A/HRC/51/47 wheelchair and imprisoned in the penal colony No. UK 161/3 near the city of Zhitikara in the Kostanay region, following his submission of a complaint to the Committee claiming violations under article 3 of the Convention (Ref: G/SO 229/31 KAZ (13), CAT case 840/2017).28 41. On 6 September 2019, Mr. Aleksandrov was reportedly subjected to torture, psychological and physical pressure from other detainees, allegedly instigated and encouraged by the administration of the prison. Reportedly, Mr. Aleksandrov could not submit this information to the Committee earlier due to threats. Furthermore, Mr. Aleksandrov reportedly submitted his comments on the State party’s observations on admissibility and merits of his complaint. The Committee did not receive these comments and expressed concern that the ill-treatment allegations may be related to the complaint submitted to the Committee. 11. Libya 42. During the reporting period, multiple UN actors continued to address the impact of requirements imposed on civil society organizations on their ability to operate independently and engage with the United Nations in the field of human rights.29 The January 2022 report of the United Nations Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL) to the Security Council noted that legal measures to curtail the activities of civil society organizations continued to be imposed, including denying the registration of civil society organizations and requiring them to report any interaction with United Nations officials (S/2022/31, para. 53). 43. The Human Rights, Transitional Justice and Rule of Law Division of UNSMIL reported that, on 6 April 2022, the Tripoli Civil Society Commission issued a statement banning Libyan NGOs from participating in or organizing activities (i.e. trainings) abroad or in collaboration with the international community, including the United Nations, unless the activities and related organisations have been registered with the Commission officially. On 11 October 2021, the Tripoli Civil Society Commission issued a Circular in application of Executive Decree 286 (2018)30 requiring all civil society organizations registered in the last five years to re-register or be considered illegitimate and dissolved by the Commission. 44. The Human Rights, Transitional Justice and Rule of Law Division of UNSMIL continued to document incidents of threats, harassment, and arbitrary detention by state actors in Tripoli, the Benghazi Internal Security Agency (ISA), and by state-affiliated armed groups against human rights defenders for their cooperation or perceived cooperation with the UN. Members of civil society organizations and social movements have reportedly been monitored and some individuals placed under surveillance, which is having a chilling effect and inhibiting cooperation and engagement with the UN. Names and further details of those concerned are withheld due to fear of further reprisals. OHCHR and UNSMIL are closely following the cases and are in contact with relevant authorities. 12. Mali 45. During the reporting period, the UN Independent Expert on the human rights situation in Mali,31 and other UN actors,32 expressed concern about the shrinking of civic space, noting that this negative climate has led several actors to self-censor out of fear of reprisals by the Malian transitional authorities and/or their supporters. The Human Rights and Protection Division of the Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in Mali (MINUSMA) documented an organized online campaign targeting individuals who had expressed 28 29 30 31 32 https://tbinternet.ohchr.org/Treaties/cat/Shared%20Documents/KAZ/CAT%20840_2017_9474_E.pdf. A/HRC/48/28, Annex I para. 63–68. A/HRC/48/28, Annex I, para. 66. https://www.ohchr.org/en/press-releases/2022/02/mali-improvement-security-situation-civic-spaceand-democratic-debate. https://www.ohchr.org/en/speeches/2022/03/global-update-bachelet-urges-inclusion-combat-sharplyescalating-misery-and-fear; and https://www.ohchr.org/en/press-briefing-notes/2022/04/concernsindependent-media-mali-after-shutdowns. 25