09.02.2014 Report on the results of the formation of precinct election commissions
Monitoring of the elections to the Local Councils of Deputies of the Republic of Belarus of the 27th Convocation is conducted by activists of the Belarusian Helsinki Committee and the Human Rights Center "Viasna" within the frames of the campaign "Human Rights Defenders for Free Elections".
31.01.2014 In fighting lawlessness citizens need support from media
In fighting lawlessness citizens are in desperate need of support from mass media, says Liudmila Kuchura in an interview to the HRC "Viasna". She, together with her companions in misfortune, has been pestering state institutions for about 10 years now. Victims of lawlessness from different parts of Belarus united in their search for justice, which is lost in the corridors of the law enforcement. But the forces in the confrontation between them and the system are far from being equal.
23.01.2014 Appeal of Belarusan civil society organizations and public activists on the situation in Ukraine
These days, when the situation in Ukraine is being no longer controlled bythe opposing forces, when blood is being shed, when there are street fights in Kyiv and weapons are being used, we cannot maintain aloofness.
20.01.2014 HRHN members call upon President Yanukovych to veto law violating rights
In their joint letter to President Viktor Yanukovych, members of the Human Rights House Network (HRHN) call upon him to veto a law adopted by the parliament on 16 January 2014 violating most fundamental rights to freedom of expression and assembly, as well as basic rights to associate and work for a non-governmental organisation, including the right to be a human rights defender.
15.01.2014 Review-Chronicle of Human Rights Violations in Belarus in December 2013
The last month of 2013 did not bring changes in the overall human rights situation – it remained consistently bad. The negative trends that have been formed and retained throughout the year, persisted, including lack of political will of the Belarusian authorities in solving the problem of political prisoners, severe restrictions on freedom of expression, freedom of assembly and other civil and political rights, ignoring calls for the abolition or a moratorium on the death penalty. The authorities recognized having secretly issued another death sentence in November.
15.01.2014 Vaclav Havel's ideas live on (photos)
January 14 in Minsk a memorial party in honor of the famous Czech dissident, human rights activist and the first president of the independent Czech Republic Vaclav Havel took place in Minsk.
06.01.2014 Ales Bialiatski's “Englightened by Belarusian Issue” prohibited for improt in Belarus
In early January, a member of the Board of the Human Rights Centre "Viasna" Tatsiana Reviaka received a letter signed by the deputy chief of Ashmiany customs A. Datchuk, which states that the customs received from the General Directorate of ideological work, culture and youth affairs of Hrodna Regional Executive Committee a conclusion of the expert committee on the results of the examination of the book “Enlightened by the Belarusian Issue", written by human rights activist and political prisoner Ales Bialiatski. The text of the expert conclusion wasn't submitted to T. Reviaka, though she asked about it after being informed about sending the book for examination.
02.01.2014 Report on the results of the formation of territorial election commissions
Monitoring of the elections to the Local Councils of Deputies of the Republic of Belarus of the 27th Convocation is conducted by activists of the of the Belarusian Helsinki Committee and the Human Rights Center "Viasna" within the frames of the campaign "Human Rights Defenders for Free Elections". 29 long-term observers of the campaign "Human Rights Defenders for Free Elections" are involved in the observation.
20.12.2013 Observatory condemns censorship of Viasna website
The Observatory has been informed of the continued harassment of the Belarusian Human Rights Centre Viasna.
19.12.2013 FIDH and the Human Rights Center Viasna Demand the Immediate and Unconditional Release of Mikola Statkevich and Other Political Prisoners
A joint statement by the International Federation for Human Rights (FIDH) and the Human Rights Center "Viasna" on the occasion of the third anniversary of the imprisonment of the 2010 presidential candidate Mikola Statkevich.
16.12.2013 Board of the Human Rights Center "Viasna" once again stresses the legitimacy of the organization's activities in Belarus
Deputy Chairman of the Human Rights Center "Viasna" Valiantsin Stefanovich received a reply to his appeal to the Prosecutor General’s Office of Belarus, which concerned the introduction of the website spring96.org in the list of resources with restricted access.
10.12.2013 FIDH and "Viasna" present the report "Forced Labor and the Pervasive Violation of Workers’ Rights in Belarus" on the Human Rights Day
Belarus authorities use of every means possible to feed the country’s economy to the detriment of its citizens’ economic and social rights. Internationally publicized as the «last European socialist paradise», Belarus forces large portions of its population to work, sometimes without pay and especially without the possibility to protest harsh or unfair conditions. These are the main observations of a report published today by FIDH and HRC Viasna.
09.12.2013 Information for journalists
On International Human Rights Day, 10 December 2013, a presentation of the alternative report of the International Federation for Human Rights (FIDH) and the Human Rights Center "Viasna” "Forced Labour and Pervasive Violations of Workers' Rights in Belarus" will take place in Minsk.
06.12.2013 Statement of the Human Rights Center “Viasna” and the Belarusian Helsinki Committee on the sentence to Vasil Parfiankou
The Human Rights Center "Viasna" and the republican NGO “Belarusian Helsinki Committeee” regard the sentencing of the public activist Vasil Parfiankou to imprisonment for violation of preventive supervision as politically motivated persecution.
27.11.2013 Valiantsin Stefanovich petitions Constitutional Court over language discrimination
Valiantsin Stefanovich, Deputy Chairman of the Human Rights Center "Viasna", submitted a petition to the Constitutional Court to highlight the issue of discrimination on linguistic grounds, as there is virtually no lawmaking in the Belarusian language. This complicates the process of protecting the interests of Belarusian-speaking citizens in courts and other state bodies.
