News on the topic: human rights defenders
11.01.2021 Observatory for the Protection of Human Rights Defenders condemns persecution of Leanid Sudalenka
The Observatory has been informed by the Human Rights Center “Viasna” about the judicial harassment of Leanid Sudalenka, lawyer of the Homieĺ (Gomel) branch of the HRC "Viasna".
28.12.2020 Viasna’s Marfa Rabkova to remain in pre-trial detention until at least January 17
Marfa Rabkova’s pre-trial custody has been extended by one more month, after over 90 days in detention, according to a decision by the city Prosecutor’s Office dated December 17. As a result, the manager of Viasna’s network of volunteers will remain in prison until at least January 17.
14.12.2020 Viasna wins Polish Prize of Sérgio Vieira de Mello
On December 10, the Human Rights Center “Viasna” was awarded the Polish Prize of Sérgio Vieira de Mello, former UN High Commissioner for Human Rights.
11.12.2020 National Human Rights Award winners announced
On the International Human Rights Day, December 10, a coalition of human rights organizations of Belarus held a ceremony in Minsk to present the annual National Human Rights Awards.
04.12.2020 Ales Bialiatski and Viasna receive Right Livelihood Award
The Human Rights Center “Viasna” and its leader Ales Bialiatski became the first Belarusian laureates of the prestigious international prize “Right Livelihood Award”, known as the Alternative Nobel Prize. Ales Bialiatski and Viasna received the award for their role in the struggle for democracy and human rights in Belarus.
02.12.2020 Right Livelihood Award: End harassment of human rights activists in Belarus
A total of 29 German and Swedish lawmakers and German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas are demanding an end to the persecution and harassment of peaceful protesters and human rights defenders in Belarus, according to an urgent appeal sent to Belarusian authorities on Wednesday.
27.11.2020 Repression against "Viasna" human rights defenders: Increase in persecution before and after election
In 2020, some 20 members and volunteers of the Human Rights Center "Viasna" were persecuted and repressed. Although they carry out entirely peaceful human rights activities, Viasna staff are persecuted by the state in various ways: arrests on flimsy pretexts, administrative and criminal persecution, searches, trials, and other forms of pressure.
18.11.2020 Viasna journalist gets 15 more days in prison
Maryna Kastylianchanka, Viasna member and journalist, has been sentenced to another 15 days of administrative detention, after a mock trial held in the Baranavičy detention facility on Tuesday, November 17.
03.11.2020 UN experts decry threats against women human rights defenders in Belarus
Independent experts appointed by the UN Human Rights Council criticised Belarus for persecuting women human rights defenders in the context of the mass protests taking place in the country since August.
03.11.2020 Immediately release Viasna member Maryna Kastylianchanka!
Statement of the Board of the Human Rights Center “Viasna” in connection with the detention of a member of the Human Rights Center “Viasna” Maryna Kastylianchanka and the detention of a volunteer of the Human Rights Center “Viasna” Aliaksandr Paplauski
14.10.2020 HRDs voice priority recommendations to Belarusian authorities within UPR procedure
On October 12, an online pre-session was held for UN Human Rights Council delegations as part of the Universal Periodic Review (UPR) procedure. The session featured submissions from a number of Belarusian non-governmental human rights organizations.
13.10.2020 Viasna calls to drop criminal charges against volunteer Andrei Chapiuk
Statement by the Board of the Human Rights Center “Viasna”
09.10.2020 Salihorsk human rights activist sentenced to 10 days in prison
Leanid Markhotka, an activist of the Belarusian Helsinki Committee, has been sentenced to 10 days of administrative detention in Salihorsk. The reasons for the court ruling, however, are not known.
09.10.2020 Viasna site still on blacklist
Valiantsin Stefanovich, a member of the Board of the Human Rights Center "Viasna", has received an answer to his appeal to the Ministry of Information asking to explain the blocking of the human rights website spring96.org.
07.10.2020 42 rights groups: Belarus authorities must stop persecuting civil society and engage in dialogue
Belarusian human rights groups are being targeted for documenting abuses committed by the regime and helping victims. FIDH and 41 of its member organisations demand that the Belarus authorities put an end to all forms of harassment of civil society activists, including Marfa Rabkova, and start a dialogue aiming to reach a peaceful solution consistent with the people’s demand for new, democratic elections.
