Belarus: new UN resolution highlights the country's appalling human rights situation
| Publisher | International Federation for Human Rights |
| Publication Date | 1 July 2016 |
| Cite as | International Federation for Human Rights, Belarus: new UN resolution highlights the country's appalling human rights situation, 1 July 2016, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/577cd7b84.html [accessed 2 November 2019] |
| Disclaimer | This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States. |
The United Nations (UN) Human Rights Council reminded the international community of the appalling situation in Belarus today by adopting a resolution that raises a wide range of human rights violations committed in the country. By renewing the mandate of the UN Special Rapporteur — the only watchdog the international community has to follow developments in Belarus — the Council highlighted the need to continue monitoring the behavior of the Belarusian government.
Today’s resolution was adopted with a large margin: while 15 states supported it, only 9 voted against, which shows widely-shared concerns with regard to the human rights situation in Belarus. [1] The resolution mentions a series of grave human rights violations for which the Belarusian government is responsible, including torture, enforced disappearances, forced labour, violations of freedoms of the media, expression and association, the arbitrary detention and harassment of human rights defenders, political opponents and journalists, and impunity for human rights violations and abuses. It also deplores the government’s lack of cooperation with UN and regional human rights mechanisms.
The Human Rights Council is the main UN body for the promotion and protection of human rights. It has the ability to appoint independent experts ("Special Rapporteurs") in charge of monitoring and reporting on the situation of human rights in countries. The Human Rights Council is made up of 47 states, which serve for a three-year term. Belarus has been on the Council’s agenda since the violent repression of protests related to the 2010 presidential election.
Background:
To reveal the extent and gravity of the human rights violations that continue to be committed in Belarus and to call on Human Rights Council members to support the renewal of the Special Rapporteur’s mandate, in May 2016 FIDH launched a campaign entitled "Belarus: a dictatorship at the gates of the European Union": www.fidh.org/en/region/europe-central-asia/belarus/act4belarus/en
Watch the campaign video at: www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rc9kBar82Qo
On its website, Act4Belarus also published 9 interviews of Belarusian activists who have witnessed a great deal, including: Alena Tonkacheva (Chairman of the Board of the Legal Transformation Center), Andrei Bastunets (Belarusian Association of Journalists), Raisa Mikhailouskaya (Belarusian Documentation Center), Valiantsin Stefanovic (Human Rights Center "Viasna"), Natalya Mankouskaya (Human Rights Center Identity), Inna Kulei (Solidarnost). All highlight preocuppying situations and rights that are systematically flouted: freedoms of the media and of expression, freedom of association, LGBTI rights, the right to life and the death penalty, political prisoners, etc.
