U.S. statement on the resolution on human rights in Belarus :: Charter'97 :: News

The United States offers this resolution that we are co-tabling with the European Union in response to the deteriorating human rights situation in Belarus. Since last year, senior officials of the Government of Belarus have been implicated in the enforced disappearance and-or summary execution of three political opponents of the incumbent authorities in 1999 and of a journalist in 2000.

Elections were held that according to the Election Observation Mission of the Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE), significantly short of commitments Belarus made. Belarusian authorities failed to create the conditions, particularly freedom of expression and freedom of media, to ensure that the will of the people serves as the basis of the authority of government.

The Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Belarus noted persistent reports that as of February 1, 2005 the Belarusian Government has been enforcing draconian-prohibitive legal requirements and requesting exorbitant monetary sums for registration and continued operation of non-governmental organizations. There are persistent reports of harassment and closure of non-governmental organizations, national minority organizations, independent media outlets, opposition political parties and independent trade unions, and the harassment of individuals engaged in democratic activities, including independent media.

This resolution urges the Government of Belarus to dismiss or suspend from their duties law enforcement officers and public officials implicated in forced disappearances and-or summary executions, pending an independent, credible and full investigation of those cases, and to hold the perpetrators promptly accountable.

The resolution asks that at the Government of Belarus cooperate fully with all the mechanisms of the Commission, including by extending invitations to the Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Belarus, the Special Rapporteur on torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment, the Special Rapporteur on extrajudicial, summary or arbitrary executions, the Special Rapporteur on the promotion and protection of the right to freedom of opinion and expression, and the Special Representative of the Secretary-General on the situation of human rights defenders, as well as the Working Group on Enforced or Involuntary Disappearances, and through requesting technical assistance.

We urge the Commission to support this resolution.

United States Government Delegation to the 61st Session of the United Nations Commission on Human Rights

Geneva, Switzerland
April 14, 2005