A/HRC/18/19 roaming in Europe saying that there is a violation of human rights because we don’t allow university professors to teach revolution… We are waiting for them to come back and to tell us what their agenda is”. A local newspaper reportedly published an article alluding to the possibility that United Nations aid to Malawi could be cut if human rights defenders continued their “irresponsible reporting” to the Council. State-controlled media allegedly relayed criticism expressed by Government officials about the initiative of human rights defenders perceived as negatively portraying the President to the Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights defenders. 52. At the time of completion of the present report, the Government had not replied to this communication. 53. On 24 May 2011, by two special procedures mandate holders sent an urgent appeal16 regarding threats against Benedicto Kondowe, the Executive Director of the Civil Society Coalition on Quality Basic Education. Mr. Kondowe had publicly denounced the Government of Malawi for allegedly violating human rights, particularly in the field of education. 54. On 21 April 2011, after three unknown men tried to locate Mr. Kondowe at his office and enquired about his whereabouts when they did not find him there, Mr. Kondowe reportedly received a phone call from an unknown man. The caller allegedly informed Mr. Kondowe that alerting the police and international bodies, such as United Nations agencies and international diplomatic missions, about the visit to his office by three unidentified men was not clever and such a move would not guarantee his safety. The caller also allegedly stated that Mr. Kondowe was being monitored because of his leadership of the Civil Society Coalition on Quality Basic Education. The caller then made reference to the work carried out by civil society organizations and criticized them for labelling the Government of Malawi as a human rights violator. 55. According to the information received, on 23 April 2011, Mr. Kondowe received another phone call from an unidentified man who advised him to leave the country. The caller allegedly stated that if Mr. Kondowe did not flee the country, he would pay for having publicly challenged the Government. 56. At the time of completion of the present report, the Government of Malawi had not replied to this communication. 8. Rwanda 57. On 18 March 2011, two special procedures mandate holders sent an urgent appeal17 regarding the situation of Pascal Nyilibakwe, the Executive Secretary of the Rwandan section of the Human Rights League of the Great Lakes, an independent, regional umbrella organization that works on human rights issues in Rwanda. 58. In September 2010, Mr. Nyilibakwe was forced to flee Rwanda as a result of a campaign of threats and harassment against him, allegedly linked to his role as Executive Secretary of his organization. 59. The Human Rights League of the Great Lakes became involved in preparing the civil society report under the universal periodic review process of Rwanda to be presented to the Human Rights Council in January 2011. In this connection, it is reported that, in September 2009, training sessions were organized by the League to raise awareness of the existing regional and international protection mechanisms available to human rights defenders. During the second training session, it is reported that a steering committee was 16 17 10 A/HRC/18/51. A/HRC/17/27/Add.1, paras. 1,968-1,976.

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