UN demands Belarus release political prisoners

A session of the Universal Periodic Review, the world's largest human rights and freedoms monitoring mechanism, has taken place.

Belarus has been reviewed for the first time since 2010. Political prisoners, the death penalty, torture, notorious criminal article 193-1, the absence of the independent judicial system and free speech were called among main problems in the the human rights field in the country, Belsat reports.

Only registered and pro-governmental NGOs were invited to the meeting by the Belarusian authorities. The official delegation didn't allow other groups, including Viasna human rights centre, to register. Despite this fact, an alternative report made by 11 NGOs was sent to the Human Rights Council.

The official report of the Belarusian delegation was optimistic, saying about significant achievements in the social sphere, education, gender equality and domestic violence.

The discussion on Belarus began with positive remarks, as the country has one of the lowest rates of infant mortality in the world. Participants of the meeting praised Belarus for the measures taken against trafficking in persons.

The discussion, however, continued with criticism. Besides traditionally concerned neighbours, Brazil and Peru unexpectedly joined the discussion of human rights in Belarus. More than 100 countries gave Belarus recommendations in the issues of civil rights and freedoms. A representative of Ireland called to expand the use of the Belarusian language and provide proper opportunities for its use.

Belarus was called to join the Rome Status of the International Criminal Court, the Convention against Torture and to establish the ombudsman institution in the country. UN members called for the simplification of registration procedures for political parties and simpler procedures for organising mass events.

Belgium called on the Belarusian authorities to cooperate with the special rapporteur on Belarus in human rights issues. It was a surprise that Russia criticised Belarus and advised it to protect family values and strengthen cooperation with civil society.

US representative in the Human Rights Council Keith Harper urged Minsk to amend its election legislation and bring it in line with OSCE recommendations, RFE/RL reports.

According to Harper, Minsk must "demonstrate respect for a democratic political process, freedom of association, and freedom of expression ahead of the 2015 presidential election”.