A/HRC/41/41/Add.1 Nicaragua 43. JAL Case no: NIC 1/2019 (Nicaragua), sent on 12 March 2019, no reply. Información recibida en relación con los severos actos de represión a las actividades de las organizaciones de derechos humanos de la sociedad civil y limitación al derecho a la libertad de reunión pacífica a través de la cancelación de la personalidad jurídica de varias organizaciones no gubernamentales, allanamientos ilegales a sus oficinas y a las de ciertos medios de comunicación. Hemos recibido también información relativa a alegaciones sobre presuntos actos de intimidación y represalias contra de la Federación Red Nicaragüense por la Democracia y el Desarrollo Local y de sus miembros por su cooperación con las Naciones Unidas, sus representantes y mecanismo en la esfera de los derechos humanos. Venezuela 44. JAL Case no: VEN 2/2019 (Venezuela), sent on 15 March 2019, no reply. Información recibida en relación con las serias violaciones a los derechos a la libertad de expresión, libertad de reunión pacífica y a la libertad de asociación en Venezuela en el contexto de las manifestaciones recientes, incluso el uso excesivo de la fuerza en contra de manifestantes resultando en muertes y heridos, detenciones arbitrarias masivas, la detención y deportación de múltiples periodistas y la restricción parcial del acceso a Internet. Responses to communications 45. The Special Rapporteur sent 25 communications to 11 countries in the Americas Region during the reporting period. He received responses to 11 of these communications (44 per cent) and takes note of a decreased response rate from countries in the region in comparison to the previous reporting period. The Special Rapporteur urges states to renew their commitment to engaging with the Special Procedures of the Human Rights Council. Freedom of peaceful assembly 46. During the reporting period, the Special Rapporteur sent communications regarding the right to freedom of peaceful assembly to Nicaragua, Venezuela, Brazil and Colombia, among others. He thanks the Government of Brazil for its response dated 29 March 2019, and hopes to soon receive responses to the other communications sent. 47. On 18 January 2019, the State Government of São Paolo issued Decree n. 64.074/2019, allegedly in response to protests which occurred in the weeks beforehand (BRA 3/2010). The Decree set out a number of restrictive requirements for the organisation of assemblies involving 300 people or more. These requirements included the prior notification of the military and civil police at least five days in advance of the protest date. In addition, the Decree prohibited masks and facial coverings and stated that their use would be criminalised under the offence of disobedience, codified in Article 330 of the Penal Code. The Special Rapporteur acknowledges the response of the Government of Brazil to the communication sent, however he expresses his concern that the Decree tends towards a prima facie presumption of criminality against those wearing facial coverings. He notes that facial coverings are often used during manifestations to protect against excessive surveillance and to reduce the effects of tear gas. The Special Rapporteur notes that the Government justifies this prohibition by saying that it “curbs possible excesses of individuals who may commit crimes through anonymity”, however he feels that such a blanket ban is disproportionate to the restrictions on the right to freedom of peaceful assembly. He further notes that facial coverings and masks may be removed from individuals who have committed a crime and who are apprehended during the act. 48. The Special Rapporteur also expressed his grave concerns over the excessive use of force in the dispersal of protests in Venezuela, along with the systematic use of arbitrary detention and raids against protesters (VEN 2.2019). Allegedly, between 21 and 29 January 2019, at least 1,069 people were arbitrarily detained in connection with their participation in protests, including at least 120 minors. These arbitrary detentions were accompanied by raids on the houses of participants, usually conducted after the event in poorer 9