A/HRC/57/60 defenders at risk who are fleeing persecution in their home country. The programme benefits up to 250 human rights defenders and their families annually. 18 18. In the context of the election of the members of the Human Rights Council for the 2023–2025 term, two candidate Member States voluntarily pledged support for initiatives to prevent and counter reprisals against civil society actors who engaged with the United Nations and for initiatives to strengthen the participation of civil society organizations in the work of the Council.19 19. In its 2023 resolution on cooperation with the United Nations, its representatives and mechanisms in the field of human rights, the Human Rights Council welcomed good practices by Member States and the United Nations to prevent and address intimidation and reprisals.20 In particular, the Council welcomed the nomination by United Nations entities of dedicated focal points and the adoption of reprisal-related protocols or guidance that included a clear allocation of responsibilities and step-by-step processes to document or verify allegations, activate a response based on a predictable toolbox and allow flexibility and creativity to respond on a case-by-case basis. It also welcomed a strong focus on prevention based on a zero-tolerance approach to reprisals and clear messaging from the leadership of United Nations entities, as well as on awareness-raising aimed at United Nations staff, Member States and the civil society interlocutors concerned. The Council stressed the importance of sharing and building on good practices on how to prevent and address reprisals for cooperation with the United Nations. 20. Due to reports of an increasing number of threats, acts of intimidation and reprisals directed at Indigenous Peoples attending sessions of the Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues, the Indigenous Peoples and Development Branch – Secretariat of the Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues in the Division for Inclusive Social Development of the Department of Economic and Social Affairs and the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) established a system for identifying, reporting and addressing allegations and a follow-up framework. The system was implemented in 2024 at the twenty-third session of the Forum. A zero-tolerance statement on reprisals was published on the website of the Permanent Forum along with email addresses for the submission of allegations. 21. On the first day of the session, the Chair of the Permanent Forum made a statement rejecting any act of intimidation or reprisal against Indigenous Peoples for their participation in the Forum and shared information about the new reporting system. Expressing concern over the intimidation of Indigenous leaders and human rights defenders for their participation in its 2024 session, the Permanent Forum stated that it would refine its procedures to monitor and address instances of reprisals against participants.21 22. At the recommendation of the Board of Trustees of the United Nations Voluntary Fund for Indigenous Peoples, the OHCHR secretariat developed a protocol on the intimidation of and reprisals against grantees of the Fund. The protocol provides guidance to secretariat staff to work closely with grantees to identify, prevent and address acts of intimidation and reprisals linked to their engagement with the United Nations through the Fund’s programme. As part of the measures, future grantees are supported by OHCHR to assess the opportunities and risks of intimidation and reprisals when engaging with the United Nations, including when sharing information on social media about their participation in the Fund’s programme. As part of the preparatory training for grantees, OHCHR has also developed a session on intimidation and reprisals, which includes a mapping exercise to identify opportunities, risks and mitigation strategies linked to their participation in the Fund’s programme. 23. Due to past incidents and acts of intimidation and reprisals against Indigenous Peoples attending sessions of the Expert Mechanism on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, the Expert 18 19 20 21 GE.24-14259 See https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/news/2021/07/providing-protectionto-human-rights-defenders-at-risk.html. See A/78/66 and A/78/94. Human Rights Council resolution 54/24. E/2024/43-E/C.19/2024/8, paras. 64 and 89. 5