In his three-minute speech Ales Bialiatski managed to cover the questions of importance of human rights issues and harassment of human rights defenders and social activists in Belarus and in the world. He also drew attention to the necessity of establishing the measures for their protection on the international level. Vice-President of the International Federation for Human Rights, the chairman of Human Rights Center “Viasna” Bialatski noted that in many countries, including Belarus, human rights defenders cannot work properly. “Our voices are stifled and go unheard,” – he said.

“Human rights defenders face multiple obstacles and risks, from threats to their physical integrity, attacks, ill-treatment, killings and enforced disappearances to slander, illegal surveillance and arbitrary detention, – said Bialatski. – They are targeted by laws defining their legitimate activities as “anti-state” and given the humiliating and spurious label of “foreign agent”, which is what happens in Russia. Their access to funding is restricted or blocked; and their permitted activities are criminalized”

According to Bialyatski, despite the international standards, the space for civil society and human rights defenders in the world “is under threat or shrinking globally”, and “repressive regimes imprison peaceful activists on trumped-up charges in order to silence them.”

Bialiatski recalled that the United Nations Human Rights Committee has recognized his detention as the direct consequence of the violation of his right to freedom of association “No manipulation of internal legislation by states can hide gross human rights violations from the international community”, – highlighted Bialiatski.

According to him, “the attacks on civil society go hand in hand with attacks on the universality of human rights carried out under the pretext of tradition, religion or values” “In supporting the right that unique human cultures have to development, we also speak out against the use of these concepts as instruments of social control and repression and as weapons to undermine international standards and fundamental freedoms” – said human rights defender.

Bialiatski stressed out that in countries where the rights and freedoms could be persecuted, UN statements and resolutions on human rights in country-specific situations provide the political impetus which is necessary to support citizens. “Country-specific mandates have demonstrated their usefulness in situations of gross and systematic human rights violations. That space, and the work of UN Special Rapporteurs, must be protected and fostered.” – summed up the Belarusian human rights defender.

It should be recalled that Ales Bialiatski has spent more than a thousand days in the colony and was released in June 2014. He was tried for concealment of income, but human rights organizations believe that the reason for the prosecution was Bialiatski’s social activities,as a result of this he was recognized as a political prisoner.

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