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HRC - Human Rights Situation in Belarus 01 April 2022
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Statements | OHCHR
Human Rights Situation in Belarus in the run-up to the 2020 presidential election and its aftermath 01 April 2022
In a resolution (A/HRC/49/L.13) on the situation of human rights in Belarus in the run-up to the 2020 presidential election and in its aftermath, adopted by a vote of 22 in favour, 6 against and 19 abstentions as orally revised, the Council urges the Belarusian authorities to cooperate fully with the Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Belarus.
The HRC decided to extend for a period of one year, the mandate of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, and requests the High Commissioner, with the assistance of the three appointed experts and special procedure mandate holders, to continue to monitor and report on the situation of human rights, to carry out a comprehensive examination of all alleged human rights violations committed in Belarus since 1 May 2020 in the run-up to the 2020 presidential election and in its aftermath, including the possible gender dimensions of such violations, to establish the facts and circumstances surrounding the alleged violations, and to collect, consolidate, preserve and analyse information and evidence, and where possible, to identify those responsible with a view to contributing to accountability for perpetrators and justice for victims, such as through relevant judicial and other proceedings, including criminal proceedings in courts and tribunals that have competent jurisdiction.
The Council further requests the High Commissioner to present an interim oral update to the Human Rights Council at its fifty-first session, and a comprehensive written report at its fifty-second session, both to be followed by an interactive dialogue.
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Now more than ever, it is crucial that we renew the UN **** Commissioner's reporting mandate on Belarus.
In this time of crisis in Europe, where Russian forces are turning Ukrainian cities into rubble, we must not lose sight of the very real human tragedy next door in Belarus.
Following the fraudulent presidential election in 2020, the Belarusian people triumphantly launched a full scale pro democracy movement.
For the nearly two years since that time, the people of Belarus have bravely defied the odds, at great risk to life and limb, by standing up valiantly in the face of Lukashenko's brutal authoritarianism and peacefully demanding respect for their human rights and fundamental freedoms.
They are calling for a democratic transition, new free and fair elections and the release of all political prisoners.
What has been the response of the regime in Minsk?
20 months of an intensified brutal crackdown against Belarusians, members of the opposition, civil society, journalists, students, women and girls, the elderly, unjust and massive detentions of over 34,000 people, holding more than 1000 political prisoners, over 1500 reported cases of torture, air piracy and reports of extrajudicial killings, all with complete impunity.
Now we have a new element in this tragedy, the Belarusian authority's complacency in Putin's unprovoked war against Ukraine and locking up Belarusians who dare to protest against it.
We may not be able to stop every human rights atrocity or ***** being committed in the world today, but we can and must document them so that we can pursue full accountability.
We urge every HRC member to vote yes on this resolution.
We note that targeted sanctions are a response to, not the cause of, the dire human rights situation in Belarus.
We urge all members to ****** the amendments proposed by Belarus, which seek to deflect attention away from the regime's responsibility for its own reprehensible actions.
I thank you.
Thank you, Tina la Palabra, Ukraine.
Ukraine has the floor.
Mr.
President, Ukraine thanks the delegation of the European Union for its important work on the draught resolution and for keeping the issue of human rights situation in Belarus on the agenda of this Council.
We share the concern regarding consistent violations of fundamental freedoms in Belarus, continued reports of torture and other inhumane or degrading treatment, persecution of journalists, opposition leaders and human rights defenders.
We equally deplore the fact that these and other misdeeds against the people of Belarus have been aggravated, aggravated by Belarusian leadership support for Russia's large scale invasion of Ukraine.
We wish to specifically commend the authors of this draught for the provision condemning the denial of human rights and fundamental freedoms of those peacefully expressing protest or speaking out against the Russian aggression against Ukraine.
Numerous surveys by authoritative institutions confirm that overwhelming majority of Belarusians are against the involvement of their country in Russia's LED war against Ukraine, and we call on authorities of Belarus to finally hear the voice of the people instead of suppressing it.
In the meantime, we continue to stand ready to back all meaningful efforts aimed at facilitating the return of the official Minsk to compliance with its human rights obligations and see the current draught as a crucial element in this process.
For all these reasons, Ukraine strongly supports L13, will vote in its favour and calls on all members of the Council to do the same.
I thank you, thank you Tina la Palabra Renunido, thank you.
The United Kingdom, please, Presidente, we'd like to make a general comment on this draught resolution before us.
We remain deeply concerned by the dramatic deterioration in the human rights situation since the 2020 presidential elections.
Lukashenko's regime has consistently shown it holds no respect for international rule of law, for human rights or for democracy.
Today we take our decision on this resolution as Belarus continues to provide wide-ranging support for Russia's unprovoked and premeditated attack against his neighbour Ukraine.
In the wake of this aggression, the Belarusian people have shown immense courage.
But Belarusians legitimate anti war protests during a constitutional referendum that offered them no options and failed to meet international standards were met by yet more crackdowns on freedom of speech, with 800 arbitrary arrests.
The UHCHR examination report makes clear that the magnitude of the present crisis is unprecedented.
The Belarusian authorities have engaged in systematic violations against the freedoms of expression, peaceful assembly and association, and the right to take part in the conduct of public affairs.
These violations have been carried out in a climate of violence and fear, with arbitrary arrest and detention of thousands, attacks on independent media, civil society organisations raided by security forces, disregard for due process and fair trial, and enforced disappearances, torture and I'll treatment.
Clear evidence of disproportionate use of force have been found prisoners.
Are denied medical help, food and water, they are beaten and sexual and gender based violence is used indiscriminately.
Despite clear reports from the United Nations, not a single allegation of ill treatment has been investigated.
The severity of the situation clearly justifies the UN continuing its reporting role to contribute to accountability for human rights violations and for justice for victims.
We'd like to thank our colleagues in the European Union for the inclusive and transparent negotiations held on this draught resolution and for engaging constructively on the proposals put forward.
We regret that 2 amendments have been tabled by Belarus.
These amendments clearly seek to distract from the serious human rights violations that are taking place in their country.
We are proud to Co sponsor this resolution and we urge our fellow members of the Council to join us in supporting it as it stands.
Thank you.
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The goal of this initiative for us is to duplicate at the UN an exclusively Western version and assessment of the situation in Belarus.
To justify the pressure rendered on our country through legitimate sanctions by Western countries and attempt to deteriorate further the human rights situation and not just human rights situation and also and to incite the authority to achieve A and to change the political course of the country.
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Belarus calls on the Council not to support L13.
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Brazil remains deeply concerned about the situation of human rights in Belarus.
We call on Belarusian authorities to fully cooperate with the Office of the United Nations **** Commission for Human Rights and other relevant UN mechanisms with a view to achieving concrete progress in the country's human rights situation.
Regarding the table text, we thank the proponents for accommodating our delegations comments to the first draught.
Nevertheless, we regret the inclusion of new language, which stimulates polarisation and politicisation around the project.
Brazil highlights the importance of focusing on approaches that help mobilise greater support for dialogue and cooperation to strengthen the Council's voice, and, as in past occasions, we will vote in favour of the project.
We hope that future initiatives regarding Belarus remain adhering to the Council's mandate and continue to seek engagement from the country concerned and other members in a spirit of dialogue and cooperation.
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