Human rights defenders call for UN special rapporteur’s mandate to be extended

June 14, BPN. Belarusian and international human rights defenders say the mandate of the UN special rapporteur on Belarus should be extended.

While it is important to support Ukraine, Belarus deserves no less attention because repression continues, current mandate holder Anaïs Marin told an online conference organized as part of the UN Human Rights Council’s 50th session on June 14.

Marin said freedom of speech and assembly in Belarus is severely restricted, and a “witch hunt” is underway to silence the Belarusians and prevent dissenters from taking to the streets.

According to Maren, 2021 and the first half of 2022 were characterized by unprecedented persecution of journalists, elimination of independent media and NGOs. Currently, 29 media workers are imprisoned, and editorial offices have been forced to emigrate.

In this regard, the special rapporteur emphasized the importance of the international community’s active and consistent position in protecting civil society and human rights in Belarus.

Given the scale of repression, she considers it necessary to extend the special rapporteur’s mandate until the human rights situation in Belarus improves.

Democratic leader Śviatłana Cichanoŭskaja’s representative for international affairs Valeryj Kavaleŭski said it is very important to keep the mandate so that the world community is aware of what is happening and the perpetrators of repression can be punished.

Belarusian Association of Journalists (BAJ) deputy chairman Aleh Ahiejeŭ emphasized that keeping the mandate will allow the Belarusian agenda to remain in the international focus.

According to Matthew Jones of the Human Rights House Foundation, the Łukašenka regime hopes that the international community will lose interest in the Belarusian developments. The special rapporteur’s mandate is a unique instrument to maintain this interest and support Belarusian civil society.

The mandate of the special rapporteur on the human rights situation in Belarus was established by the UN Human Rights Council on June 28, 2012. It is renewed annually. Anais Maren has been the special rapporteur since November 1, 2018.

The rapporteur prepares annual reports for the Human Rights Council and the UN General Assembly. The latest report recommends the Belarusian authorities to release political prisoners and take measures to reverse the trend of Belarusians’ mass exodus from their homeland.