A/HRC/42/30 7. Cuba 36. The case of Mr. Juan Antonio Madrazo Luna, member of the Comité Ciudadanos por la Integración Racial (CIR), was included in the 2018 report of the Secretary-General (A/HRC/39/41, Annex I, para. 25) due to travel restrictions that prevented him from travelling to Geneva to attend the UPR session. According to new information received, in August 2018, Mr. Madrazo Luna was the subject of a 21-day travel ban preventing him from participating in the Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination review of Cuba. On 30 August 2018, the Committee sent a letter to the State party addressing these allegations and requesting a response with information on measures taken to prevent and address reprisals against those who cooperate with the UN. On 15 October 2018, the Government responded to the Committee. 37. Reports received indicate that, in December 2018 and January 2019, Mr. Madrazo Luna and members of CIR were subject to a number of police operations preventing them from carrying out different events, including the celebration of Human Rights Day and presentation of CERD’s observations. On 21 January 2019, Mr. Madrazo Lunas was arrested and held in a police station for eight hours. 38. The case of Ms. Dora L. Mesa, of Asociación Cubana para el Desarrollo de la Educación Infantil (ACDEI), was included in the 2018 report of the Secretary-General (A/HRC/39/41, Annex I, paras. 24–25). According to new information, Ms. Mesa continues to be the subject of harassment, intimidation and threats, including death threats. Ms. Mesa has been threatened at her home by a man who identified himself as a member of State Security, with severe consequences including to her physical integrity, should she not cooperate with them. She does not leave home for fear of being attacked. Her attempts to appeal to the Supreme People’s Court for the return of her passport failed. She has been interviewed by police officers who have told her not to have contact with any official from the OHCHR or do research on child rights in Cuba. 39. The Assistant Secretary-General addressed the allegations of reprisals against Ms. Mesa on 27 December 2018. On 16 January 2019, the Government responded categorically denying the allegations and rejecting that, without new elements, allegations previously responded to are taken up again. The Government reiterated elements of its previous response of 10 May 2018 (A/HRC/39/41, Annex I, para. 26), including that the individuals mentioned in the letter pretend to be human rights defenders when they commit illegal acts aimed at overthrowing constitutional order established in the country following instructions and funding from foreign governments. The Government expressed concern that there are no safeguards to prevent the politization, selectivity and arbitrariness of the use of the reprisals mandate against developing countries. 8. Djibouti 40. The case of Mr. Kadar Adbi Ibrahim, professor, journalist and human rights defender, was included in the 2018 report of the Secretary-General (A/HRC/39/41, para. 37 and Annex, para. 31) because he was unable to participate in the UPR review of Djibouti in May 2018. Four Member States expressed their concern during the UPR session (see A/HRC/39/10, paras. 54, 64, 84 and 104). In July 2018, three special procedures mandate holders raised concerns about his arrest and the confiscation of his passport upon his return to Djibouti from Geneva in April 2018, where he had conducted advocacy activities ahead of the UPR of Djibouti (DJI 1/2018, and A/HRC/40/60/Add.1, paras. 19, 50). On 24 September 2018, the Government responded indicating that Mr. Ibrahim had been placed under surveillance due to his close connections with extremist movements in the country and that in 2016 Mr. Ibrahim was convicted in violation of national legislation. 129 41. On 15 March 2019, the Assistant Secretary-General addressed allegations of continued reprisals against Mr. Ibrahim as it was reported he continued to be unable to 129 52 Response from Government: https://spcommreports.ohchr.org/TMResultsBase/ DownLoadFile?gId=34341. GE.19-15332