A/HRC/57/60
institutions” (art. 325 of the Andorran Penal Code) for her intervention at the review of
Andorra by the CEDAW Committee. The General Prosecutor had requested a fine of
EUR 6,000, an additional EUR 6,000 to compensate the Government, and a six month ban
from exercising any public function.
8.
On 9 February 2024, the Permanent Mission of Andorra to the United Nations in
Geneva informed OHCHR that on 17 January, the Tribunal de Corts, First Instance Court on
criminal issues, acquitted Ms. Mendoza of all charges. Since the General Prosecutor’s Office
decided not to appeal the judgement, the decision became final on 8 February. The CEDAW
Committee and the Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights defenders welcomed
Ms. Mendoza’s acquittal after nearly four years of criminal proceedings against her.6
3.
Bahrain
9.
During the period, mandate holders addressed the situation of Mr. Abdulhadi
Al-Khawaja and Mr. Abduljalil Al-Singace whose cases have been included in the reports
of the Secretary-General since 2021, and prior to that in 2011 and 2012,7 on allegations of
arbitrary arrest, torture and lengthy sentences following their engagement with the United
Nations.
10.
Mr. Al-Khawaja, former Protection Coordinator of the NGO Frontline Defenders
and, is currently serving a life sentence on terrorism related charges. Mr. Al-Singace, former
Director of the Human Rights Bureau of the Haq Movement for Civil Liberties and
Democracy, is currently serving a life sentence on terrorism related charges. Mr. Al-Singace
has a disability and requires the use of a wheelchair. United Nations treaty bodies8 and special
procedures mandate holders have addressed Mr. Al-Khawaja’s 9 and Mr. Al-Singace’s 10
situation on numerous occasions, to which the Government has responded. 11
11.
On 13 September 2023, mandate holders addressed allegations of continued detention
and health concerns regarding Mr. Al-Singace and Mr. Al-Khawaja (BHR 3/2023). On
15 September 2023 and 9 January 2024, the Special Rapporteur on the situation of human
rights defenders publicly expressed her concerns about the deteriorating health of both human
rights defenders.12 On 10 November 2023, the Government responded to mandate holders
providing information about actions by the Special Investigations Unit regarding 13 s of
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
GE.24-14259
https://x.com/UNTreatyBodies/status/1748408496993816631?s=20;
https://x.com/MaryLawlorhrds/status/1747647928749920735?t=IxnuULFPeAEPV0C8_pN2dg&s=09
A/HRC/18/19, paras. 15–24;A/HRC/21/18, paras. 53–54; A/HRC/48/28 Annex II paras. 7–8;
A/HRC/51/47, Annex II paras. 5–6 and 9 and 14; A/HRC/54/61, Annex II, paras. 8–9.
E/C.12/BHR/CO/1, paras. 8–9.
BHR 1/2023; A/HRC/WGAD/2012/6; BHR 3/2012; BHR 18/2011; 17/2011; 9/2011; 5/2011; 4/2011;
2/2009; 2/2007; 6/2005; see also: https://www.ohchr.org/en/press-releases/2021/06/bahrain-unexpert-alarmed-prolonged-detention-human-rights-defenders.
A/HRC/WGAD/2023/2; BHR 5/2021, BHR 4/2021, BHR 1/2019, BHR 5/2016, BHR 18/2011,
BHR 4/2011, BHR 7/2010, and BHR 5/2010.
See government replies at:
https://spcommreports.ohchr.org/TMResultsBase/DownLoadFile?gId=37486;https://spcommreports.o
hchr.org/TMResultsBase/DownLoadFile?gId=30542;
https://spcommreports.ohchr.org/TMResultsBase/DownLoadFile?gId=30543;
https://spcommreports.ohchr.org/TMResultsBase/DownLoadFile?gId=30544;
https://spcommreports.ohchr.org/TMResultsBase/DownLoadFile?gId=30545;
https://spcommreports.ohchr.org/TMResultsBase/DownLoadFile?gId=30187.
https://spcommreports.ohchr.org/TMResultsBase/DownLoadFile?gId=34960;
https://spcommreports.ohchr.org/TMResultsBase/DownLoadFile?gId=2110;
https://spcommreports.ohchr.org/TMResultsBase/DownLoa dFile?gId=36840.
https://www.ohchr.org/en/press-releases/2023/09/bahrain-un-expert-alarmed-health-human-rightsdefendersprison#:~:text=%E2%80%9CI%20am%20extremely%20concerned%20about,situation%20of%20hu
man%20rights%20defenders and
https://twitter.com/marylawlorhrds/status/1744709944627081698?s=46&t=cRHQAIDKMm9qbVUm
CQCmFQ.
https://spcommreports.ohchr.org/TMResultsBase/DownLoadFile?gId=37802.
37