A/HRC/54/61
Belarus
49.
Multiple United Nations actors have addressed the issue of reprisals taken against
those sharing information and testimony with the United Nations. The Special Rapporteur on
the situation of human rights in Belarus noted the unprecedented scale of the crackdown
against civil society, including in reprisal for their cooperation with the United Nations. 34
50.
The worker spokesperson of the International Labour Organization (ILO) Governing
Body35 noted that the Belarusian Congress of Democratic Trade Unions had been outlawed
and that its Chair and member of the Governing Body, Mr. Aliaksandr Yarashuk, faced
charges, including for his submission of information to ILO. Special procedure mandate
holders also addressed allegations of Mr. Yarashuk’s arbitrary arrest.36 Mr. Yarashuk was
convicted and sentenced to four years’ imprisonment.
51.
Annex II contains information on developments in the situation of the NGO Human
Rights Centre Viasna.
52.
The Government responded to the note verbale sent in connection to the present
report.
Burundi
53.
Annex II contains information on developments in the situation of Mr. Armel
Niyongere, Mr. Dieudonné Bashirahishize, Mr. Vital Nshimirimana and Mr. Lambert
Nigarura.
Cameroon
54.
Annex II contains information on developments in the situation of Mr. Jan Joris
Capelle, Mr. Prince Vincent Awazi and Mr. Elvis Brown Luma Mukuna.
China
55.
Multiple United Nations actors have raised concerns about reprisals against those
cooperating with the United Nations and the fear thereof. 37 A number of human rights
mechanisms have explicitly sought assurances that there would be no intimidation or reprisals
for cooperation with their respective mechanisms. 38 A civil society representative was
allegedly subjected to intimidation and reprisals for engaging with a United Nations treaty
body. Names and details have been withheld due to fear of reprisals. The Committee on the
Rights of Persons with Disabilities expressed concern about reports of reprisals against civil
society for cooperation with the United Nations.
Following the statement by two members of the international legal team supporting
Mr. Jimmy Lai and his son Mr. Sebastien Lai at the Human Rights Council,39 the Government
of Hong Kong, China, publicly noted that “making a statement with the intent to interfere
with or obstruct the course of justice is very likely to constitute the offence of criminal
contempt of court or the offence of perverting the course of justice”.40 Special procedure
mandate holders addressed the alleged intimidation and harassment of the legal team. 41
56.
34
35
36
37
38
39
40
41
GE.23-15378
A/77/195, paras. 10 and 42.
Minutes of the 346th session of the Governing Body of the International Labour Office (GB.346/PV),
paras. 467–468.
See communication BLR 6/2022.
CRPD/C/CHN/CO/2-3, paras. 44–45; CCPR/C/SR.3891 para. 14; CCPR/C/SR.3893, para. 11;
CCPR/C/SR.3895, para. 29; E/C.12/2023/SR.5 paras. 15 and 25; E/C.12/2023/SR.7, para. 78; and
communication CHN 1/2023.
CCPR/C/SR.3891 para. 14; CCPR/C/SR.3893, para. 11; E/C.12/2023/SR.5 para. 15; and CHN
1/2023.
See https://media.un.org/en/asset/k1z/k1zzdvujom.
See https://www.info.gov.hk/gia/general/202303/15/P2023031500686.htm?fontSize=1e.
See CHN 1/2023 and the reply at
https://spcommreports.ohchr.org/TMResultsBase/DownLoadFile?gId=37508.
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