A/HRC/22/34/ 31. Mr. Shire Sheikh Ahmed emphasized that primary responsibility for responding to acts of intimidations and reprisals lay with the State, which should conduct investigations, persecute perpetrators and offer remedies to victims. However, this obligation had rarely been fulfilled. Therefore practical responses to assist victims had been developed within civil society, drawing largely on the work of existing organizations and networks that supported human rights defenders who faced threats as a result of their work, such as temporary evacuation and relocation, trial observation, legal assistance, practical security measures as well as public and private advocacy to raise awareness of violations or to seek solutions through private dialogue. These were equally relevant in cases of reprisal specifically related to cooperation with the United Nations. These responses were, however, limited when States were unwilling or unable to intervene positively. In this context he pointed out the contribution of networks in responding to and preventing reprisals. 32. With regard to recommendations, Mr. Shire Sheikh Ahmed highlighted two main areas for concrete action; in sustained follow-up on cases, and in the promotion of greater coordination and cooperation for both the prevention and responses to cases of intimidation and reprisal. Regarding follow-up, the issue should be discussed on a regular and timely basis by the Human Rights Council. The report of the Secretary-General on reprisals should be presented in an annual dedicated discussion during a Council session. This would give States concerned the opportunity to give feedback on the steps that they have taken to investigate and take appropriate action in response to allegations. Furthermore it was important that cases were not allowed to drop off the agenda simply because there has been no response to communications or other follow-up by the States concerned. Reference should therefore continue to be made in the report of the Secretary-General each year to any allegations that remain unresolved. If there were no substantive updates to be made on cases, they could be listed in an annex. In addition, an accurate and accessible record of the status of cases could be established through a central database or online registry managed by OHCHR, which would log communications sent, responses received or other follow-up actions. Lastly States concerned should be encouraged to provide information to the Human Rights Council on the status of investigations or prosecutions of allegations contained in the report of the Secretary- General. 33. With regard to the promotion of coordination and cooperation between different protection stakeholders, a number of bodies had made commitments to support human rights defenders, and there was a possibility for greater coordination to maximize individual actors’ protection effects. The European Union Guidelines on Human Rights Defenders offered possibilities for further engagement for the protection of individuals and organizations that have faced reprisals for their cooperation with the United Nations human rights system. Furthermore European Union delegations and missions of Member States in third countries had a range of tools at their disposal to intervene in support of affected individuals, including in their dialogues with States. These should be further explored and used. Lastly greater coordination between those stakeholders who could provide practical and emergency assistance to those who have been the targets of reprisals would enable a more holistic response. This could include, inter alia, non-governmental organizations, OHCHR and its field presences, and third-country shelter houses. III. Summary of the discussion 34. Those participating in the discussion represented Argentina, Australia, Austria, Bahrain, Belarus, Chile, China, Cuba, the Czech Republic, Denmark, Ecuador, France, Honduras, Ireland, Liechtenstein, Morocco, Norway, Paraguay, Poland, Qatar, the Republic of Korea, the Russian Federation, Saudi Arabia, Slovenia, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sweden, 9