A/HRC/RES/54/24
peace operations mandated by the Council, as well as the targeting of representatives of
Indigenous Peoples during their participation in United Nations meetings or when interacting
with the United Nations at the country level,
Welcoming the positive developments and good practices identified by the SecretaryGeneral in his most recent report,1 in particular with regard to the nomination by United
Nations entities of dedicated focal points; the adoption of reprisals-related protocols or
guidance that include a clear allocation of responsibilities and step-by-step processes to
document or verify allegations, activate a response based on a predicable toolbox and allow
room for flexibility and creativity to respond on a case-by-case basis; and a strong focus on
prevention, based on a zero-tolerance approach to reprisals and clear messaging from the
leadership of United Nations entities, and on awareness-raising with United Nations staff,
Member States and the civil society interlocutors concerned; and stressing the importance of
sharing and building on good practices on how to prevent and address reprisals for
cooperation with the United Nations,
Welcoming also the call of the Secretary-General on the international community to
ensure that concerted action is taken to protect, support and ensure the meaningful and safe
engagement of individuals and groups, including women human rights defenders and
peacebuilders, with the United Nations, its representatives and mechanisms in the field of
human rights,
Welcoming further the different roles of the Secretary-General, the United Nations
High Commissioner for Human Rights, the Assistant Secretary-General for Human Rights
and the President of the Human Rights Council in supporting cooperation with the United
Nations, its representatives and mechanisms in the field of human rights, and in that context
addressing, as appropriate, including in a public manner, acts of intimidation or reprisal
against individuals and groups who seek to cooperate, cooperate or have cooperated with the
United Nations in this regard,
Stressing the important role of the United Nations in preventing and addressing acts
of intimidation or reprisal, guided by the principle of “do no harm” and a victim- and
survivor-oriented approach, and recognizing that considerable progress has been made in
shedding light on and addressing the issue, including through initiatives on civic space under
the Secretary-General’s Call to Action for Human Rights,
Welcoming the increased commitment to and support for this issue of States Members
of the United Nations, and noting the ongoing initiatives within the United Nations system,
including by its field presences, to develop good practices, improve prevention, including in
the digital sphere, and ensure better documentation, reporting and protection practices,
Welcoming also the work done by the United Nations, including the Office of the
United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, in examining, verifying and
corroborating allegations of acts of intimidation or reprisal, encouraging it to continue its
work in this regard, including in a gender-responsive manner, and with a particular focus on
individuals in vulnerable situations or belonging to marginalized groups, while underlining
the primary importance of continuous constructive dialogue and cooperation with and by the
State concerned in order to strengthen the State’s capacity to comply with its human rights
obligations, and encouraging States to share concerns, challenges and good practices on this
issue in relevant debates of the Human Rights Council,
Welcoming further the work done by the special procedures, and in particular the
Coordination Committee of Special Procedures, and the efforts by treaty bodies to prevent
and address acts of intimidation or reprisal,
Welcoming the role that regional mechanisms and national human rights institutions
can play in preventing and addressing cases of intimidation or reprisal as part of supporting
cooperation between States and the United Nations in the promotion of human rights,
including by contributing to follow-up actions, as appropriate, and to recommendations made
by international human rights mechanisms, while noting with concern that national human
1
2
A/HRC/54/61.