A/HRC/20/17 Beijing court had withdrawn Mr. Gao’s five-year probation and ordered an additional threeyear sentence. 27. On 2 February 2012, the Special Rapporteur, together with other mandate holders, issued a press release expressing dismay at the continuing abuse of anti-terrorism legislation to curb freedom of expression in Ethiopia. The Special Rapporteur condemned the sentencing of three journalists and two opposition politicians whose sentences range from 14 years to life imprisonment. 28. On 16 February 2012, the Special Rapporteur, together with the Special Rapporteur for Freedom of Expression of the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights of the Organization of American States, issued a joint press release regarding the sentencing by the National Court of Justice of Ecuador of three executives and a journalist from El Universo newspaper to three years’ imprisonment and a fine of USD 40 million for the publication of an article which offended President Rafael Correa. 29. On 21 February 2012, the Special Rapporteur, together with other mandate holders, condemned the arrest of at least 16 persons in Syrian Arab Republic, including prominent Syrian human rights figures, and expressed concern that their arrests and detention are directly linked to the activities of the Syrian Centre for Media and Freedom of Expression. Concern was also expressed that they may be subjected to torture and ill treatment. 30. On 24 February 2012, the Special Rapporteur, together with the Special Rapporteur on the rights to freedom of peaceful assembly and of association, urged the Senegalese authorities to take all necessary measures to ensure free, fair and transparent presidential elections that reflect the will of the Senegalese people. They also called on all parties to refrain from using violence before, during and after the elections. 31. On 28 February 2012, the Special Rapporteur, together with other mandate holders, called on the Government of Bangladesh to ensure that any policy concerning open-pit coal mining includes robust safeguards to protect human rights. In the interim, they called on the Government of Bangladesh not to allow the Phulbari coal mine to proceed, as it could displace hundreds of thousands of people and lead to the violation of fundamental human rights. 32. On 19 March 2012, the Special Rapporteur, together with 21 other mandate holders, called on States to incorporate universally agreed international human rights norms and standards with strong accountability mechanisms into the goals of the United Nations Rio+20 Conference on Sustainable Development, as the first round of informal-informal negotiations began in New York. D. Participation in meetings and seminars 33. From 1 to 3 May 2011, the Special Rapporteur participated in the global conference “World Press Freedom Day” on 21st century media, organized by UNESCO in Washington D.C. 34. On 16 and 17 May 2011, the Special Rapporteur participated in the workshop “Civil Protest and Peaceful Change: Upholding Human Rights,” organized by the Geneva Academy of International Human Rights Law and Human Rights in Geneva. 35. From 30 May to 1 June 2011, the Special Rapporteur participated in the Expert Consultation Meeting on National Security and Access to Information, organized by the Open Society Institute and hosted by Central European University in Budapest. 36. On 6 and 7 July 2011 and on 12 and 13 October 2011, the Special Rapporteur participated in expert regional workshops on the prohibition of incitement to national, racial 7