UN condemns violation of human rights in Belarus

The Third General Assembly’s Committee (SOCHUM) (social, humanitarian and cultural issues as well as human rights problems) approved a draft resolution on human rights in Belarus on November, 21. As the UN news center informs, the document was spearheaded by the USA together with Australia, the EU, Israel, Canada, Switzerland, and Japan. The draft resolution expresses “deep concern” about the ongoing systematic violation of human rights in Belarus and the further erosion of democratic process.

The draft highlighted the continued use of judicial means to “silence political opposition and human rights defenders”. The document says the Belarusian government doesn’t cooperate with the Human Rights Council. Besides, the repression and detainments of Belarusian journalists are continued in the country.

The approved document urges the Belarusian government "to release immediately and unconditionally all individuals detained for politically motivated reasons” and stop oppression and intimidation of political opponents, public activists, human rights activists and independent media. The draft urges the government to meet international standards for elections and legislative system.

Besides, the document call for suspending from their duties officials implicated in cases of enforced disappearance, executions and tortures, and apply best efforts to universal and impartial investigation, as well as bringing the individuals who are incriminated the crimes, to responsibility in an independent court.

The General Assembly insists on cooperating between the government of Belarus and the Human Rights Council and all its mechanisms as well as the mechanisms of the OSCE, the resolution emphasised.

The vote in the assembly's human rights committee passed 68-32, with 76 abstentions.