The Human Rights Center “Viasna”

News for December 2014

11.12.2014 Robiert Tyszkiewicz: Ales Bialiatski is the face of the Belarusian people

Former Belarusian political prisoner, the head of the Human Rights Centre "Viasna" Ales Bialiatski received an award named after the Polish Ombudsman Pawiel Wlodkowicz. The prize is awarded annually for the protection of fundamental rights and freedoms.

Homel Centre for Strategic Litigation sums up the results of the year: three communications registered at the UN Human Rights Committee, decisions issued on seven more

11.12.2014 Homel Centre for Strategic Litigation sums up the results of the year: three communications registered at the UN Human Rights Committee, decisions issued on seven more

In 2014, 27 people applied to the Human Rights Committee of the United Nations with the assistance of Homel Centre for Strategic Litigation. As a result, three communications were accepted for consideration on the merits.

11.12.2014 Salihorsk authorities put a veil of secrecy over the regulation limiting right to peaceful assembly

An attempt of Salihorsk human rights defenders to obtain from the local authorities a copy of the regulation which restricts the freedom of peaceful assembly, brought no results.

11.12.2014 Andrei Khadanovich: prison is a cynic catalyst of literary creativity

Andrei Kadanovich, Chairman of the Belarusian PEN Centre, which, together with Radio Liberty organizes the literary prize named after Frantsishak Aliakhnovich, named the most outstanding works competing for the prize this year.

11.12.2014 Human rights defenders present “Report on Results of Monitoring of Places of Detention”

December 10, International Human Rights Day, the Human Rights Center "Viasna" presented an analytical report on the results of monitoring places of detention in the Republic of Belarus. The report was prepared by human rights activists in cooperation with an expert, lawyer Pavel Sapelka.

11.12.2014 Pavel Levinau is prohibited to hold a photo session

Human rights activist appealed to the Chyhunachny District Executive Committee to inform it about his intention to get photographed with his friends just for the sake of taking photos. However, he was answered that he had failed to implement the requirements of the regulation of Vitsebsk City Executive Committee “About mass events in the city of Vitsebsk”.

11.12.2014 Round table on the occasion of Human Rights Day held in Brest

The round table "Current status and new challenges in human rights work" was held on the initiative of the Belarusian Helsinki Committee in Brest.

10.12.2014 Brest activists remind about political prisoners on Human Rights Day

A two-hour picket dedicated to the anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights was held in Brest in the park soldiers-internationalists and was the only such event in Belarus which was permitted by the local authorities.

10.12.2014 Informational action in central Minsk

December 10, “Viasna” activists congratulated passers-by on the Human Rights Day in the centre of Minsk, handing out the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and information booklets on the death penalty.

10.12.2014 Human Rights Day greetings in Baranavichy

Despite the official ban on the picket on December 10 human rights defenders and social activists held an action in Baranavichy on the occasion of the 66th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. The activists handed out to citizens booklets with the text of the Declaration, as well as information materials on human rights issues.

10.12.2014 “Viasna” launches video project “Kitchen”

Human Rights Centre “Viasna” starts the series of video programs “Kitchen TV”.

10.12.2014 “Viasna” website wins National Human Rights Award

The Organizing Committee of the National Prize of the Belarusian human rights activists called the names of the winners. Elena Tonkacheva was declared the human rights activist of the year, Liudmila Kazak – the lawyer of the year, and the journalists of the year became Alena Pankratava and the website of the Human Rights Centre “Viasna”, which was deprived of the state registration by the authorities in 2003.

10.12.2014 Vitsebsk authorities banned three pickets dated to Human Rights Day

Three applications for one-minute pickets were filed to the district executive committees of Vitsebsk by a human rights activist Pavel Levinau, who wanted to hold such events in each of the three districts. However, he received predictable formulaic bans.

10.12.2014 Today, Human Rights Day is marked for the 64th time all over the world

On Human Rights Day, December 10, the United Nations Organization calls on all states to fulfil their undertakings to respect human rights on the daily basis. This is the main idea of this year's slogan of the Day, "Human Rights 365".

10.12.2014 Ales Bialiatski: all people of good will are interested in having a democratic Belarus

December 9, the Paris City Hall hosted an event dedicated to the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. The party was organized by the International Federation for Human Rights (FIDH) and the City of Paris.December 9, the Paris City Hall hosted an event dedicated to the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. The party was organized by the International Federation for Human Rights (FIDH) and the City of Paris.