A/HRC/45/36
control of the Ministry of Justice and the Judicial Police in the east, and was only able to
visit three prisons in the west (para. 62). She recommended that all parties to the conflict
“facilitate the unfettered and unhindered access to places of detention and to all detainees
by United Nations entities and other organizations providing humanitarian assistance and
protection, and abstain from any retaliation against detainees speaking with United Nations
and other delegations” (para. 85 (c)).
72.
In a July 2019 UNSMIL/OHCHR report on airstrikes targeting the Daman building
complex, including the Tajoura Detention Centre,55 UNSMIL noted it was denied entry to
interview survivors and regretted the obstruction of its work despite assurances provided by
the Government of National Accord Deputy Minister of Interior for Migration (para. 4). It
reported that migrants and refugees interviewed in connection to the incident confirmed
their fears of reprisals and, therefore, did not provide names of victims during interviews
(para.7). Further, several witnesses interviewed in connection to alleged shootings of
migrants and refugees trying to escape from the building of the Tajoura Detention Centre
did not provide the names of the victims or any other details, noting their fear of reprisals
by Tajoura personnel (para. 21).
22.
Mali
73.
During the reporting period, several incidents of intimidation and reprisals against
human rights defenders and internally displaced persons (IDPs) following engagement with
the UN were reported to the Human Rights and Protection Division of the
Multidimensional Integrated Stabilizations Mission in Mali (MINUSMA), among a broader
context of violence, threats and intimidation documented by the Division. 56 Names and
further details on those affected are withheld due to fear of further reprisals.
74.
On 18 September 2019, one human rights defender in Bandiagara, Mopti region,
was threatened by armed men from the Dogon community for collaborating with
MINUSMA and posting information online to corroborate reports of serious human rights
abuses committed by the assailants. MINUSMA referred the case to the local security
authorities and continues to monitor the situation.
75.
On 28 October 2019, MINUSMA, alongside the G5 Sahel Joint Force, conducted a
field mission to Kigna, Mopti region, and interacted with the local population, including
IDPs from Boulekessi, the site of a 30 September 2019 attack on a military camp. On 29
October 2019, about 20 members of an extremist group arrived in Kigna, threatened an
imam belonging to the community of IDPs, and tried to abduct him, but were dissuaded by
the intervention of three village elders. The assailants unsuccessfully attempted to abduct
the religious leader again on 31 October and 1 November 2019. During their last attempt,
the assailants instructed the imam to stop collaborating with “infidels,” explicitly referring
to MINUSMA and the Malian Armed Forces.
23.
Mexico
76.
It was reported to OHCHR that since June 2019 Mr. Felipe Hinojo Alonso, a
human rights defender and representative of a group of victims of torture and their relatives
advocating for access to justice and accountability in Aguascalientes, has been subject to
intimidation, threats and surveillance for his cooperation with OHCHR in Mexico. Since
55
56
34
UNSMIL/OHCHR, “The airstrikes on the Daman building complex, including the Tajoura Detention
Centre,” (2 July 2019), https://unsmil.unmissions.org/sites/default/files/unsmilohchr_report_airstrikes_at_tajoura-27012020.pdf.
S/2019/782 (October 2019); S/2019/983 (December 2019); MINUSMA, Note sur les tendances des
violations et abus de droits de l’homme 1 er Janvier – 31 Mars 2020, (April 2020),
https://www.ohchr.org/Documents/Countries/ML/Notetrimestrielle_tendancesdesviolationsetabusdes
droitsdelhomme_JanvieraMars2020.pdf, and MINUSMA Rapport sur les atteintes sérieuses aux
droits de l’homme commises lors de l’attaque du village de Sobane Da (région de Mopti) le 9 juin
2019 (10 July 2019),
https://minusma.unmissions.org/sites/default/files/mali_rapport_sobane_da_final_version_07.08.2018
_15.45.pdf.