A/HRC/42/30 37. On 1 January 2019, the Government responded to the concerns of special procedures,73 expressing that it contained “numerous unfounded allegations, including intimidations and demolition of homes, without any details about the individuals in question or the areas.” It noted that the authorities were unable to verify allegations and initiate investigations as insufficient details were provided. The Government confirmed its full respect and observance of the assurances given that no one would be subject to intimidation or reprisal in relation to the visit. 38. In March 2019, several representatives of civil society reported harassment and surveillance during the Human Rights Council and its side events, including on panels related to Egypt. The targeted representatives reported being slandered in the press and on social media, including being associated with terrorism for their statements at the Council. Some individuals reported being video recorded, and believe the footage was shared with Egyptian security agencies monitoring Egyptian defenders’ activities outside Egypt. 13. Eritrea 39. At its 38th session, the Human Rights Council encouraged States to protect and pay due attention to the safety of those who have cooperated with the Commission of Inquiry and the Special Rapporteur, and in particular to protect them from reprisals (A/HRC/RES/38/15, para. 8). On 25 June 2018, the Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Eritrea noted that she was unable to obtain details about the killing of a young man shot dead as he tried to cross the border near a frontier town due to fear of reprisals (A/HRC/38/50, para. 61). In her statement at the 73rd session of the General Assembly,74 the Special Rapporteur urged the Government to actualize key responsibilities associated with its membership to the Human Rights Council, including the protection of survivors, witnesses, and civil society cooperating with human rights organs both at the UN and regional levels from intimidation and reprisals. 14. Guatemala 40. It was reported to OHCHR that judges, especially those with jurisdiction in “highrisk” cases related to corruption, organized crime, and transitional justice, as well as public prosecutors, continued to face attacks, reprisals and intimidation. Such acts included spurious injunctions and requests to lift immunity in order to remove some of these judges from their posts (A/HRC/40/3/Add.1, paras. 15–18). A joint report by the national human rights institution (Procurador de los Derechos Humanos) and OHCHR, described numerous acts of intimidation and reprisals against judges, magistrates and prosecutors in cases of corruption and transitional justice which increased after November 2018, when the Government announced that it would unilaterally end the agreement with the International Commission against Impunity (CICIG).75 41. On 30 April, 18 September 2018, and 30 January 2019, the Special Rapporteurs on foreign debt and human rights and on the independence of judges and lawyers, raised concerns about reprisals against judges from the Constitutional Court seeking to protect the work and mandate of the CICIG, in particular Mr. Francisco de Mata Vela, Mr. Bonerge Mejía and Ms. Gloria Porras and their relatives. Acts of reprisals reportedly took the form of misuse of legal impeachment proceedings (“antejuicios”) as well as public stigmatization and vilification campaigns in traditional and social media (GTM 7/2018; GTM 13/2018; and GTM 1/2019). 73 74 75 GE.19-15332 Response from Government: https://spcommreports.ohchr.org/TMResultsBase/ DownLoadFile?gId=34459. Statement by Sheila B. Keetharuth, Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Eritrea at the 73rd session of the General Assembly, New York (24 October 2018). OHCHR, “Situación de las personas defensoras de derechos humanos en Guatemala: entre el compromiso y la adversidad,” Informe conjunto de la Procuraduría de los Derechos Humanos y la Oficina del Alto Comisionado de las Naciones Unidas para los Derechos Humanos en Guatemala, (2019), para. 74. 27