A/HRC/43/51/Add.3 ASIA-PACIFIC REGION 293. During the present reporting period, the Special Rapporteur sent 70 communications to 19 countries in the Asia-Pacific region. He takes note of the response rate of 60% for the region, which is a welcome increase of 34% over the previous reporting period. He is grateful for the Governments who cooperated with the mandate and looks forward to receiving the outstanding replies. 294. The Special Rapporteur would also like to commend the Government of Mongolia for its invitation to visit the country, and for its cooperation during the visit. The Special Rapporteur remains committed to provide technical support, in particular to support the adoption of a comprehensive law on the protection of human rights defenders and welcomes the commitment and will of the Government to ensure a safe and enabling environment for them, in compliance with the UN Declaration on Human Rights Defenders. 295. The Special Rapporteur notes with concern the persistently hostile environment across multiple countries in the region towards human rights defenders. Those defending local and indigenous communities’ right to a safe, clean, healthy and sustainable environment are commonly targeted by powerful commercial interests (particularly in the mining sector), as illustrated by communications sent to Australia, China, India and the Philippines. Defenders of religious minorities are also commonly targeted in the region, including in some cases by State authorities, such as in Bangladesh, China and India. Those defending women’s rights and LGBTI rights have also been targeted in some countries, as illustrated by communications sent to Malaysia, Pakistan and the Philippines. 296. The right to freedom of expression continues to be threatened in countries across the region, with many Governments seemingly unwilling to accept even limited criticism from journalists or activists, such as in Bangladesh, Lao, Myanmar, Pakistan and Viet Nam. Similarly the right to freely associate has come under threat in several countries, where States use legislation to impose unreasonable administrative requirements or restrictions on human rights organisations, and prosecute their members. The alleged use of excessive force by police authorities in response to protests has been reported in a number of countries, along with the criminalisation of protesters, in particular targeting human rights defenders who are often the organisers of the protests. 297. Continued patterns observed during the reporting period include States’ failures to observe due process when prosecuting rights defenders, notably regarding access to legal representation, such as in China and Viet Nam. Some States have also continued to use counter-terrorism and national security legislation to prosecute journalists, NGO leaders and protest organisers, resulting in the use of excessive force and allowing them to hand down lengthy prison sentences which are often significantly disproportionate to the actual substance of the actions for which they are prosecuted. This was illustrated by communications sent to China and the Philippines. 298. Allegations of mistreatment in detention continue to abound, with the deliberate and punitive deprivation of contact with families a particularly recurrent theme, in some cases leading to severe deteriorations in the mental health of prisoners, as seen in communications sent to Iran, Lao, Pakistan and Viet Nam.. 299. Human rights defenders in the region often face intimidation, harassment and violent attacks, including in some cases by State authorities. State inaction in the face of such allegations contributes to a worrying climate of impunity for perpetrators, including failures to investigate allegations and failures to protect those under threat. States have an obligation to create a safe and enabling environment for human rights defenders, including by adequately responding to complaints of violence or harassment and by investigating reported incidents. 300. The Special Rapporteur regrets to note that, during the reporting period, he received seven reports on cases of reprisals and intimidation against defenders for cooperation with international human rights mechanisms, including the UN, its representatives and mechanisms concerning China (CHN 2/2019, CHN 9/2019 and CHN 6/2019), IND 18/2019 45