A/HRC/39/41 removal from the country. Subsequently, Mr. Rodas Andrade became the victim of smear campaigns, including by authorities in the executive and legislative branches, and there have been attempts to remove him from his position. Mr. Rodas Andrade and his family have received threats and on 27 October 2017 they were granted precautionary measures by the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights. The Commission concluded that they are in a serious and urgent situation, with their rights to life and personal integrity at risk. 10. Guyana 43. On 18 October 2017, the Working Group of Experts on People of African Descent sent an urgent appeal to the Government of Guyana concerning alleged reprisals by prison authorities and guards against an individual [name withheld by the Working Group] incarcerated at Lusignan Prison (GUY 1/2017). The Working Group had interviewed the individual on 4 October 2017, and heard allegations that he was verbally threatened by prison authorities and guards for having cooperated with them during their official visit to Guyana from 2 to 6 October 2017. The Working Group expressed serious concern at the safety and well-being of the individual and requested the Government, as a matter of urgency, to investigate the allegations and ensure that no detainees would be subjected to harm, threats, harassment or punishment for being in contact with the Working Group. At the time of writing the Government had not responded to the Working Group’s urgent appeal. 11. Honduras 44. Following the end of his official visit to Honduras on 12 May 2018, Mr. Michel Forst, the Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights defenders, was “extremely concerned with the increasing number of acts of intimidation and reprisals against human rights defenders in connection with their engagement with the United Nations and its human rights mechanisms or with regional human rights organizations. These reprisals take the form of smear campaigns, harassment, intimidation, threats, physical attacks and killings.”10 45. On 7 June 2017 four special procedures mandate holders sent a joint communication to the Government concerning allegations of death threats, attacks and reprisals against Ms. Hedme Castro (HND 3/2017), of the Asociación para una Ciudanía Participativa (ACIPARTICIPA). The allegations related to surveillance and interference with her online correspondence, and her being held on 2 March 2017 at Toncontin international airport in Tegucigalpa, which prevented her from being able to board a plane to Geneva for a Human Rights Council side-event. Airport security allegedly conducted a “random” inspection of her luggage and interrogated her as to the purpose of her visit to Geneva, as well as to why she was carrying information regarding the situation of human rights in the country. 46. On 21 April 2017, a car without plates and with tinted windows was allegedly parked outside the office of ACI-PARTICIPA. On 1 May 2017, Ms. Castro and other members of ACI-PARTICIPA were reported to have been verbally and physically attacked during a demonstration by members of a company that operates in a region where ACIPARTICIPA is helping the local indigenous community who are opposing actions by the company. 47. On 29 June 2017, the Government responded to the special procedures’ communication of 7 June 2017, noting that no request was found by the Department of Human Rights in the Ministry of Security to implement protection measures for Ms. Castro or other members of ACI-PARTICIPA, but the Human Rights Defenders section, Special Attorney for Human Rights is investigating her and others’ concerns regarding the airport security forces. The Government said it was impossible to contact Ms. Castro because she had left the country, therefore no risk assessment could be made on her behalf. 48. On 24 July 2017, the Human Rights Committee raised concern about reports that senior government officials made disparaging statements in the media about individuals and civil society organizations who had submitted information for the second periodic report of Honduras (see CCPR/C/HND/CO/2, para. 42). In July 2017 Honduran defenders 10 GE.18-13325 OHCHR, End of mission statement by Michel Forst, United Nations Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights defenders said at the end of his visit to Honduras, 12 May 2018. 27