English

Discussion on Belarus' human rights situation held in New York

A discussion on Belarus' human rights situation took place in the framework of the UN General Assembly's session in New York on October 30, human rights defenders said.

The event had been organized by the International Federation for Human Rights (FIDH), human rights watchdog Amnesty International and the Belarusian Human Rights House. In attendance were Miklos Haraszti, the UN Human Rights Council's special rapporteur on Belarus, as well as Valyantsin Stefanovich, deputy chairman of a human rights group called Vyasna, and Zhanna Litvina, leader of the Belarusian Association of Journalists. In addition, members of many national delegations to the UN were also present.

The discussion was moderated by Jose Luis Diaz, Amnesty International's representative to the UN.

Mr. Haraszti described human rights abuse in Belarus as systemic, urging the Belarusian authorities to cooperate with all UN rapporteurs and mechanisms, including with him as the Human Rights Council's rapporteur.

A joint report by the FIDH and Vyasna on the situation of political prisoners in Belarus was presented at the discussion. The gathering also heard reports focusing on violations of social, economic, civil and political rights in the country, the situation of independent media, and the Belarusian government's failure to observe its international obligations.

The speakers urged national delegations to the UN to support the mandate of the Human Rights Council's special rapporteur on Belarus as an important tool of discussing the human rights situation in the country at a high international level. //BelaPAN