Latest
Semiannual review of 2013: the human rights situation is grave, without significant changes
Belarusian human rights organizations have developed an analytical review, which defines medium-term trends in the field of human rights, socio-political and economic situation in Belarus. The report that covers the period from July to December 2013,was developed by Belarusian Helsinki Committee (RPHA “BHK”), the Belarusian Association of Journalists (HA “BAJ”), the Assembly of Democratic NGOs of Belarus, Legal Transformation Center, the Human Rights Centre “Viasna” educational and charitable institution “Solidarity” Committee “.
Police seized BMW from a Stop-Tax protester from Minsk
On 20 December at about 6 p.m. car owners came to the main Minsk avenue to protest against imposition of the transport tax. The “Stop Tax” campaign ended up with detentions, and the car of one of the protesters was confiscated.
Another person sentenced to death in Belarus
Belarusian human rights defenders learned that one of the courts in Belarus issued another death penalty. The decision was made on 26 November 2013 in relation to 53-year-old citizen, who was accused of five cases of murder while intoxicated. The convicted has been under investigation since 2011 and during that time he had changed three lawyers.
The talk about the right to life on the Human Rights Day
10 December is marked as Human Rights Day. On this occasion, the Barys Zvoskau Belarusian Human Rights House and the Embassy of the Kingdom of Netherlands in Vilnius held a public discussion on the criminal justice system and the death penalty in Belarus.
What should the EU do for Human Rights?
On Human Rights Day, 10 December, Human Rights House Network participates in launching the European campaign “Stand 4 Human Rights” with a short film called “What should the EU do for Human Rights?”.
Vasil Parfiankou is sentenced to a year in a maximum security penal colony
The former political prisoner Vasil Parfiankou was sentenced to one year of imprisonment in a maximum security penal colony on charges of violating preventive police supervision restrictions. The Human Rights Center “Viasna” and the “Belarusian Helsinki Committeee” regard the sentencing as politically motivated persecution.
The “Democratic Fair” was held Vilnius
On 28-29 November ByRoom event was held in Vilnius. This was a kind of Belarusian civil society forum, where activists had a chance to present the activities of non-governmental organizations, share ideas and participate in the discussion of important issues for Belarus during organized round tables. Thus, on 29 November, during a round table dedicated to the results the Summit of the Eastern Partnership, human rights defenders and other participants discussed ways to promote human rights in Belarus.
The UN’s human rights work should be increased
Members of the Human Rights House Network (HRHN) express their concern to learn that the European Union is aiming at further reducing the ordinary budget of the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights. The NGOs call upon the European Union to support the work of the Office, by increasing its ordinary budget as a way to strengthen the impact of its work and cooperation by all States.
Worrisome pressure by the European Union to further reduce the UN human rights budget
Members of the Human Rights House Network (HRHN) express their concern to learn that the European Union is aiming at further reducing the ordinary budget of the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights. The NGOs call upon the European Union to support the work of the Office, by increasing its ordinary budget as a way to strengthen the impact of its work and cooperation by all States.