Lawtrend releases study of persecution and conditions of women activists

The human rights organization Lawtrend released an expert study “Belarusian Women Human Rights Defenders and Civil Activists: Specifics of Persecution and New Conditions”.

This study aimed to identify the specifics of the persecution of women human rights defenders and civil activists in Belarus in the context of their exercise of civil rights in the aftermath of the 2020 presidential elections.

The specific risks, challenges, and restrictions they face have been identified and analyzed to understand and take into account how women involved in civic activism suffer in the broader contexts of violence and discrimination in Belarus, and in turn to contribute to better develop strategies and mechanisms to protect and support Belarusian women human rights defenders and civil activists.

The political crisis and repression following the 2020 presidential election greatly affected women human rights defenders and civil activists, particularly concerning their rights to freedom of assembly, association, and expression. Many have been subjected to intimidation, arbitrary detention, inhuman and degrading treatment, etc. The fact that women in Belarus tend to have the primary care of children and elderly relatives makes them more vulnerable than men.

Liquidation of organizations whose purpose was to protect and promote women's rights has become a form of persecution of women active in civil society and has also deprived them of an effective tool to receive assistance.

The full study is available on the Lawtrend website.