A/HRC/34/34
raising concerns, including with regard to confidentiality and online security, and the
availability of the questionnaire in the official languages of the United Nations. Mandate
holders also stressed the need for wider dissemination of information on this new tool to all
stakeholders.
2.
Acts of intimidation and reprisal for cooperation with the United Nations in the field
of human rights
59.
In accordance with their modalities for an enhanced response to reprisals, adopted at
the twenty-second annual meeting, mandate holders received an overview from the former
focal point of the Coordination Committee, François Crépeau, of actions taken on cases of
reprisal against those cooperating with special procedures and other United Nations and
regional human rights mechanisms. They included a section on reprisals in the annual
report of special procedures, the launch of a dedicated webpage on the OHCHR website,7
and receiving and transmitting information to Member States concerned. During its tenure,
the Committee, in consultation with the mandate holders concerned, also raised several
cases of reprisal with various stakeholders, including the Secretary-General, the High
Commissioner, the President of the Human Rights Council and civil society.
60.
The mandate holders stressed that they continued to receive allegations of acts or
intimidation and reprisal against those cooperating with the United Nations in the field of
human rights. The majority of cases concerned alleged acts of intimidation and reprisal for
cooperation with mandate holders in relation to their country visits and communications
procedure. Some cases, however, also related to measures taken by States to deter
interaction or cooperation with special procedures. The mandate holders reiterated that all
acts of intimidation and reprisal were unacceptable, and stressed the need to address this
issue in a consistent manner.
61.
The Committee appointed Catalina Devandas-Aguilar as focal point on reprisals as
of 1 July 2016.
3.
National mechanisms for reporting and follow-up
62.
The mandate holders were briefed on the development of national mechanisms for
reporting and follow-up, a recent initiative supported by OHCHR through, inter alia, the
development of a practical guide, training and the appointment of capacity-building officers
in 10 OHCHR regional offices. These national mechanisms, set up by States, are designed
to optimize and rationalize the national capacity to engage with United Nations and
regional human rights mechanisms, to comply with reporting obligations and to implement
recommendations. While the specificities of each mechanism may vary, they should all
focus on further developing the four key abilities for the Government to be able to engage
fully with the United Nations system: engagement, coordination, consultation, and
information management.
63.
The mandate holders expressed their support for the above-mentioned initiative, as it
is linked with one of their major issues of concern, namely that of follow-up to and
implementation of their recommendations. They highlighted the need for increased
coordination between the United Nations human rights mechanisms and for building
bridges between similar, parallel or convergent activities and recommendations emanating
from such activities, the need also to focus on implementing recommendations at the
subnational levels, and the relationship between the mechanisms and national human rights
institutions.
7
12
www.ohchr.org/EN/HRBodies/SP/Pages/Actsofintimidationandreprisal.aspx.
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