A/HRC/51/47
situation in Nicaragua on 5 September 2018 (S/PV.8340, pages 4–5).157 On 19 July 2021,
mandate-holders addressed allegations of the detention and disappearance of Mr. Maradiaga
on 8 June 2021 following questioning by the police about his international activities, notably
in relation to the Organization of American States and the UN Security Council (NIC
5/2021). 158 Mr. Maradiaga was part a group of individuals who had registered as precandidates for an internal primary election or had publicly expressed their intention to run
for the 21 November 2021 Presidential elections (A/HRC/49/23, para. 8). According to
information received by OHCHR, Mr. Maradiaga was convicted on 3 March 2022 to 13 years
in prison under Law No. 1055 (on the defence of the rights of the people to independence,
sovereignty, and self-determination for peace for “undermining national integrity”).
Reportedly, prosecutors presented as evidence the testimony that he gave at the United
Nations Security Council in 2018.
119. The case of Mr. Anibal Toruño, of Radio Darío, was included in the 2020 report of
the Secretary-General159 on allegations of threats following UN action on his case. According
to information received by OHCHR, in 2021, Mr. Toruño relocated outside the country due
to concerns about his safety. During the reporting period, several close relatives of Mr.
Toruño and Radio Dario co-workers of have been the target of repeated acts of harassment,
intimidation, and physical surveillance by state agents, mainly police officers.
120. The case of the Comisión Permanente de Derechos Humanos (CPDH) and its staff
was included in the 2021, 2020 and 2019 reports of the Secretary-General160 on allegations
of threats, harassment, and intimidation by police for regularly engaging with OHCHR.
According to information received by OHCHR, on 20 April 2022, the CPDH was one of the
25 civil society organizations that had its legal status terminated by the Legislative Assembly
for the alleged non-compliance with Law No. 147 on Non-Profit Legal Persons and Law No.
977 against Money Laundering, Financing of Terrorism and Financing of the Proliferation
of Weapons of Mass Destruction. Reportedly, the CPDH was one of the last human rights
organizations that formally operated in Nicaragua documenting allegations, providing legal
representation to victims of violations, and reporting to the UN and other international bodies.
21.
Philippines
121. The cases of the Karapatan Alliance of People’s Rights, a national alliance of
human rights organizations, and its Secretary General, Ms. Cristina Palabay, were included
in the 2019, 2020 and 2021 reports of the Secretary-General161 on allegations of red-taggingor the labelling as communists or terrorists-, harassment, arbitrary arrests and charges in
connection with their engagement with the UN, including OHCHR, the Human Rights
Council, and special procedures mandate holders (PHIL 1/2020). In August 2021, the
Government responded noting that the verdict of the Supreme Court had dismissed
allegations filed by Karapatan and other NGOs and stating that Karapatan is a case for United
Nations entities to enhance their due diligence when assessing allegations from sources.
122. On 27 May 2021, mandate holders addressed allegations of cyber-attacks as well as
the red-tagging, arbitrary arrest and charges against one Karapatan staff who was allegedly
added to the Government’s list of “communist-terrorist group priority targets” (PHIL
3/2021). On 8 October 2021, mandate holders expressed concerns that cyber-attacks were
reportedly linked to an IP address under the Department of Science and Technology (PHIL
5/2021). They noted that Karapatan had previously been portrayed as a threat to national
security and labelled as “communist” or “terrorist” organisation, including through
statements by representatives of the Government, both online and offline (PHIL 5/2021).
157
158
159
160
161
62
https://news.un.org/es/story/2018/09/1441032.
On 24 June 2021, the Inter-American Court of Human Rights issued provisional measures in favour
of Mr. Maradiaga requiring his immediate release.
A/HRC/45/36, para. 95 and Annex I para. 90.
A/HRC/42/30, Annex I, para.78; A/HRC/45/36, Annex II, paras. 95–96; A/HRC/48/28, Annex II
para. 105.
A/HRC/42/30, Annex II, para. 8; A/HRC/45/36, Annex II, paras. 100–101; A/HRC/48/28, Annex II,
paras. 108–110.