News on the topic: human rights
29.10.2015 Belarus to report at UN Human Rights Committee
For the first time since 1997, Belarus will present its report on the implementation of its international obligations at a session of the UN Human Rights Committee. The list of questions prepared by the Committee includes those that have been recommended by the Belarusian human rights activists.
22.10.2015 24 October: Global landmarks are lit as part of the 'Turn the World UN Blue' Campaign
To help celebrate the UN's 70th anniversary, more than 200 iconic monuments, buildings, statues, bridges, and other landmarks in nearly 60 countries across the globe will be lit up blue on UN Day, 24 October, as part of an exciting new global campaign which helps unite global citizens and promote the message of peace, development and human rights.
01.10.2015 Human Rights Situation in Belarus: September 2015
September was marked by an ongoing trend of certain mitigating in the human rights situation in the country, which began in August, with no systemic changes in the area observed, however.
30.09.2015 Pivotal moment for democracy in Kyrgyzstan: defenders facing increasing pressure
Preliminary findings of a fact-finding mission on the conditions and vulnerabilities of human rights defenders and organisations.
29.09.2015 Valiantsin Stefanovich: No systemic changes in the field of human rights
On September 28, the OSCE ODIHR Human Dimension Conference in Warsaw hosted a side event with participation of Belarusian non-governmental organizations: the Assembly of Democratic NGOs, the Center for Legal Transformation Lawtrend, as well as campaigns “Human Rights Defenders For Free Elections” and “Right To Choose”.
23.09.2015 Valiantsin Stefanovich: “We all know what elections in Belarus come to”
The European Parliament’s Committee on Foreign Affairs held yesterday a hearing on the situation in Belarus, which was attended by Gunnar Wiegand, European External Action Service (EEAS) Director for Russia, Eastern Partnership, Central Asia, Regional Cooperation and OSCE, and Miklós Haraszti, UN Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Belarus. Valiantsin Stefanovich, deputy chairman of the Human Rights Center "Viasna", highlighted in his speech a number of issues, focusing on the presidential election scheduled for October 11.
23.09.2015 Activist in Viciebsk wins compensation over years of persecution
The Court of Viciebsk’s Kastryčnicki district has ruled to partially grant a claim by local opposition activist Piotr Ivanou. As a result, the government is expected to pay 25 million rubles in moral damages. The initial amount that the activist mentioned in his lawsuit was over 7.5 billion rubles.
22.09.2015 Ongoing politically motivated criminal affairs in Belarus should be closed
Ongoing politically motivated criminal affairs in Belarus should be closed. Joint Press release by FIDH - International Federation for Human Rights and Human Rights Center VIASNA
31.08.2015 Human Rights Situation in Belarus: August 2015
On August 22, it was reported that President Aliaksandr Lukashenka pardoned and released from prison six political prisoners: Mikalai Statkevich, Mikalai Dziadok, Ihar Alinevich, Yury Rubtsou, Artsiom Prakapenka, and Yauhen Vaskovich. Despite the absence of any systemic changes in the field of human rights, the move of the authorities can be assessed as positive.
04.08.2015 Human Rights Situation in Belarus: July 2015
There were no positive developments in the human rights situation in Belarus during the month. conditions of detention and increasing pressure on political prisoners continued to be an issue of particular concern for human rights organizations.
30.07.2015 FIDH and Viasna urge EU to consider conditions for meaningful dialogue on human rights with Belarus
On July 28, Brussels hosted the first round of a resumed human rights dialogue between Belarus and the European Union. On the eve of the meeting, FIDH and the Human Rights Center "Viasna" released a joint statement to the officials involved in the talks.
17.07.2015 Ongoing harassment of Tajik activists: 13 years in prison for Maksud Ibragimov, extradition request from Belarus for Shabnam Hudoydodova
According to the BBC Russian service, a court in Tajikistan pronounced yesterday a sentence to the leader of a youth public organization “Youth of Tajikistan for Revival”, Maksud Ibragimov. He was accused of involvement in a banned opposition movement "Group of 24", formerly harassed for extremism by the Tajik authorities, and eventually sentenced to 13 years in prison.
06.07.2015 Human Rights Situation in Belarus: June 2015
During the month there were no positive developments in the human rights situation in Belarus. Increased pressure on political prisoners caused particular concern of both Belarusian and international human rights organizations.
26.06.2015 US Department of State about Belarus: Political arrests, abuses, corruption
The US Department of State has launched an annual report on human rights conditions in different countries.
24.06.2015 Miklós Haraszti: “Human rights situation inside Belarus showed no signs of improvement” (video)
The Human Rights Council held yesterday an interactive dialogue with Miklós Haraszti, Special Rapporteur on the human rights situation in Belarus.
