A/HRC/48/28
including the Spokesperson of the Secretary-General, addressed their detention and called
for their release.112
126. Mandate holders expressed their concern over the adoption of a law that would
significantly restrict access to foreign funding for non-governmental organizations, noting
that such measures had paralyzing effects for humanitarian support to vulnerable
populations.113
127. Annex II contains information on developments in the situations of Ms. Maria
Lourdes Afiuni and Mr. Fernando Albán.
128.
On 26 August 2021, the Government responded.
Viet Nam
129. Multiple United Nations actors addressed cases of alleged surveillance, cyberattacks,
intimidation, passport confiscation, arbitrary arrest and detention and heavy sentencing
against individuals and groups who cooperated or attempted to cooperate with the United
Nations; such cases also led to self-censorship and deterred others from cooperating.
130. Special procedure mandate holders addressed allegations of police action used to
prevent Mr. Nguyen Tuong Thuy of the Independent Journalist Association of Viet Nam
from meeting with an OHCHR delegation, including several wives of prisoners of
conscience, in Hanoi in March 2018. 114 State security services prevented Ms. Vu Minh
Khanh, Ms. Nguyen Thi Huyen Trang and Ms. Nguyen Thi Kim Thanh from attending,
whereas Ms. Nguyen Thi Lanh and Ms. Bui Thi Kim Phuong entered under surveillance. The
incidents were addressed with the authorities, but not publicly reported at the time for fear of
further reprisals.
131. Special procedure mandate holders addressed the cyberattack against nongovernmental organization Vietnamese Overseas Initiative for Conscience Empowerment,
reportedly following its increased cooperation with the United Nations.115
132. Annex II contains information on developments in the situations of Ms. Truong Thi
Ha, Ms. Dinh Thi Phuong Thao, Mr. Pham Chi Dung, Mr. Nguyen Bac Truyen and Ms. Bui
Thi Kim Phoung.
133.
On 12 August 2021, the Government responded.
Yemen
134. The Group of Eminent International and Regional Experts on Yemen expressed its
regret for its continued lack of access to the country and its concern over the climate of fear
in Yemen, which deterred victims, witnesses and organizations from engaging with the
investigators and sharing information.116
135. OHCHR documented government restrictions on humanitarian and development
activity which inhibited United Nations operations, including a decree leading local
authorities to regularly limit access for OHCHR during human rights investigations and
mandating approval for travel between governorates and to access internally displaced person
camps.
136. It was reported to OHCHR that Mr. Abdulmajeed Sabrah, a lawyer in northern
Yemen, was intimidated for sharing information with the United Nations, including by
112
113
114
115
116
18
https://twitter.com/OCHA_Venezuela/status/1352240655469338626; and
https://twitter.com/UNAIDS/status/1355094157937807361.
See https://www.un.org/press/en/2021/db210129.doc.htm; and
https://media.un.org/en/asset/k1w/k1w2ide59u.
See https://www.ohchr.org/EN/NewsEvents/Pages/DisplayNews.aspx?NewsID=26620&LangID=E.
VNM 3/2020.
VNM 2/2021.
A/HRC/45/6, paras. 7–8.