News on the topic: freedom of association
02.02.2021 STOP PRESSURE ON CIVIL SOCIETY ORGANISATIONS IN CONNECTION TO THEIR RIGHT TO ACCESS TO FUNDING
Address by Belarusian civil society organisations
24.12.2020 The wave of new criminal cases against CSOs in Belarus is growing
Criminal charges and related investigations, searches and arrests have become the most serious problem for CSOs in Belarus now.
11.12.2020 National Human Rights Award winners announced
On the International Human Rights Day, December 10, a coalition of human rights organizations of Belarus held a ceremony in Minsk to present the annual National Human Rights Awards.
30.06.2020 We call to stop repressions and pressure on civil society
Statement of Working Group of Assembly of Pro-Democratic NGOs of Belarus
21.02.2019 New Amnesty International report: crackdown on CSOs persists in Belarus
The new report Laws Designed to Silence: The Global Crackdown on Civil Society Organizations reveals the startling number of countries that are using bullying techniques and repressive regulations to prevent NGOs from doing their vital work, including in Belarus.
16.11.2018 Observatory condemns harassment of Viasna activist Ales Burakou
The Observatory for the Protection of Human Rights Defenders, a partnership of FIDH and the World Organisation Against Torture (OMCT), requests your urgent intervention in the following situation in Belarus.
13.11.2018 IndustriALL: Unjust verdict against union leaders in Belarus upheld
The city court of Minsk decided on 09 November to uphold the guilty verdict against two trade union leaders in Belarus, which has been widely condemned as unjust.
12.11.2018 Viasna protests harassment of its activist in Mahilioŭ
Statement by the Human Rights Center “Viasna”
09.11.2018 Minsk City Court confirms sentence in trade union case
The Minsk City Court has upheld today the sentence of 4 years of restricted freedom earlier handed down to Henadz Fiadynich and Ihar Komlik, leaders of the trade union REP, on charges of tax evasion.
25.10.2018 Belarus civil society stagnating, research says
“After three years of gradual improvement, the sustainability of Belarusian CSOs stagnated in 2017, with deterioration in two dimensions—legal environment and financial viability—and improvement in three dimensions—advocacy, service provision, and public image,” says the 2017 Civil Society Organization Sustainability Index by the United States Agency for International Development, the Bureau for Democracy, Conflict and Humanitarian Assistance and the Center of Excellence on Democracy, Human Rights and Governance.
29.08.2018 Front Line Defenders urges Belarus to quash convictions against Fiadynich and Komlik
The authorities in Belarus should immediately quash the convictions against Henadz Fiadynich and Ihar Komlik, leaders of the trade union REP, and fully restore their liberty, Front Line Defenders said in an urgent appeal, as it believes that they are solely in relation to their peaceful and legitimate work in the defense of human rights.
07.08.2018 Valiantsin Stefanovich: investigation fails to prove guilt in trade union case
The criminal case of trade unions is, above all, an echo of the global problems related to NGOs’ access to funds, says human rights activist Valiantsin Stefanovich, who has been observing the trial of REP leaders Henadz Fiadynich and Ihar Komlik. He has analyzed in detail the first phase of the trial, emphasizing the objectives pursued by the investigators.
01.06.2018 Amnesty International: Authorities must not tarnish positive steps by imposing new restrictions on freedom of association
Amnesty International welcomes the positive steps being taken by the Belarusian authorities to lift existing restrictions on the right to freedom of association. However, it is critical that this progress is not countered by introducing new measures which would violate that same right.
19.05.2018 Repeal of Article 193.1 is half measure, say HRDs
The Council of Ministers submitted to the Parliament a draft law “On amendments to certain Codes of the Republic of Belarus”. Among other things, the bill provides for the removal of Article 193.1 (“Illegal organization of activities of a public association, religious organization or foundation or participation in their activities”) from the Criminal Code.
17.05.2018 Goodbye, Article 193-1!
The National Legal Internet Portal has published a draft bill on amendments to the Criminal Code, which was prepared by the Council of Ministers. According to the draft, it is planned to repeal Article 193-1 of the Criminal Code, which provides for criminal responsibility for activity on behalf of unregistered organizations.
