News on the topic: international organizations
31.05.2012 Human Rights House Network: Urgent call for release of Aleh Volchak
We, the undersigned members and partners of the Human Rights House Network, are deeply concerned about the recent arrest of the Belarusian human rights defender Aleh Volchak and the ongoing pressure against him and other human rights defenders in Belarus. We strongly believe that Aleh Volchak's detention is linked to his legitimate human rights work, including his latest publication about the deteriorating political situation in Belarus on the Internet on the eve of his arrest.
30.05.2012 Human Rights Watch: Stop Using Courts to Silence Dissent
The Belarusian government should immediately release the prominent human rights defender Oleg Volchek, who was convicted for an apparently politically motivated administrative offense, Human Rights Watch said today. Volchek is serving a nine-day sentence after a trial raising serious due process concerns.
30.05.2012 Belarus: Travel ban imposed on human rights defenders
Front Line Defenders believes that the travel ban is solely imposed on Belarusian human rights defenders as a result of their legitimate human rights work, in particular their denouncement of human rights violations in Belarus.
28.05.2012 Belarus: Arrest and sentencing of human rights defender Mr Oleg Volchek
On 24 May 2012, human rights defender Mr Oleg Volchek was arrested and detained by police, and sentenced to nine days of administrative imprisonment. Oleg Volchek is a prominent human rights lawyer and director of the non-governmental organisation Pravovaya pomoshch naseleniyu (Legal Aid to Population), which was closed down by the Belarusian authorities in 2003.
24.05.2012 Amnesty Report Says Governments 'Fail To Lead' Against Abuse
Amnesty International says courage shown by rights protesters during the past year has been matched by an "endemic failure of leadership" from local and international authorities.
22.05.2012 Amnesty International’s position on the case of Syarhei Kavalenka
Over the course of the last few days, a number of individuals and organizations, including the MEP Henryk Migalski, have called on Amnesty International to recognise Syarhei Kavalenka as a prisoner of conscience. This statement explains why Amnesty International has not been able to do so.
17.05.2012 Amnesty International refuses to recognize Kavalenka prisoner of conscience
The organization continues to monitor the situation of the political prisoner. MEP Marek Migalski received this information from John Dalhuisen, Director for Europe and Central Asia at Amnesty International. The text of the letter can be found on migalski.eu website.
15.05.2012 Front Line Defenders protests against travel ban to human rights defenders
The international foundation for the protection of human rights defenders Front Line Defenders issued a protest statement concerning the unlawful travel ban to Aleh Hulak, Hary Pahaniaila and Valiantsin Stefanovich.
10.05.2012 11 May: Paris supports Ales Bialiatski
On 11 May a gigantic portrait of the vice-president of the International Federation for Human Rights Ales Bialiatski with the demand of his immediate release from prison will be hanged out on the façade of the Paris Mayor’s office.
04.05.2012 Martin Uggla denied Belarusian visa again
The chairman of a Swedish human rights initiative Östgruppen Martin Uggla has been denied an entry visa to Belarus.
27.04.2012 Violations of trade union rights in Belarus on agenda of International Labor Organization`s meeting
The Conference Committee on the Application of Standards of the International Labor Organization (ILO) will look at violations of trade union rights in Belarus at a meeting to take place in Geneva between June 4 and 9.
25.04.2012 Human Rights House Network: Appeal for immediate release and full rehabilitation of all political prisoners
Arbitrary detention is used in Belarus against political opponents and persons exercising their freedoms of conscience, opinion and expression. The use of arbitrary detention as a tool of systematic repression of critical voices constitutes a serious violation of human rights as the United Nations Working Group on Arbitrary Detention underlines1. We urge the authorities of the Republic of Belarus to release all political prisoners and to compensate them for the harm suffered.
19.04.2012 The Observatory refers the case of Mr. Ales Bialiatski to the UN Working Group on Arbitrary Detention
On April 2, 2012, the Observatory for the Protection of Human Rights Defenders, a joint programme of the International Federation for Human Rights (FIDH) and the World Organisation Against Torture (OMCT), submitted the case of Mr. Ales Bialiatski to the United Nations (UN) Working group on Arbitrary Detention (WGAD).
18.04.2012 U.S. Helsinki Commission calls for increased efforts to secure release of other political prisoners
“The release of political prisoners Andrei Sannikau and Zmitser Bandarenka, following 16 months of incarceration, is a step in the right direction. The Government of Belarus must take the next step and immediately and unconditionally release all of the remaining political prisoners, including Mikalai Statkevich, Ales Bialiatski, Syarhei Kavalenka, Zmitser Dashkevich, Pavel Seviarynets, Mikalai Autukhovich, Eduard Lobau, Mikalai Dziadok and others, and guarantee the full restoration of their civil and political rights," said Representative Chris Smith, Chairman of the U.S. Helsinki Commission.
17.04.2012 Amnesty International urges Belarus to free remaining prisoners of conscience after two released
A decision to release two Belarusian prisoners of conscience including an opposition presidential candidate is a step in the right direction but the government now needs to free five others who have been in jail since 2011, Amnesty International said.
