concerned, as appropriate. During the reporting period, the Special Rapporteur held several regional consultations with environmental defenders from States parties to the Aarhus Convention to identify trends in the repression they faced and raise awareness about the mandate and the protection it could offer, including on reprisals for cooperation with the mandate holder. IV. Ensuring access to the United Nations, its representatives and mechanisms in the field of human rights 31. Previous reports have addressed obstacles facing individuals and organizations who speak out in United Nations forums.27 Reports of attempts by representatives of Member States to block or delay the accreditation of civil society representatives continued to be received during the reporting period. Attempts by representative of Members States to prevent, interrupt or discredit the interventions of civil society representatives at United Nations meetings were also documented. Incidents of intimidation and harassment on United Nations premises, including at Headquarters, were documented, in particular of Indigenous Peoples, who expressed concerns about meeting visibly with United Nations officials or independent experts on United Nations premises. Civil society representatives reported being photographed or recorded without their consent or receiving threats or being subjected to intimidating remarks from government representatives before, during or after their participation in United Nations forums. 32. Some United Nations peace operations 28 reported challenges and obstacles for individuals and communities seeking access to them and to engage with them, including those wishing to share information. In its resolutions, the Security Council has continued to urge Member States and all parties to ensure the full and unhindered access and free movement of peace operations, associated personnel and expert mechanisms. 29 33. Efforts to strengthen the capacity of the Committee on Non-Governmental Organizations of the Economic and Social Council have continued, in view of the growing number of non-governmental organizations (NGOs) with consultative status with the Council, as well as those applying for it. The Committee received 508 new applications for consultative status at its regular session in 2024 and 476 applications at its resumed session. The Committee recommended 132 applications for consultative status at its regular session and deferred 344 for further consideration. It recommended 103 applications at its resumed session and deferred its consideration of 323. 34. At the resumed session of the Committee on Non-Governmental Organizations in 2024, several Member States highlighted the role of the Committee as the primary specialized United Nations body for considering NGO applications for consultative status and as an important entry point for NGOs to engage with and contribute to the work of the Organization. The role of NGOs in enriching the work of the United Nations was recognized. The Committee members agreed to recommend the adoption of a draft decision on the working methods of the Committee to the Economic and Social Council. 27 28 29 GE.24-14259 A/HRC/42/30, A/HRC/45/36, A/HRC/48/28, A/HRC/51/47 and A/HRC/54/61. The term peace operations in this context is used to refer to both peacekeeping operations and special political missions. See Security Council resolutions 2705 (2023) (Somalia); 2709 (2023) (Central African Republic); 2717 (2023) (Democratic Republic of the Congo); 2726 (2024) (South Sudan); and 2727 (2024) (Afghanistan). 7