A/HRC/28/63 112. At the same meeting, the question of reprisals was raised by the Special Rapporteur in a dialogue with the Deputy Secretary-General of the United Nations, whom he informed of the failure by some resident coordinators to show their commitment to human rights defenders or to support requests for protection from some witnesses. The special procedures mandate holders emphasized the role of resident coordinators in this connection, including the need that, as senior representatives of the United Nations on the ground, they should support special procedures mandate holders dealing with cases of reprisals against persons with whom they had been in contact and should conduct the necessary follow-up when the mandate holders have left the country.5 113. The Special Rapporteur recalls the joint statement made on 15 March 2012 by the rapporteurs on human rights defenders of the United Nations, the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights and the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights on reprisals against individuals and groups who seek to cooperate with the United Nations, the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights and the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights. He welcomes the determined attitude adopted by the President of the Council in calling on all States to combat such reprisals. 114. The Special Rapporteur recalls that, in their joint statement on the occasion of Human Rights Day 2013, the special procedures mandate holders expressed their profound concern regarding reprisals against persons who cooperated with them. Calling for a firm response to such reprisals, they said that they supported the designation of a United Nations focal point on the issue and looked forward to such a designation as soon as possible. 115. The Special Rapporteur emphasizes the importance of the joint statement by Botswana and a group of 47 States in March 2014 at the twenty-fifth session of the Council, which refer to the call by the Secretary-General and the High Commissioner for Human Rights for organizational coherence and a systematic approach by the United Nations to protect civil society actors and organizations better. 116. The Special Rapporteur is very mindful of this issue and wishes to help raise the awareness of the international community, particularly as regards the role that the United Nations should play in dealing with the issue and getting States to face up to their responsibility. 117. He wishes to note the need to move to greater oversight and action to ensure respect for the standard-setting agreements and rules of procedure of the United Nations, the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights and the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights, which explicitly prohibit reprisals by State and non-State players. 118. The Special Rapporteur intends to engage in specific work in the area of reprisals, on the basis that any person who cooperates with the United Nations or international organizations, or who reports abuse or human rights violations, may be considered a defender, in view of his or her activities to protect rights and freedoms. IV. Conclusions 119. The Special Rapporteur confirms his intention to devote a large part of his time and energy to carrying out his work, with a view to serving the cause in which he believes. 5 GE.14-25280 See the report of the twenty-first annual meeting of special rapporteurs/representatives, independent experts and chairpersons of working groups of the special procedures of the Human Rights Council (29 September–3 October 2014) on the website of the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights, www.ohchr.org/EN/HRBodies/SP/AMeeting/Pages/AnnualMeeting.aspx. 17