53. 在 2017 年 8 月 3 日的新闻稿中，联合国人权事务高级专员办事处(人权高专办)发言人对全民投票前的动乱表示关切，特别是对异见的明显压制和当局对抗议领导人过度使用武力的情况。新闻稿还提到若干反对派成员遭到逮捕和残酷对待。最后，发言人敦促该国政府确保其对抗议的回应符合其根据国际人权法承担的义务，并确保和平集会权以及意见和言论自由权得到充分尊重。3
53. In a press release of 3 August 2017, the spokesperson for the United Nations Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) expressed concern at the unrest ahead of the referendum, particularly the apparent suppression of dissenting voices and the excessive use of force by the authorities against protest leaders. The release also referred to the arrest and brutal treatment of several members of the opposition. Lastly, the spokesperson urged the Government to ensure that its response to the protests was in line with its obligations under international human rights law and to ensure that the rights to peaceful assembly and to freedom of opinion and expression were fully respected.3