The Helsinki Committee for Human Rights in Bosnia and Herzegovina urged through the members of the BH Presidency, to the BiH Mission to the UN not to give their vote to Belarus and to prevent this country from becoming a member of the top institution for protection of human rights and freedoms, with the arguments, that are based primarily on the fact that Belarus is probably the country where there is least protection for human rights on the “Old Continent”. (14-MAY-07)

This letter is made by the Helsinki Committee for Human Rights in Bosnia and Herzegovina, which has republicated here by HRH / Mirsad Pandzic.

The UN General Assembly has planned in the agenda for the session of 17 May 2007 the election of members of the UN Human Rights Council. A candidate for a seat in this senior institution for protection of human rights and application of top human rights standards as warranted by the UN is also Belarus. The Helsinki Committee for Human Rights in Bosnia and Herzegovina urged  through the Presidency to the BH Mission to the UN not to give their vote to Belarus and to prevent this country from becoming a member of the top institution for protection of human rights and freedoms.

Arguments
Their arguments, as well as the arguments of similar non-governmental organizations throughout the world, which are working in the field of protection of human rights, stays in the letter, are based primarily on the fact that Belarus is probably the country where there is least protection for human rights on the “Old Continent”.

Belarus does not recognize fair and democratic elections. In the letter reminded that the presidential elections in Belarus in March 2006 were undemocratic and did not correspond with international standards regulating democratic and fair elections. Apart from this, the freedom of expression has not been respected in Belarus, or the freedom of media, which have been made subjects to extraordinary pressure. Few media can be considered independent, and these are mostly printed media. There have been big violations of rights to association and peaceful gathering. Only in 2006, over 1,000 people were arrested on account of their political opinions, while a great number of human rights groups and organizations have been put under growing pressure and made subjects of harassment. Judiciary in Belarus is not independent either and does not apply the standards of democratic and free countries. Finally, it should be stressed that the cases of missing political opponents from several years ago have not been resolved yet, which has been an issue of concern for the whole democratic world.

Obligations towards the United Nations system
They stated that the Belarus is also a country that does not fulfil its obligations towards the United Nations system. Belarus has ignored the UN resolutions referring to the state of human rights in this country. It has also disregarded findings of the Human Rights Committee dealing with individual complaints to this body coming from citizens of Belarus. Belarus has also refused to cooperate with the United Nations and the special Rapporteur for Human Rights in Belarus, whose recommendations the government of Belarus ignored.

The state of human rights in Belarus has also been demonstrated by the Resolution of the UN General Assembly No. 61/175, which listed the violations of human rights in Belarus and UN findings on the state of human rights and freedoms in this country.

For these reasons, BH Helsinki Committee kindly asked members of the Presidency to act within the competences of the Presidency of Bosnia and Herzegovina and prevent election of Belarus into the UN Human Rights Council, by the BiH Mission to UN not giving its vote to this country.

The letter was signed by Srdjan Dizdarevic, President of the Helsinki Committee for Human Rights in Bosnia and Herzegovina, and was sent to:
– Nebojsa radmanovic, Chairman of the BH Presidency
– Haris Silajdzic, Member of BH Presidency
– Zeljko Komsic, Member of BH Presidency
– Sven Alkalaj, BH Foreign Minister
– Ana Trisic – Babic, BH Deputy Foreign Minister