HRC 51 - Interactive Dialogue on the oral update of the High Commissioner on the situation of human rights in Belarus

HRC 51 - Interactive Dialogue on the oral update of the High Commissioner on the situation of human rights in Belarus

23.09.2022 Press and information team of the Delegation to the UN in Geneva

United Nations Human Rights Council

51^st session

Interactive Dialogue on the oral update of the High Commissioner on the situation of human rights in Belarus

23 September 2022

EU Statement

Mr. President,

The EU wishes to thank the Acting High Commissioner for the update.

We remain extremely concerned about intensifying systematic and widespread repression against civil society, human rights defenders and independent media in Belarus.

Yet another increase in the number of political prisoners has been reported, now estimated at over 1300, including those that are minors. Detainees continue to face torture and other ill-treatment in inhumane conditions, deprived of their rights to a fair trial, while further harsh lengthy politically motived prison sentences have been rendered.

We continue to call on Belarus to respect, protect and fulfil human rights in compliance with its obligations under international human rights law and to fully adhere to the principles of democracy and the rule of law. Belarusian authorities must immediately and unconditionally release all political prisoners, including human rights defenders, journalists and persons belonging to national and other minorities, and cease harassment and reprisals against individuals exercising their human rights.

We also underline that the amendment to the Criminal Code, introducing the death penalty for "attempted acts of terrorism", increases the risk of politically motivated executions and opposes the global trend of abolition of the death penalty. We continue to urge Belarus to abolish the death penalty and, as a first step, to introduce a moratorium.

Furthermore, we share the denunciation of the Special Procedures mandate holders of the recent withdrawal by Belarus from the Aarhus convention and their call on Belarus to urgently adopt measures for the protection of environmental human rights defenders.

Moreover, we strongly condemn the human rights consequences of Belarus' involvement in Russia's illegal war of aggression against Ukraine and urge Belarusian authorities to adhere fully to its international obligations by stopping this involvement.

Finally, we continue to support international initiatives to hold all perpetrators of human rights violations in Belarus to account, including through the UN Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights, the Special Rapporteur and the International Accountability Platform for Belarus, and we call on Belarusian authorities to grant these mechanisms access to the country.

Madam Acting High Commissioner, could you provide more details on the current situation of prisoners in Belarus, as well as on the reported trials behind closed doors?

I thank you.