The Belarusian Helsinki Committee made a statement on behalf of the coalition of Belarusian human rights organizations at an interactive dialogue with the Special Rapporteur on Belarus during the 53rd session of the Human Rights Council.
We recalled at least 1,500 political prisoners who are being held in conditions that have nothing to do with basic standards of humane treatment, including incommunicado detention of a number of political prisoners.
Since the main topic of the Special Rapporteur's report was freedom of expression, we also pointed out that 34 media representatives are currently in detention, and anti-extremist legislation is being arbitrarily used to persecute individuals, independent media and civil society organizations for their positions.
We stressed that the mandate of the Special Rapporteur on Belarus is an important mechanism for assessing the overall human rights situation, responding to systemic human rights violations and maintaining international attention on the country, and called on the Human Rights Council to extend the mandate for another year.
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Text of the Appeal
Distinguished President, Excellencies, Colleagues
I am here today to be the voice of a Belarusian human rights defenders coalition.
The human rights situation in Belarus continues to deteriorate. To date, it’s known about at least 1,500 political prisoners. They are held in unbearable conditions, including many prisoners in incommunicado detention, which have nothing to do with basic standards of humane treatment.
Among them are hundreds of people unjustly convicted for expressing disagreement with violence and war and 34 media representatives who faced harsh sentences simply for their dedication to truth. The authorities continue to arbitrarily use anti-extremist legislation to persecute individuals, independent media and civil society organizations for their position. All this shows nothing but the complete and deliberate destruction of freedom of expression within the country.
We extend our gratitude to Ms. Anaïs Marin, for her report and dedicated collaboration with Belarusian civil society. The Special Rapporteur's mandate is essential for evaluating the overall human rights situation in Belarus, addressing systemic violations, and maintaining international attention on the country.
Therefore, we call on the Human Rights Council to extend the mandate, reinforcing the commitment of the international community to address the ongoing crisis in Belarus.
Thank you and may our collective efforts lead to the restoration of the rule of law and the triumph of human rights in Belarus.
