HIGHLIGHTS OF RESULTS UN Human Rights staff members monitor demonstrations against corruption in Guatemala. © OHCHR/Guatemala fairs. In Mexico, 26 states regulate the crime of insults against authorities in different ways, with a potentially negative impact on freedom of expression. In 2017, the Supreme Court established that the crime of insults against the authorities contravenes the Constitution. UN Human Rights therefore will advocate for the corresponding change in legislation in those states. On a less positive note, in Cambodia, in an increasingly tense political environment ahead of the 2018 general elections, the Parliament enacted two sets of amendments to the Law on Political Parties that will allow for the suspension or dissolution of political parties on vague grounds and impose prohibitions on persons convicted on any ground from leading or being associated with political parties. There has been a further deterioration in the way that subnational authorities misapply the legislation on peaceful demonstrations. In October, the Ministry of Interior issued an administrative instruction, which directly contradicts the 2009 Law on Peaceful Demonstration and international standards and significantly restricts the capacity of civil society organizations and citizens to organize any kind of gathering. Under the instruction, subnational authorities are tasked with controlling NGO activities and are empowered to prevent or interrupt any activities that have been organized without formally notifying provincial and local authorities at least three days in advance. Similarly, in Egypt, a law for regulating the work of civil associations was 40 UN HUMAN RIGHTS REPORT 2017 adopted in 2017, thereby imposing restrictions on the work of civil society organizations. In Honduras, the Office and the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights expressed concerns over the adopted reforms of the Honduran Penal Code, which may negatively impact the exercise and enjoyment of freedom of expression in the country. The Office further advocated with the Government of Jordan against a proposed amendment to the Law on the right of freedom of expression and right to association, which would impose restrictive criteria related to the establishment of associations. Protecting human rights defenders In May, in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, a number of advocacy and outreach activities were organized, contributing to the Senate’s adoption of a bill on the protection of human rights defenders. The activities included two workshops that brought together senators, members of the National Commission for Human Rights and civil society actors to validate the draft law, as well as sustained advocacy with civil society organizations for its final adoption. Furthermore, in July, the President of Burkina Faso promulgated a law on the protection of human rights defenders, which was adopted in June by the National Assembly.