State is reminded about international undertakings

14.01.2010. Tags: NGOs, human rights defenders.

Uladzimir Katsora, Homel activist of the For Freedom movement, addressed the state organs with the demand that they execute the decision of the UN Human Rights Committee on renewal of the activities of the Civil Initiatives NGO.

The appropriate addresses were filed with the Soviet of Ministers, Presidential Administration, the National Assembly, the Ministry of Justice and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs who have the legal obligation to create conditions for the implementation of international treaties by the Republic of Belarus.

’The Belarusian officials state that the decisions of the Committee are voluntary’, says Uladzimir Katsora. ‘However, these decisions are a part of the international law that must be obligatory implemented by Belarus, the more that the country voluntary took these obligations by signing the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and the Optional Protocol to it,’ added the activist.

In his addresses Mr. Katsora reminds the state officials about the principle ‘Pacta sunt servanda’, the essence of which is that every treaty in force is obligatory for its participants and must be executed honestly’. This principle is enshrined in Vienna Convention on the Law of Treaties that has been also signed by Belarus.

Bear in mind that Homel oblast NGO Civil Initiatives was liquidated by Homel oblast court in 2003. As a result of Viktar Karneyenka’s address the UN Human Rights Committee decided that the liquidation of the NGO was violating the civil right to freedom of association. Nevertheless, the Belarusian authorities still haven’t even published this decision of the Committee.