A/HRC/57/60 41. In her 2023 statement40 to the Human Rights Council on the situation in Belarus, the Deputy High Commissioner for Human Rights noted that the authorities have further tightened their already far-reaching control over civic space, including by increasingly employing the label “extremism” to stifle dissent. The Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Belarus expressed concern that civil society organizations, notably, those involved in human rights defence and advocacy work have been severely targeted by repressive governmental policies under pretext of countering extremism (A/78/327, para. 76). 42. On 16 July 2024, the Government responded to the note verbale sent in connection to the present report by resending the reply it had sent the previous year in connection to the 2023 report of the Secretary General.41 6. Burundi 43. The cases of human rights lawyers Mssrs. Armel Niyongere, Dieudonné Bashirahishize, Vital Nshimirimana and Lambert Nigarura have been included since 2017 in the reports of the Secretary-General42 on allegations of disbarment and suspension following their cooperation with the Committee against Torture during the consideration of a special report on Burundi in July 2016.43 44. On 31 October 2023, during the review of the third periodic report of Burundi, the Committee against Torture noted that following the first dialogue with the Committee in 2016, the State party had taken steps that could constitute reprisals against the four representatives of civil society who had cooperated with the Committee. In this connection, one of the lawyers was suspended from the Bujumbura Bar Association and three of them disbarred and criminally prosecuted. The individuals concerned were not able to return to Burundi. The Committee further noted that the State party had not responded to any of the Committee’s letters and requests (CAT/C/SR.2039, para. 9). 45. In its observations, the Committee noted the prolonged suspension of lawyer Lambert Nigarura and the lack of clarity concerning the steps to be taken and the competent authority to approach for his readmission to the bar. It also noted the disbarment and criminal conviction of lawyers Armel Niyongere, Dieudonné Bashirahishize and Vital Nshimirimana, who cooperated with the Committee during the consideration of the State party’s special report. The Committee further noted that in its view these penalties could constitute reprisals against the four lawyers for providing it with information for its review of the special report of Burundi (CAT/C/BDI/CO/3 para. 20).44 46. The Committee recommended that the State party put an end to all reprisals, including against the lawyers mentioned above and those who cooperated with the Committee in its consideration of the Special report of Burundi in 2016. It further recommended that the State take all appropriate measures to prevent intimidation and reprisals and promote a safe environment conducive to dialogue with the United Nations, its representatives and mechanisms in the field of human rights (CAT/C/BDI/CO/3 para. 21(e)). 47. In his 2023 report, the Special Rapporteur on Burundi noted that reportedly, a culture of fear has been established in Burundi resulting in self-censorship and reprisals against political dissidents, media professionals and civil society organizations (A/HRC/54/56, para. 63). On 12 October 2023, the Human Rights Council adopted resolution 54/20 calling 40 41 42 43 44 GE.24-14259 https://www.ohchr.org/en/statements-and-speeches/2023/09/statement-situation-human-rights-belarus A/HRC/54/61, Annex II paras. 25–27. A/HRC/36/31, 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; A/HRC/51/47, Annex II paras. 26–27; A/HRC/54/61, Annex II paras. 25–27. CAT/C/BDI/CO/2/Add.1, paras. 33 and 34. See also INT_CAT_RLE_BDI_24877_F and INT_CAT_RLE_BDI_24878_F. See the Committee’s letters and the State party’s response at https://tbinternet.ohchr.org/_layouts/15/treatybodyexternal/SessionDetails1.aspx?SessionID=1084&L ang=en. See also CAT/C/BDI/CO/2/Add.1, paras. 33 and 34; see also https://www.ohchr.org/en/press-releases/2016/08/burundi-torture-review-un-experts-concernedreported-reprisals. 43