Miklós HarasztiThe United Nations Special Rapporteur on the human rights situation in the Republic of Belarus, Miklós Haraszti (right), published his first report to be presented to the Human Rights Council on 4 June 2013.

The full report can be downloaded on the right.

The mandate of the Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Belarus was established by the Human Rights Council in its resolution 20/13. In the present report, the Special Rapporteur, Miklós Haraszti, who officially assumed his functions on 1 November 2012, describes the prevailing situation of human rights in Belarus since the establishment of the mandate on 5 July 2012 and includes information received until 31 March 2013. 

“The aftermath of the presidential elections held on 19 December 2010 and the ensuing deterioration in the situation of human rights still mark the human rights context of Belarus,” in the eyes of the Special Rapporteur.

“The Special Rapporteur is concerned at the lack of rule of law in Belarus, in particular with regard to procedural guarantees, as envisaged by article 14 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights. Multiple meetings with human rights defenders and victims of human rights violations reflected a lack of trust in the judiciary, as well as a lack in the belief that rights would be protected by the judiciary over the interests of the authorities.” 

“The structural character of the fact that widespread human rights violations remain unaddressed is underlined by the centralization of the legislative and executive powers in the office of the President. Presidential decrees are used as the main, and in fact, supreme legislative mechanism in the country.”

More specifically, the Special Rapporteur addresses the following issues in his report: 

  1. Right to life and the death penalty;
  2. Enforced disappearances;
  3. Prison conditions, torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment;
  4. Treatment of political opponents, human rights defenders and activists; 
  5.  Independence of judges and lawyers; 
  6.  Fair trial;
  7. Arbitrary arrest and detention;
  8. Freedom of expression and opinion;
  9. Freedom of peaceful assembly;
  10. Freedom of association and human rights defenders;
  11. Discrimination; 
  12. Treatment of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender persons; 
  13. Labour rights and trade unions;
  14. Elections. 

Documents:

  • Special Rapporteur Report (2013)

    • HRHN engagement with the Special Rapporteur

    On 18 February 2013, the Special Rapporteur had the opportunity to meet with the First Secretary of the Embassy of the Republic of Belarus to Ukraine on the sidelines of an event entitled “Media and human rights”, organized by the Human Rights House Foundation, in Kyiv. 

    As explained by the Special Rapporteur in his report in full transparency, the Human Rights House Network indeed aimed at supporting the mandate holder in his work by facilitating access to first hand information for him:

    “From 11 to 15 November 2012, in Vilnius, the Special Rapporteur participated in his first consultation with civil society, organized by the Belarusian Human Rights House.6 From 12 to 16 January 2013, also in Vilnius, the Special Rapporteur held consultations, also organized by the Belarusian Human Rights House, with legal professionals on matters concerning the justice system and lawyers, and met with individuals from Belarus with particular human rights concerns. From 18 to 21 February 2013, during the joint event on “Media space and human rights” organized by the Belarusian Human Rights House, the Human Rights House Kyiv and the Human Rights House Foundation, he met with media experts, human rights defenders and civil society representatives in Kyiv. From these first- hand consultations, information was collected, documented and recorded on the prevailing human rights concerns in Belarus.”