A/HRC/51/47
everyday life like any other prisoner, and that he expressed no complaints about the
conditions of his detention. The Government additionally indicated that it had already
provided information to the Committee in a number of replies in January and March 2022.
22.
On 30 June 2022 the Government responded to the note verbale sent in connection to
the present report reiterating its reply to the Committee against Torture (see above) and
highlighting its main factual elements.
6.
Democratic Republic of the Congo
23.
During the reporting period, the United Nations Joint Human Rights Office
(UNJHRO) of the UN Mission for the Stabilization of the Democratic Republic of the Congo
(MONUSCO) documented twelve incidents of intimidation and reprisals for cooperation
with the Mission (A/HRC/48/47, paras. 46–58). Incidents were attributed to State actors and
armed groups in different regions affecting 12 members of civil society organizations, one
journalist, three humanitarian NGOs, and a group of 225 victims and witnesses of human
rights abuses (153 women, 68 men and four minor girls) participating in a court proceeding
supported by the Mission. Names and further details are withheld due to fear of further
reprisals.
24.
Reportedly, six members of civil society organizations received death threats, three
were threatened with legal action, and two were subjected to and survived cruel, inhuman,
and degrading treatment and attempted murder. The three organizations were threatened with
legal action by the leader of an armed group for sharing information with the UN on alleged
human rights abuses by that armed group, including allegations of rape and child recruitment.
25.
The group of 225 victims and witnesses taking part in the aforementioned court
proceeding suffered physical attacks, looting at their homes, and death threats by members
of the armed group whose leader was arrested and involved in the said proceeding as
defendant. The violence and abuses took place following their sharing of information and
cooperation with the Mission in support of the court proceedings.
26.
Five of the incidents were documented in the Lubero territory of Beni; three in the
Nyabiondo and Masisi territories in the North Kivu; two in the Kamomia territory of Kasai,
one in Baraka territory of South Kivu, and one in Maniema. Six incidents were attributed to
government authorities (3), the Congolese armed forces (1), the police (1), and intelligence
services (1). The remaining six were reportedly perpetrated by various armed groups.
7.
Guatemala
27.
Alleged acts of reprisals against magistrates, judges, and prosecutors who worked
on cases investigated with the technical assistance of the International Commission against
Impunity (CICIG) were included in previous Secretary-General’s reports (see Annex II).17
The CICIG operated for 12 years in the country (2007–2019) based on an agreement between
the United Nations and the Government of Guatemala. During the reporting period, multiple
UN actors raised concerns about ongoing intimidation, criminalization, and threats against
magistrates, judges and prosecutors for their work on cases investigated with the technical
assistance of CICIG.
28.
OHCHR documented an increase in the targeting of prosecutors from the Special
Prosecutor’s Office Against Impunity (FECI), including their detention as well as
stigmatisation campaigns and threats in social media against them. During the reporting
period, several judges, former judges, magistrates and prosecutors left the country due to the
increased level of risks and threats against them. In her 2022 report, the High Commissioner
for Human Rights noted attacks and reprisals against judges, a magistrate and a former
magistrate of the Constitutional Court, and prosecutors and former prosecutors
(A/HRC/49/20, para. 56).
17
22
A/HRC/42/30, para. 54, Annex I, paras. 40–; A/HRC/45/36, Annex II, paras. 56–59; 42
A/HRC/48/28, Annex II, paras. 56–61.