United Nations
General Assembly
A/HRC/RES/48/17
Distr.: General
15 October 2021
Original: English
Human Rights Council
Forty-eighth session
13 September–11 October 2021
Agenda item 5
Human rights bodies and mechanisms
Resolution adopted by the Human Rights Council
on 8 October 2021
48/17.
Cooperation with the United Nations, its representatives and
mechanisms in the field of human rights
The Human Rights Council,
Guided by the purposes and principles of the Charter of the United Nations,
Recalling General Assembly resolution 60/251 of 15 March 2006 and Human Rights
Council resolutions 5/1, on institution-building of the Council, and 5/2, on the Code of
Conduct for Special Procedure Mandate Holders of the Human Rights Council, of 18 June
2007,
Recalling also all previous General Assembly and Human Rights Council resolutions
and decisions on this topic,
Reiterating that the promotion and protection of human rights should be based on the
principles of cooperation and genuine dialogue, and be aimed at strengthening the capacity
of Member States to comply with their human rights obligations for the benefit of all people,
Taking note with appreciation of all reports of the Secretary-General on cooperation
with the United Nations, its representatives and mechanisms in the field of human rights,
while noting with concern that the number of reported acts of intimidation and reprisals by
States and non-State actors remains high, and the trends presented in his most recent reports,
including, inter alia, the fact that acts of intimidation or reprisal online and offline can be
more than isolated incidents, and can signal patterns; the growing self-censorship of victims,
and civil society actors who decide not to engage with the United Nations, both in the field
and at Headquarters, out of fear for their safety or in contexts where human rights work is
criminalized or publicly vilified; the use of national security arguments and counter-terrorism
strategies by States as justification for blocking access to, or as punishment for engaging
with, the United Nations; that the most commonly reported incidents concern human rights
defenders, activists and journalists; and that individuals in vulnerable situations or belonging
to marginalized groups continue to be exposed to specific barriers, threats and violence in
their engagement with the United Nations,
Noting that an analysis of United Nations data on alleged cases of intimidation and
reprisals may be used to improve policies and practices on addressing acts of intimidation or
reprisal against those who seek to cooperate, cooperate or have cooperated with the United
Nations, its representatives and mechanisms in the field of human rights,
GE.21-14886(E)