A/HRC/51/47 5. Burundi 26. Since 2017, reports of the Secretary-General29 have included the cases of human rights lawyers Mssrs. Armel Niyongere, Dieudonné Bashirahishize, Vital Nshimirimana and Lambert Nigarura on allegations of the disbarment of three of the lawyers and suspension of one by the Court of Appeal at the request of the Public Prosecutor following their cooperation with the Committee against Torture during the consideration of a special report on Burundi in July 2016. 30 The lawyers were previously accused of participating in an insurrectional movement and attempted coup d’état, and sentenced in absentia to life imprisonment and ordered a financial compensation, which included the seizure of financial assets of their families.31 According to information received by OHCHR, as of 30 April 2022, Mr. Niyongere, Mr. Bashirahishize, and Mr. Nshimirimana have not yet obtained a copy of the Supreme Court’s judgement issued in April 2021, which makes it difficult for them to challenge it. The three lawyers remain in exile due to fears of further retaliation. 27. In October 2021, the Human Rights Council adopted resolution 48/16 on the situation of human rights in Burundi, where the Council called upon the Government to refrain from all acts of intimidation or reprisal against human rights defenders, including those who are cooperating with international human rights mechanisms and the Human Rights Council (A/HRC/RES/48/16, see OPs 2 and 15). 6. Cameroon 28. The case of civil society organization Organic Farming for Gorillas Cameroon (OFFGO) was included in the 2020 and 2021 reports of the Secretary-General 32 on allegations of reprisals following a communication by special procedures mandate holders (CMR 3/2019).33 Reprisals have allegedly included the expulsion from the country of Mr. Jan Joris Capelle, a Belgian national and co-founder of the organization, threats against traditional chief, Mr. Prince Vincent Awazi, and death threats and attacks against Mr. Elvis Brown Luma Mukuna, the organization’s lawyer, and his relatives (CMR 5/2019). Incidents have regularly been reported to the National Commission on Human Rights of Cameroon. In her 2021 thematic report, the Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights defenders noted the continued threats and physical attacks against Mr. Luma Mukuma and his relatives (A/HRC/46/35, para. 76). 29. On 20 April 2022, special procedures mandate holders addressed allegations of continued threats against Mr. Capelle and Mr. Luma Mukuna and a kidnaping attempt by six unidentified armed individuals against Mr. Luma Mukuna on 6 November 2021 (CMR 4/2022). In January and February 2022, following the killing of a prominent lawyer and head of the law firm where Mr. Luma Mukuma works, he reportedly received threats in person and on his phone, including death threats. Unidentified individuals reportedly told him that “he will be next” and urged him to “stop working with Mr. Capelle” and “interacting with the United Nations”. According to information received by OHCHR, the recent death threats and kidnapping attempt and the alleged lack of investigation by relevant authorities, coupled with the history of violence against Mr. Capelle, Mr. Luma Mukuna and Mr. Awazi, inflict fear and serious concern about the risk of further reprisals against them for their ongoing engagement with the United Nations. 7. China 30. During the reporting period, special procedure mandate holders addressed and followed up on the arrest, subsequent enforced disappearance and detention of human rights 29 30 31 32 33 40 A/HRC/36/31, para. 24, Annex I, paras. 11–15; A/HRC/39/41, Annex II, paras. 12–13; A/HRC/42/30, Annex II, paras. 13–14; A/HRC/45/36, Annex II, para. 10; A/HRC/48/28, Annex II, para. 13. CAT/C/BDI/CO/2/Add.1, paras. 33 and 34. A/HRC/48/28, Annex II para. 13. A/HRC/45/36, para. 53, Annex I paras. 21–23 and A/HRC/48/28, Annex II paras. 14–16. https://spcommreports.ohchr.org/TMResultsBase/DownLoadFile?gId=34800.