A/HRC/54/61 and for initiatives to strengthen the participation of civil society organizations in the work of the Human Rights Council.23 19. The Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues noted the relevance of monitoring and reporting on trends related to reprisals against Indigenous Peoples who engage with the United Nations and requested an urgent response mechanism to address reprisals against them. The Forum noted that it would consider how to strengthen its own response and its cooperation with the Assistant Secretary-General for Human Rights, in line with General Assembly resolution 77/203, including through the appointment of focal points. 24 20. In addition to awareness-raising initiatives promoting safe engagement with the United Nations,25 the Office of the Secretary-General’s Envoy on Youth circulated a guidance document to youth speakers at the ministerial round table, held during the Economic and Social Council Youth Forum in April 2023, providing general guidance for youth to engage safely before, during and after the Forum and information on the procedure to follow in case of reprisals for engaging at the Forum. A. Good practices shared by Member States to address reprisals 21. In March 2023, the Assistant Secretary-General for Human Rights sent a questionnaire to Member States and invited contributions from civil society organizations on good practices to prevent and address reprisals for cooperation with the United Nations. 26 22. Concerning good practices in the legal and policy framework at the national level, including on accountability, one Member State noted that its Criminal Code included an aggravating circumstance of liability when the offence was due to the humanitarian and human rights work of the victim, which could include cooperation with the United Nations. One civil society organization noted that while work was being done to evaluate the impact of national laws on the protection of human rights defenders, little had been said on the need for such laws to include the right to unhindered access to and communication with international bodies and the State’s obligation to protect against intimidation and reprisals. 23. On good practices at the national level to ensure safe online cooperation with the United Nations, one Member State noted that digital technologies and channels played an important role in the work of human rights defenders, including the ability to access and share information. It also emphasized that digital inclusion referred not only to basic connectivity, but also to digital literacy and skills, online spaces conducive to participation free from censorship and online safety. One civil society organization noted that the use of secure communication platforms reduced the risk communications being intercepted. 24. On good practices to address reprisals at the international level, two Member States noted their support for civil society participation in intergovernmental bodies and civil society engagement with different United Nations mechanisms, including for the presentation of alternative reports and the participation of civil society delegates. 25. Regarding good practices to protect and support those who were at risk of suffering, or had suffered, intimidation and reprisals for cooperation with the United Nations, two Member States noted that they had specific protection programmes for victims, witnesses and human rights defenders who were at risk, which had been used to protect those who had suffered reprisals for cooperation with the United Nations. Another Member State underlined the importance of emergency assistance grants, safety and security training, including in the digital sphere, and time-sensitive advocacy initiatives. It underscored the importance of practical guidance and resources for diplomats, including on resettlement programmes for the protection of human rights defenders at risk. The same State noted that it worked closely with civil society partners with expertise in the protection of human rights defenders to 23 24 25 26 GE.23-15378 See A/77/504 and A/77/116. E/2023/43-E/C.19/2023/7, paras. 64 and 89. See https://www.un.org/youthenvoy/engaging-safely-at-the-un/. See https://www.ohchr.org/en/calls-for-input/2023/call-inputs-good-practices-prevent-and-addressintimidation-and-reprisals. 5