Center for Strategic Litigation submits 29 communications to UN Human Rights Committee within a year
Since the
beginning of 2012, the Homel-based Center for Strategic Litigation NGO has initiated
28 new strategic lawsuits and submitted 29 communications to the UN Human
Rights Committee, 10 of which have already been registered. During
2012, the Committee adopted four decisions on the complaints prepared by the
Center, which found violations of certain rights of Belarusian citizens.
According
to the Center’s head Leanid Sudalenka, numerous human rights violations have
been registered in Homel region during the year. However, it is nearly impossible
to restore violated rights in Belarusian courts, especially when civil and
political freedoms are concerned. He
adds that today, “the Center for Strategic Litigation is working for the
future, the work is focused on the future.”
The Center
for Strategic Litigation has had several wins during the year. In
particular, Tsentralny District Court of Homel dropped administrative charges
for disorderly conduct brought against local civic activist Uladzimir
Niapomniashchykh due to lack of substantiation of guilt. The
activist received legal advice in the Center.
In
March 2012, in its opinions on the case of Leanid Sudalenka, the UN Human
Rights Committee ruled that Belarus had violated Article 19 of the
International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights. In
2004, the applicant sought to run for Parliament and the State violated his
right to impart information by confiscating leaflets.
The
Center for Strategic Litigation issued a manual on legal conflicts in
administrative law leading to the practice of violations of the right to
liberty and security of person.
In
July 2012, the Human Rights Committee adopted a decision on the complaint of
the former chairman of the association "Civil Initiatives" Viktar
Karniayenka, who contested the confiscation of computers during the
presidential election of 2001. According
to the decision, the Belarusian government was not only required to return the
equipment and cover the costs of litigation, but bring the Presidential decree
on foreign aid and its implementation in accordance with the International
Covenant on Civil and Political Rights.
The
Center for Strategic Litigation is a Homel-based NGO active in the last five
years, assisting Belarusian citizens to protect their civil and political
rights, both within the country and at international organizations.
