A/HRC/22/34 5. The Secretary-General stressed the fact that States had a responsibility to respect human rights and protect those who advocate for fundamental rights; when they failed to do so, the United Nations had to stand up and speak out. 6. Recalling the action that he called for in his report, the Secretary-General welcomed the initiatives taken by various bodies and mechanisms to respond to reprisals, and praised the active role played by the President of the Human Rights Council in this regard. He expressed the hope that the panel would act as a catalyst for robust and coordinated action throughout the United Nations system to systematically condemn and respond to persecution and intimidation. B. United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights 7. The High Commissioner stressed the fact that reprisals should not take place, as the United Nations could not work without the cooperation of the people it was supposed to serve. As demonstrated by the leadership of the Secretary-General, the whole of the United Nations takes reported incidents of reprisals very seriously. 8. The High Commissioner emphasized that the cooperation of individuals and groups with the United Nations in the field of human rights in a free and safe manner was key to ensuring an efficient and results-oriented approach to the promotion and protection of human rights. Several key documents called for and praised this cooperation; for example, the 2005 World Summit Outcome 1 reaffirmed the importance of civil society in the work of the United Nations. She illustrated how cooperation with civil society was crucial for human rights bodies and mechanisms – OHCHR, the Human Rights Council, the special procedures, the universal periodic review, the commissions of inquiry, the treaty bodies – and in accordance with their respective mandates. 9. Despite the unequivocal recognition of the need and also the right of civil society to participate, reprisals and intimidations continue to be reported. The High Commissioner noted that reprisals could take many forms; people could be threatened or harassed by Government officials, including through public statements by high-level authorities. Associations and non-governmental organizations might see their activities monitored or restricted. Smear campaigns against those who cooperated with the United Nations might be organized. Threats could be made via phone calls, text messages or even direct contacts. People could also be arrested, beaten or tortured, or even killed. 10. Referring to the report of the Secretary-General in which he deeply regretted the lack of accountability for the majority of reported cases of reprisals, 2 the High Commissioner regretted that responses by States had been far from sufficient. She added that the Human Rights Council should do more, and highlighted the need for more coherent and solid strategies to put an end to reprisals. Such strategies should draw on all available sources and actors. She concluded that reprisals were not only unacceptable; they were also ineffective, because, ultimately, freedom would always prevail and information would always find its way to the outside world. C. President of the Human Rights Council 11. The Vice-President of the Human Rights Council, Ambassador Andras Dekany, who chaired the meeting, delivered a message on behalf of the President of the Council. In her 1 2 4 General Assembly resolution 60/1. A/HRC/21/18, para. 72.