A/HRC/22/34 combat reprisals, but the overall aim was to ensure that anybody who wished to participate and to express ideas for a better world based on human rights would be free to do so. In this context, Mr. Grossman recalled that human rights involved actively promoting participation. 27. With regard to reprisals in the experience of the Committee against Torture and other treaty bodies, the forms observed included death threats, kidnapping, abduction, inhuman and degrading treatment and arbitrary detention. All of these manifestations attacked the idea of the inviolability of individuals. Mr. Grossman also mentioned what he described as more sophisticated methods used against those who tried to cooperate with the United Nations, such as criminal investigation inquiries, harassment, defamation, slander and the misuse of national laws with the aim of preventing human rights defenders from making their contribution to society. He also made reference to legislation that limits the possibility of registering as an organization with the purpose of achieving human rights objectives, or the decision to arbitrarily remove authorization for such registration. Restrictions also related to the transfer of funds. As stated in the Committee’s most recent annual report, this was very much part and parcel of the culture of impunity, as there was often no accountability. Mr. Grossman also highlighted the gender dimension of the issue, and referred to situations where communities did not accept the active involvement of women in promoting human rights. He also raised the particular situation of attacks against journalists as a way to undermine freedom of expression and to intimidate people who wish to uphold human rights. 28. Mr. Grossman explained some of the techniques used by treaty bodies to address reprisals. These included country reports, concluding observations containing specific recommendations, confidential visits, individual communications, general comments and follow-up activities. The prevention of and responses to reprisals were also discussed in the context of the treaty body strengthening process. 29. With regard to recommendations, Mr. Grossman encouraged States to establish focal points at the national level to deal with reprisal-related issues. He added that it was important to ensure the clear criminalization of exacerbating circumstances when human rights defenders were the subject of criminal activity. Criticizing public authorities should also be decriminalized. Mr. Grossman also suggested that a study be carried out on good practices in addressing reprisals (such as legislation, registration, training or cooperation with civil society). This could take the form of a clearing house mechanism to receive and distribute information on good practices. Mr. Grossman concluded by emphasizing that it was important not only to prevent reprisals, but also to create an environment in which everybody was able to enjoy and uphold human rights. H. Executive Director of the East and Horn of Africa Human Rights Defenders Project 30. The Executive Director of the East and Horn of Africa Human Rights Defenders Project, Hassan Shire Sheikh Ahmed, welcomed the convening of the panel, which was particularly timely. Since its establishment in 2005, the Human Rights Defenders Project had assisted hundreds of human rights defenders at risk, some of whom had faced intimidation or reprisals as a direct result of their cooperation with the United Nations. Reprisals had long-standing consequences for the individuals affected, most tragically in the case of assassinations; others had been forced to flee their countries for their own safety. As the secretariat to a network of human rights organizations, the Human Rights Defenders Project facilitated the attendance and participation of human rights defenders in the work of the Human Rights Council. 8