A/HRC/45/36 June 2019, with the support of Mr. Hinojo Alonso that was publicized in local and national media, OHCHR has documented violations between 2010 and 2014 in Aguascalientes, and the alleged involvement of high-ranking state and federal-level government officials, including from the state Attorney General’s Office, OHCHR in Mexico has raised the threats and legal action against Mr. Hinojo Alonso with relevant local authorities. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic and movement restrictions in the country, there are ongoing fears about his physical and psychological integrity. 77. It was reported to OHCHR that Ms. Alma Delia Reyna, human rights defender advocating for the rights of women deprived of liberty in the border state of Tamaulipas, was subject to threats and her son was kidnapped in relation to her cooperation with OHCHR in Mexico. Since 2018, Ms. Reyna has publicly supported OHCHR in the documentation of a case pointing to possible acts of torture and fabricated charges against a migrant indigenous woman, as well as malpractice by judicial actors and other public officials. On 11 February 2020, a few days after communicating privately with OHCHR staff, Ms. Reyna’s son was kidnapped and later released on ransom with evident signs of physical abuse. During her contacts with the captors, Ms. Reyna was urged to “put an end to what she is doing,” “stop being nosy,” and “leave the state.” Due to the serious security risks, Ms. Reyna and her close relatives were forced to relocate. OHCHR has raised the situation with relevant federal authorities. 78. On 4 August 2020, the Government responded to the note verbale in connection to the present report and stated that in August 2019 Mr. Hinojo Alonso sent an email to the national protection mechanism for human rights defenders and journalists, but the information provided lacked details about his work as human rights defender. It stated that he did not respond to efforts by the national protection mechanism in September 2019 or February 2020 to contact him. Regarding the situation of Ms. Reyna, the Government informed that there are no actions registered by the national protection mechanism on her case. 24. Morocco 79. It was reported to OHCHR that Ms. Aminatou Haidar, of the Collectif des Défenseurs Sahraouis des Droits de l’Homme, was the subject of threats, physical attacks and online stigmatization in connection with her ongoing engagement with the UN (see also MAR 6/2005; 5/2009).57 On 29 November 2019, Ms. Haidar met with the Deputy High Commissioner for Human Rights in Geneva, the photos of which were posted on social media, and on 2 January 2020 returned to her place of residence after receiving a human rights prize in a ceremony with the Deputy High Commissioner. During her stay abroad, several on-line articles were published reportedly vilifying Ms. Haidar’s work. 80. On 11 January 2020, Ms. Haidar was reportedly attacked by police officers on her way to a meeting. It was reported that the officers verbally insulted her and her children, and physically assaulted her. While she was physically attacked, one officer allegedly made a reference to her complaining to the UN.58. Further, Ms. Haidar was reportedly followed and monitored by different unidentified individuals inside the Palais des Nations when she attended sessions and events of the 43rd session of the Human Rights Council in Geneva and delivered a statement and participated as a panellist in an NGO side-event. She also met with the High Commissioner for Human Rights and other UN staff members during the session. 81. On 17 July 2020, the Government responded in detail to the note verbale in connection to the present report. Regarding the case of Ms. Haidar, it refuted the allegations that she is a human rights defender subjected to reprisals, but rather has a political agenda which does not correspond to the mandate of this report. The Government contends that the meeting of Ms. Haidar with the Deputy High Commissioner was not in the latter’s official 57 58 See summary of Government replies to MAR 6/2005 in E/CN.4/2006/95/Add.1, para. 348, and to MAR 5/2009 in A/HRC/13/22/Add.1, paras. 1649–1661. See also S/2013/220, para. 88, where Ms. Haidar reported being beaten by security forces in November 2012 following a meeting with the former Personal Envoy of the Secretary-General on Western Sahara. 35