The Human Rights Center “Viasna”

News for 19 Aug 2014

19.08.2014 Niasvizh resident fined for solidarity with Ukraine

Natallia Bordak must pay the fine that was earlier cancelled.

19.08.2014 Journalists in Mahiliou face administrative charges

Local freelance journalists, Ales Burakou and Mikhail Arshynski, are accused of collaborating with foreign media that do not have accreditation in Belarus.

19.08.2014 Homel activist supplements complaint to UN Human Rights Committee with new facts

Coordinator of the youth network of the independent trade union of radio-electronic industry Andrei Stryzhak complained to the UN Human Rights Committee against a ban imposed by officials in Rechytsa on a peaceful assembly that was scheduled for September 8, 2013 and was expected to protest against the decision of the Belarusian government to abolish sick leave payments for parents raising children.

19.08.2014 Berlin students: Young Belarusians have to fight for their rights and not to lose hope (photos)

Three students of the Free University of Berlin, one of Germany’s largest universities, came to Vilnius to meet with the participants of the Summer Human Rights School, as well as with students from the Vilnius-based European Humanities University. Elena Gettsel, Satik Agekyan and Elena Pulich chose Belarus as the subject of their research at the Institute for East European Studies, which, according to them, is a rare option. Meanwhile, this choice was suggested by a circumstance that impressed them so much – until today the Belarusian state punishes its people with death, disregarding the right to life. During their meeting with the Belarusian youth, the issue of the death penalty was in the center of the discussion of the problems of human rights in Belarus.

19.08.2014 Ukraine: The Forgotten Victims

The human rights situation in Ukraine is alarming. Civilians are caught in the conflict between the Ukrainian troops and pro-Russian armed groups mainly in the East of the country. They are also abducted or arbitrarily detained, tortured, threatened and subjected to discrimination, especially in Crimea.

19.08.2014 OSCE media freedom representative concerned about ban on journalist from entering Crimea

OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media Dunja Mijatović today expressed concern about the deteriorating media freedom situation in Crimea following the decision of the de-facto Crimean authorities to ban journalist Ismet Yuksel from entering the peninsula.

19.08.2014 OSCE/ODIHR Guidelines on Human Rights Defenders: Time for a genuine implementation across all the OSCE area and beyond

The Observatory for the Protection of Human Rights Defenders, a joint programme of FIDH (the International Federation for Human Rights) and the World Organisation Against Torture (OMCT), welcomes the launch of the Guidelines on Human Rights Defenders of the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) on June 10, 2014 under the Swiss Chairmanship of the Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) in Bern, and calls for a genuine implementation by all OSCE Participating States.