A/HRC/43/51/Add.3 Ukraine 595. JAL 7/01/2019 Case no: UKR 5/2018 State reply: 07/03/2019 Alleged adverse environment for human rights defenders in Ukraine, most recently illustrated by the killing of Ms. Kateryna Handziuk. 596. The Special Rapporteur thanks the government of Ukraine for the letter in response to his communication. He welcomes the report elaborated by the Parliamentary Temporary Investigative Commission, concerning attacks against civil society actors, including Ms. Handziuk. He further takes note of the information provided on the charges brought against alleged perpetrators of the killing of Ms. Handziuk. He invites the Government to share information on the current status of investigations. 597. The Special Rapporteur regrets that no information was provided regarding the measures taken to ensure the effective protection of women human rights defenders, with the recognition of their particular needs and the specific risks they face. The Special Rapporteur reiterates concerns about an emerging pattern of attacks against human rights defenders which remain unsolved and an apparent climate of impunity, which cannot but encourage further similar violence, which may have a chilling effect on civil society, in particular on the peaceful exercise of human rights. 598. The Special Rapporteur reminds the Ukrainian Government of its obligation to create an enabling environment for the exercise of freedom of expression. Part of this duty is reflected in the obligation to combat impunity in relation to attacks against individuals for their work in bringing into light information of public interest, such as corruption. United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland 599. JAL 03/01/2019 Case no: GBR 14/2018 State reply: 11/03/2019 Allegations concerning inadequate implementation of the Modern Slavery Act; in particular the ineffective and insufficient consultation with civil society organisations on a statutory guidance on trafficking in persons. 600. JAL 01/02/2019 Case no: GBR 13/2018 State reply: 11/03/2019 Allegations of the prosecution of fifteen individuals, including Messrs. Nathan Clack, Joseph McGahan, Nicholas Sigsworth, Alistair Tamlit, Edward Thacker and Benjamin Metters, and Ms. Helen Brewer, Lyndsay Burtonshaw, Laura Clayson, Melanie Evans, Emma Hughes, May McKeith, Ruth Potts, Jyotsna Ram and Melanie Strickland, also known as the Stansted 15, for the exercise of their right to peaceful and non-violent protest and freedom of expression. 601. PR 21/12/2018 UN experts urge UK to honour rights obligations and let Mr. Julian Assange leave Ecuador embassy in London freely 602. PR 06/02/2019 UK must stop disproportionate use of security laws after conviction of Stansted 15, say UN rights experts 603. The Special Rapporteur thanks the Government for its response to the communication sent on 3 January 2019, which raised concerns over the implementation of the Modern Slavery Act 2015. He welcomes the numerous ways which the Government has elaborated on its engagement with civil society actors, noting that they indeed sought their expertise in the process of addressing modern slavery and through their membership in The Modern Slavery Strategy and Implementation Group (MSSIG). While the Special Rapporteur is concerned by the initial decision by the Government to drastically cut the financial assistance awarded to such a vulnerable group as victims of trafficking seeking asylum, he acknowledges its commitment to comply with K & AM v SSHD and reinstate top-up payments to victims. The Special Rapporteur invites the Government to share specific 82