A/HRC/RES/24/24 Welcoming further the work done by special procedures and the increased attention given by treaty bodies to preventing and addressing intimidation and reprisals, Expressing concern at the continued reports of intimidation and reprisals against individuals and groups who seek to cooperate or have cooperated with the United Nations, its representatives and mechanisms in the field of human rights, and at the seriousness of reported reprisals, including violations of the right of the victim to life, liberty and security of person, and violations of obligations under international law prohibiting torture and cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment, Acknowledging that acts of intimidation or reprisal carried out or tolerated by the State undermine and often violate human rights, and underscoring that States should investigate any alleged act of intimidation or reprisal, ensure accountability and effective remedies and take steps to prevent further intimidation and reprisals, Recalling the principles relating to the status of national institutions for the promotion and protection of human rights (the Paris Principles), and underlining the role that national human rights institutions can play in preventing and addressing cases of reprisal as part of supporting cooperation between their Governments and the United Nations in the promotion of human rights, including by contributing to follow-up actions, as appropriate, to recommendations made by international human rights mechanisms, 1. Reaffirms the right of everyone, individually and in association with others, to unhindered access to and communication with international bodies, in particular the United Nations, its representatives and mechanisms in the field of human rights, including the Human Rights Council, its special procedures, the universal periodic review mechanism and treaty bodies, as well as regional human rights mechanisms, bearing in mind that free and unhindered access to and communication with individuals and civil society are indeed indispensable to enable the United Nations and its mechanisms to fulfil their mandates; 2. Strongly calls upon all States to review legislation, policies and practices that have the effect of undermining unhindered access to and communication with international bodies as set forth in paragraph 1 above, and to avoid adopting any such new legislation; 3. Urges all States to prevent and refrain from all acts of intimidation or reprisal against those who: (a) Seek to cooperate or have cooperated with the United Nations, its representatives and mechanisms in the field of human rights, or who have provided testimony or information to them; (b) Avail or have availed themselves of procedures established under the auspices of the United Nations for the protection of human rights and fundamental freedoms, and all those who have provided legal or other assistance to them for this purpose; (c) Submit or have submitted communications under procedures established by human rights instruments, and all those who have provided legal or other assistance to them for this purpose; (d) Are relatives of victims of human rights violations or of those who have provided legal or other assistance to victims; 4. Urges States to take all appropriate measures to prevent the occurrence of intimidation or reprisals, including, where necessary, by adopting and consequently implementing specific legislation and policies and by issuing appropriate guidance to national authorities in order to effectively protect those who seek to cooperate, cooperate or have cooperated with the United Nations, its representatives and mechanisms in the field of human rights from any act of intimidation or reprisal; 2