UN Human Rights Council adopts critical resolution on Belarus, renews country mandate Video

The UN Human Rights Council has adopted a resolution on the situation of human rights in Belarus at its 38th session in Geneva and renewed the mandate of the Special Rapporteur on Belarus.

The resolution on Belarus was supported by 19 delegations, with 6 votes against and 21 abstentions.

The document is based on the report prepared by Miklós Haraszti, UN Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Belarus.

It expresses “continued concern at the situation of human rights and fundamental freedoms in Belarus, especially the undue restrictions on freedoms of peaceful assembly, association and expression.”

“The Human Rights Council deplores the lack of response by the Government of Belarus to cases of arbitrary arrest and detention of political and social activists, the unwillingness of prosecutors to investigate cases of torture and cruel, inhuman and degrading treatment, the impunity of perpetrators of crimes involving human rights violations and abuses, the pressure on defence lawyers and the lack of effective legal remedies; and also deplores discrimination particularly affecting individuals belonging to vulnerable groups and religious minorities,” the UN said.

The Council urges the Government of Belarus to cooperate fully with the Special Rapporteur, “including by providing him access to visit the country in his official capacity in order to assist the Government in fulfilling its international human rights obligations and by considering implementation of his recommendations, and also urges the Government to extend full cooperation to thematic special procedures.”

The vote also extended the mandate of the Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Belarus for a period of one year.