During this event the participants visited bodies of the Council of Europe, the European Court of Human Rights, and also held some meetings with the representatives of these institutions and outlined the most urgent issues in the field of human rights in Belarus. The visit was opened by welcoming speech of Tatiana Termacic, Head of the Support to Human Rights National Implementation Unit, Directorate General of Human Rights and Legal Affairs of the Council of Europe. This was the structure which started HELP program  of human rights education for legal professionals and Human Rights Project admissibility criteria.HELP program provides assistance to member countries of the Council of Europe to implement the European Convention on Human Rights on the national level. This allows to improve capacity of judges, lawyers and prosecutors to apply the Convention. HELP program, which was launched in 2006, is one of the ways how the Council of Europe ensures the efficiency of ECHR and increases the implementation of the Convention at the national level.
Liudmila Ulyashyna (left), Manager of International Law in Advocacy Program, implemented by Human Rights House Network, said that cooperation with the HELP program is a part of the plan to expand cooperation with the Council of Europe: “Our program cooperates with the Council of Europe since 2006.Understanding the difficulties and restrictions associated with the fact that Belarus is not a member of the Council of Europe, they have always supported the program, sending the experts to some seminars and providing informational materials. This trip was a new impetus to our cooperation after the Council of Europe has learned about our program, and that we work not only with Belarus, but also with Azerbaijan, Moldova, Ukraine, Russia. Now HELP plans to expand the scope of the cooperation with our program, and in 2013 we have planned the implementation of the HELP program distance course on the eligibility criteria, using the online platform of the Program http://newlibrary.humanrightshouse.org, which our students could take to improve their skills”Liudmila Ulyashyna also noted that other special events for the Belarusian legal community were planned to isolation in which Belarus was not entail what lawyers remain aloof from the development of human rights law.”

Participants of the visit told that presented information on the performance and competence of the Council of Europe gave an idea about ​​the real possibility of their potential for Belarus.For instance, one of the visitors – Vasil Paliakou noted that the event helped to systematize the knowledge that the participants already had: “The study visit to Strasbourg allowed to understand how the institutions of the Council of Europe work, what is done to protect human rights and what mechanisms for that are available. In terms of systematization of knowledge of international human rights mechanisms – this is serious progress.The most significant event was the participation in the meeting of the Grand Chamber of the European Court of Human Rights, where we could not only see, but also feel the atmosphere of judicial proceedings related to the protection of human rights.  European Court creates many precedents and our participation in its work is a significant incentive to study the practice of the Court. “

 Separately the special importance of meetings with representatives of the Venice Commission was noted, the opinions of which are of particular practical interest for Belarus. Besides the participants, it was also noted by the coordinator of the “International Law in Advocacy”

 program in Belarus Dzina Shautsova (right): “I think that was a very useful meeting with representatives of Venice Commission, because it is one of the few bodies of the Council of Europe, which to date keeps relation with the Constitutional Court of the Republic of Belarus, and whose opinions can be of practical use.Opinion of Venice Commission is an authoritative public document, which can be referenced to, and for the Belarusian lawyers it is a serious help. The meeting was useful also in terms of practice, since few lawyers and activists clearly understood the mechanism of getting certain documents to the Venice Commission for its opinion on them. And, of course, the majority of our group was impressed by the visit to court. Many visitors have said that what they read in theory seemed distant and unattainable, especially with regard to Belarus. However, they were there and saw with their own eyes, the theory had become more clear, close and realistic. And I believe that soon we will see the practical results of this trip, I do not doubt it. “
Also, the members of the delegation attended a public hearing of the case “Vinter and Others v the United Kingdom” in the Grand Chamber of ECHR. Applicants who have committed serious crimes, were sentenced to life imprisonment without the right to the re-examination of the case, which, in their opinion, violates Article 3 of the ECHR for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms. According to this article, “no one shall be subjected to torture or to inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment.”The applicants have put before the Court the question of whether their sentence of life imprisonment without the right to the re-examination of the case of is a degrading treatment.For example, one of the participants noted that the visit to the hearing was one of the major events during the visit: “A visit to the Grand Chamber of the ECHR was very memorable,especially in light of the case presented there. We can say that we got a “feel” of theoretical knowledge in some areas received during the distance learning. ” “Liudmila Ulyashyna also noted that the visit to such a court proceedings inspired participants:” This event is a step forward for the Belarusian lawyers. In their reports, they noted that for the first time they felt that the European Court – is a reality, that it is a truly effective instruments. Lawyers were especially impressed by how serious the states are preparing for case hearings. They develop their concept of explanations and turn to the issues of security of society and concepts such as human dignity or the proportionality of punishment. When state officials have explained their position, they have demonstrated a very strong conceptual defence.  But the advocates of victim also made powerful statements and used in their presentation method of transition from the weaker argument to the stronger argument. Thus, our lawyers, who have studied these methods in our course on the level of theory, saw these technics in action. “Participant of the visit Uladzimir Bukshtynau prepared an extensive article where he noted the importance and usefulness of the visit: “According to the participants, all events of the visit were of practical use. Participants noted that the information on the performance and competence of the Council of Europe gave an idea of ​​the real possibility of their potential for Belarus. The visitors were particularly impressed with the hearing before the Grand Chamber of ECHR. As one member of the group said, what was once seen as something far away and not very accessible for the Belarusian lawyer, became very clear reality. Everyone was inspired by the level and culture of legal proceedings, logic and credibility of the parties’ positions. “

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“International Law in Advocacy” is an educational program of Human Rights House Network for lawyers and human rights defenders.The program was initiated by several members of the Human Right House network in order to introduce lawyers and human rights defenders to international instruments for the protection of human rights, to promote the implementation of international standards of human rights in national practices and to better protect human rights defenders and victims of human rights violations.Two projects are implemented within the framework of the program: “Bring International Standards Home. De facto implementation of international obligations of the Republic of Belarus in the field of civil rights and freedoms” project  and “Electronic Human Rights Education for Lawyers” project.

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