03.05.2018 Human Rights Situation in Belarus: April 2018
At the 63rd session of the UN Committee against Torture, the official delegation of Belarus submitted its periodic report within the fifth cycle. An alternative report was presented by Belarusian human rights activists.
02.05.2018 Protesters detained on May Day in Minsk
At least nine people were arrested by the police before and during the protest in Minsk, which was organized by the REP Trade Union. The gathering had been authorized by the city administration.
28.04.2018 Picks of the week
The country’s prisons continue to hold two political prisoners.
27.04.2018 Alternative report presented to UN Committee against Torture
On April 26, a delegation of human rights activists from Belarus presented their alternative report within the 63rd session of the United Nations Committee against Torture.
25.04.2018 HRDs to present alternative report at 63rd session of the UN Committee against Torture
On 27 April, the Republic of Belarus will present its report on the implementation of the UN Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment at the 63rd session of the UN Committee against Torture. Since the ratification of the Convention in 1987, the country has reported to the Committee for five times.
23.04.2018 Government could demonstrate will for change in fight against torture
On April 20, Pavel Sapelka, lawyer of the Human Rights Center "Viasna", and Aleh Hulak, chairman of the Belarusian Helsinki Committee, took part in the expert-level consultations entitled “The practice of interaction with human rights treaty bodies.”
19.04.2018 Time to act towards true abolition of the death penalty, say HRDs
On April 18, Minsk hosted a round table entitled “Legal aspects of the abolition of the death penalty in Belarus”. The event was organized by the Council of Europe and involved members of the Belarusian Parliament’s lower chamber and representatives of NGOs, including the Human Rights Center “Viasna”.
13.04.2018 Picks of the week
On April 11 and 12, the Court of the Brest region cancelled heavy fines earlier imposed on Belsat reporter Ales Liauchuk and local vloggers Aliaksandr Kabanau and Siarhei Piatrukhin. The fines were ordered by the Pinsk District Court. All of them were convicted of “violating media legislation”.
12.04.2018 Belarus still only executioner in Europe and Central Asia
“In Europe and Central Asia, Belarus was the only country to execute people. The country carried out at least two executions in 2017; at least four new death sentences were imposed,” Amnesty International said in its Annual Report on the death penalty.
07.04.2018 Human rights activists present alternative report on torture
On April 5, a human rights coalition presented its alternative report on the implementation by Belarus of the UN Convention against Torture.
03.04.2018 Human Rights Situation in Belarus: March 2018
Despite the Minsk city executive committee’s permission to hold a rally and concert in the capital on the occasion of the 100th anniversary of the proclamation of the BNR independence, the city authorities banned a march organized by a number of opposition politicians.
28.03.2018 Belarus: Arbitrary arrest and subsequent release of seven observers of Viasna and BHC, and obstacles to the right to peaceful assembly
The Observatory for the Protection of Human Rights Defenders, a partnership of FIDH and the World Organisation Against Torture (OMCT), requests your urgent intervention in the following situation in Belarus.
26.03.2018 Human rights defenders condemn mass detentions ahead and during peaceful assemblies on March 25, 2018
We, representatives of Belarusian human rights organizations, strongly condemn the preemptive detentions of activists throughout the country on the eve of mass events in honor of the centenary of the proclamation of the Belarusian People’s Republic, as well as during and after these peaceful assemblies.
25.03.2018 Viasna observers, protesters, journalists detained in Minsk and across country
Six observers of the Human Rights Center “Viasna” have been detained by the police in Minsk’s central Yakub Kolas Square, which was expected to host an illegal protest by Mikalai Statkevich’s associates. The opposition politician himself was detained earlier this morning and sent to serve 10 days of administrative detention.
22.03.2018 Ales Bialiatski: “We protest against the repressive actions of the authorities ahead of Freedom Day”
As previously reported by the Human Rights Center "Viasna", police in Minsk arrested several opposition figures, who were expected to lead a protest on March 25. The human rights activists are outraged by such actions of the authorities.
