A/HRC/54/61 transitional authorities and their supporters, particularly on social media. 61 On 31 March 2023, during his interactive dialogue with the Human Rights Council and in his report on his visit, the Independent Expert expressed deep concern that civil society had almost entirely disappeared, about the self-censorship that journalists have confessed to for fear of reprisals from the Malian transitional authorities and attacks against human rights defenders on social media.62 77. On 28 July 2023, the Government responded to the note verbale sent in connection to the present report noting that, despite its cooperation and readiness to engage in dialogue, attempts to exploit sensitive issues persisted. It also noted that some of the alleged incidents had taken place outside the reporting period and rejected the allegations of reprisals, inviting OHCHR to prevent any attempts to instrumentalize human rights issues 78. The Government asserted that on 24 April the Sevaré (Mopti) Army camp was the object of a terrorist attack. It noted further that the Sevaré gendarmerie went to the scene, arrested suspects, and brought them before the public prosecutor at the Mopti High Court and provided information on the initial police investigations. 79. The Government addressed the allegations of reprisals against a woman civil society actor alleging that she had misrepresented herself as a civil society actor and had engaged in destabilizing actions. It added that the authorities were not aware of the existence of the organization which she purported to represent. With respect to a complaint against her lodged by the association “Collectif pour la Defense des Militaires”, the Government asserted that associations are free to carry out their activities, including taking legal actions, and noted that the State was not a party to these proceedings. 15. Mexico 80. During the reporting period, the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights in Mexico documented threats by unknown individual(s) against Mr. Ellioth Escobar Gómez, a member of the organization “Corriente del Pueblo Sol Rojo” (Oaxaca) and a beneficiary of the national protection mechanism for human rights defenders and journalists, following his presence in a meeting with a delegation of OHCHR during a monitoring visit (MEX 7/2019).63 81. On 2 February 2023, OHCHR met with members of civil society organizations, including the organization “Corriente del Pueblo Sol Rojo.” During the meeting, they reported Government acts and omissions by state authorities regarding alleged human rights violations in connection with a largescale infrastructure project under the Interoceanic Corridor of the Isthmus of Tehuantepec as well as a surge in organized crime and violence against the local communities. The civil society organizations that participated in the meeting and local media made public the fact that they had met with the UN. 82. On 1 and 20 March 2023, before and after the meeting with OHCHR, Mr. Escobar Gómez received text messages on his phone with threats against his physical integrity for his engagement with the United Nations. The messages noted that they knew his whereabouts and stated that “not even the United Nations will save you” and that “the United Nations will not do anything for you”. OHCHR is closely monitoring Mr. Escobar Gómez’s situation and is in contact with the relevant authorities. 83. On 18 July 2023, the Government responded to the note verbale sent to the present report noting that Mr. Ellioth Escobar Gómez is under a protection program of the Federal 61 62 63 GE.23-15378 https://www.ohchr.org/en/press-releases/2023/02/mali-transitional-authorities-must-protect-civicspace-respect-freedom; https://www.ohchr.org/sites/default/files/documents/countries/ml/eomstatement-ie-mali-2023-02-20.pdf. https://www.ohchr.org/en/news/2023/03/human-rights-council-hears-security-situation-mali-veryconcerning-and-severe; and A/HRC/52/81 para. 36; https://media.un.org/en/asset/k15/k15p20j. See government reply at: https://spcommreports.ohchr.org/TMResultsBase/DownLoadFile?gId=34777. See also https://www.ohchr.org/en/news/2019/05/mexico-one-year-after-ernesto-sernas-garcias-disappearanceun-experts-denounce. 33