A/HRC/13/22 preventing their travel. They are often subjected to humiliating body searches and excessive luggage screening, or have their travel documents confiscated. 53. Defenders often face threats, attacks, arrests and false charges before, during or just after publicizing violations of human rights allegedly committed or condoned by State authorities. They may similarly be subjected to violence by non-State actors whenever information is published on alleged violations by private actors. Attacks on defenders at the time of the publication of reports, articles, petitions and open letters or the launch of radio broadcasts and campaigns denouncing human rights violations are increasingly frequent. 54. Peaceful public demonstrations, rallies and strikes to denounce human rights violations continue to be moments of particular vulnerability. Defenders are increasingly targeted in the run-up to demonstrations and suffer from the use of excessive force by authorities during peaceful protests. 55. Members of human rights NGOs and journalists are often targeted during the investigation of human rights abuses. They are subject to threats, attacks and intimidation, and some of them have even been abducted and killed. (ii) Long-term triggers 56. The electoral period is a time when defenders face heightened risks. Freedom of expression and assembly are often restricted before, during and after elections. In many cases, acts of intimidation start long before the beginning of election campaigns. Solutions to enhance the security of defenders during elections should therefore also take this preceding period into account. 57. Defenders testifying in judicial proceedings, assisting victims or observing public trials continue to be subjected to intimidation and are often denied access to courtrooms. 58. Defenders working in conflict situations or engaged in humanitarian activities in complex emergency situations are often the first targets of the parties to the conflict. States resort to security legislation to restrain and impede the activities of defenders. The Special Rapporteur would like to refer to the analysis of her predecessor on the impact of security legislation and of emergency situations on defenders.8 59. Defenders may be at risk after having assisted the United Nations, its representatives and mechanisms in the field of human rights. States should refer to the report of the Secretary-General on cooperation with representatives of United Nations human rights bodies, which describes situations in which defenders have been intimidated for their collaboration with United Nations human rights bodies and mechanisms.9 In this regard, the Special Rapporteur urges States to refrain from threatening defenders before, during and after the visits of United Nations independent experts or regional and intergovernmental mechanisms and organizations.10 States should comply with Human Rights Council resolution 12/2 on cooperation with the United Nations, its representatives and mechanisms in the field of human rights adopted by consensus during its twelfth session. 60. Certain events attracting international attention such as Olympic Games and major championships are often a period when defenders are under great pressure. Forced evictions 8 9 10 GE.10-10012 See A/58/380. See E/CN.4/2005/31 and Add.1. See the report of the Special Rapporteur on extrajudicial, summary or arbitrary executions following his visit to Kenya (A/HRC/11/2/Add.6) and the press release issued upon the conclusion of the visit, available at http://www.unhchr.ch/huricane/huricane.nsf/view01/52DF4BE7194A7598 C125756800539D79?opendocument. 11