New York, Sept. 17 (SANA) The United Nations warned in New York of reprisals against individuals and organizations cooperating with it on human rights issues, documenting cases in 32 countries and calling for stronger protection and accountability.
A report issued by UN Secretary-General António Guterres on Wednesday documented cases involving human rights defenders, victims of rights violations, journalists, lawyers and trade unionists who faced reprisals for cooperating, or seeking to cooperate, with the United Nations.
Claudia Fuentes Julio, assistant secretary-general for human rights who leads UN efforts to address reprisals, said people should not have to choose between cooperating with the United Nations and protecting themselves, their families or their communities.
She said protecting civil society engagement was essential both to individual rights and to the UN’s ability to carry out its mandate.
The report documented reprisals including arbitrary detention, physical attacks, surveillance, threats, online harassment, restrictions on movement, passport confiscation and intimidation of family members.
It highlighted the growing use of digital technologies to monitor, intimidate and silence people seeking to engage with international human rights mechanisms, and called for stronger protection for those interacting with the United Nations online.
The report also raised concern over the misuse of counterterrorism, cybercrime and national security legislation to criminalize or restrict civil society activities.
Fuentes Julio called on states to protect people cooperating with the United Nations, saying safe and meaningful engagement with civil society was essential to advancing human rights.
The report also documented attempts to obstruct civil society participation in UN forums, harassment of participants at UN premises and attacks against independent human rights experts, warning that such practices could discourage others from engaging with the organization.
It highlighted measures by the United Nations and member states aimed at strengthening prevention, protection and accountability in response to reprisals.
R.D/RK
