Case No Country 20/12/2012 JAL 20/12/2012 JUA 20/12/2012 JUA Mandate(s) Summary of the allegation transmitted Reply LAO 2/2012 République Démocratique Populaire Lao Freedom of expression; Freedom of peaceful assembly and of association; Human rights defenders; Allegations of expulsion of a staff member belonging to an international non-governmental organization from the Lao People‘s Democratic Republic. According to the information received, on 7 December 2012, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs decided to expel Ms. Anne-Sophie Gindroz, Country Director of Helvetas Swiss Intercooperation, following a letter she sent on 21 November 2012 to development partners, prior to the 2012 Round Table Implementation Meeting, in which she deplored the lack of respect for the rights to freedom of expression, association, and peaceful assembly in the Lao PDR, and called on development partners to bear in mind the human rights situation in the country in the 2012 RTIM‘s framework. LAO 3/2012 République Démocratique Populaire Lao Disappearances; Freedom of expression; Freedom of peaceful assembly and of association; Human rights defenders; Allegations of enforced disappearance of a human rights defender working 03/01/2013 25/03/2013 on issues of land grabbing and assisting victims to speak out about their experiences. According to the information received, on 15 December 2012, Mr. Sombath Somphone was taken to a police station by two men in civilian clothing. His whereabouts remain unknown at the time of writing the present appeal. Prior to his disappearance, Mr. Somphone was involved in trying to stop threats made by officials against people who publicly spoke up against land grabbing they experienced, during the Asia-Europe People‘s Forum held in November 2012. Mr. Somphone was calling for an investigation into these threats. USA 34/2012 United States of America Arbitrary detention; Freedom of expression; Freedom of religion; 08/04/2013 Alleged possible trial of a conscientious objector. According to the information received, Ms. Kimberly Rivera left the army without authorization while on leave from deployment to Iraq in early 2007. Ms. Rivera went to Canada after she made a decision that she could no longer participate in the war in Iraq or any other conflict for moral reasons. When she was in Canada, Ms. Rivera spoke out publicly about her objection to the conflict in Iraq. It has been reported that Ms. Rivera has been detained by the US military authorities since 20 September 2012 and may be tried before a court martial. If convicted, Ms. Rivera could face up to five years of imprisonment. A/HRC/23/51 28 Date Type