Belarusian Authorities Refuse to Accept UN Special Representative on Human Rights Activists

On 14 April the head of the Human Rights Center “Viasna” Ales Bialiatski had a working meeting with the Special Representative on Human Rights Activists Hina Jilani. They talked about the worsening of the situation of human rights in Belarus. Ales Bialiatski told her about the new facts of liquidation of NGOs in Belarus, initiation of criminal cases towards oppositional politicians and human rights activists for criticizing the authorities and about persecution of youth and trade-unions.

Hina Jilani was really interested in the new information and said that her office attentively watched the situation of human rights in Belarus.

She also said that she had applied to the Belarusian authorities several times already with the request to permit her visit to Belarus, but received refusals. Nevertheless, she will continue attempts to influence human rights in Belarus.

On the same day Ales Bialiatski had a meeting with Olive Moore, the representative of the Irish mission of the UN Commission on Human Rights, who was responsible for the presentation of the resolution on human rights in Belarus. It’s worth mentioning that at present Ireland presides at the EU and the draft Resolution is supported by all EU members.