Human rights defenders urge OHCHR to establish an independent investigative mechanism in Belarus Document

In the run-up to the consideration by the Human Rights Council at its 52nd session of the report and the possible extension of the OHCHR mandate to examine the human rights situation in Belarus, the national, international, and Belarusian civil society organizations, urge the delegation to seize the moment to establish an independent investigative mechanism to complement and follow-up on the work of the existing OHCHR examination. A letter to this effect, signed by 28 organizations, was sent to Permanent Representatives of Member and Observer States of the UN Human Rights Council.

“The new mechanism should have a mandate to: document patterns of human rights violations and abuses committed in Belarus, with particular focus on those which amount to international crimes; identify those responsible; and advance much-needed future accountability. Distinct from the OHCHR examination on Belarus, whose mandate was limited to violations in the run-up to and in the aftermath of the 2020 presidential election, such a mechanism should have an expanded mandate to ensure a focus on more recent and ongoing serious human rights violations in Belarus, in addition to reporting on long-term, systemic human rights issues” says the communication.

Human rights defenders draw attention that, although it is not a function within the remit of the Special Rapporteur, such a mechanism would provide a unique and vital way to prepare the ground for effective accountability for human rights crimes that have only multiplied in Belarus in the years since the 2020 election. It is essential for justice for victims of serious human rights violations in a context in which the government has aggressively stripped the country of its human rights community.

“The actions of all branches of power are aimed at building a new, totalitarian system that demonstrates zero tolerance to any deviations from official policy and ideology, for which, with impunity, at the direction and with the approval of the highest officials, an atmosphere of general fear is instilled in society, any manifestations of dissent are eradicated, and concepts are distorted in the interests of the ruling circles,” signatories quoted the Viasna Human Rights Center as saying about Belarus in January 2023.