The mandate of the UN Special Rapporteur on the human rights situation in Belarus, Miklos Haraszti, has recently got extended for a year. However, he is still unable to visit Belarus since the Belarusian authorities once again have denied him the entry into the country. During the meeting with the Belarusian human rights defenders Haraszti said that he had applied once again for the Belarusian visa. Miklos Haraszti stated that he wants to study the human rights situation in Belarus on the ground. Besides, he believes that a direct dialogue with the Belarusian authorities is a very important tool of improving the situation with human rights in the country. However, at the present moment, having no possibility to to visit Belarus, Haraszti holds consultations with human rights defenders and representatives of the civil society in the countries bordering Belarus.

The representatives of the Human Rights Centre “Viasna”, the Belarusian Helsinki Committee, Belarusian Human Rights House, the Legal Transformation Center, the Belarusian Association of Journalists and the Assembly of Pro-Democratic NGOs participated in the meeting with the UN Special Rapporteur, Miklos Haraszti. A broad number of questions regarding the human rights situation in Belarus were discussed during the meeting.

The member of the Human Rights Centre “Viasna”, the president of the Belarusian Human Rights House Tatsiana Reviaka (left) said that the most important and sensitive issues in the field of human rights in Belarus were raised during the consultations with the Special Rapporteur.

“Today’s situation with the human rights in Belarus is being discussed at the meeting. Much attention is paid to the legislation, since, unfortunately, it often leads to negative consequences in the field of human rights. The discussion addresses different aspects such as political prisoners, freedom of expression, freedom of peaceful assembly and other topics that concern democratic and human rights defenders communities in Belarus”.

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The decision to renew the Mandate of the Special Rapporteur on the human rights situation in Belarus was adopted on 28 September, 2012 in Geneva during the 21st session of the UN Human Rights Council. Miklos Haraszti, a Hungarian diplomat, was appointed for the position officially starting his job on 1 November. The decision to extend the Mandate of the Special Rapporteur on Belarus for another year was taken after the voting of the UN General Assembly in Geneva on 13 June.

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