Summary

The present report is submitted by the Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Belarus to the Human Rights Council in accordance with its resolution 20/13. In the report, the Special Rapporteur presents the developments in human rights since the report of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights presented to the Council at its twentieth session (A/HRC/20/8).

In the report, the Special Rapporteur outlines his methodology of engagement with the Government of Belarus in pursuance of his mandate. He describes positive developments where they were discernible. In his assessment, human rights remain systemically and systematically restricted, especially in the case of the freedoms of association, of assembly, and of expression and opinion, as well as the guarantees of due process and fair trial.

Of particular concern is the continuing imprisonment of political opponents, human rights defenders and activists based on spurious criminal charges and unfair procedures, aggravated by allegations of torture and ill-treatment while in custody, as part of physical and psychological pressure aimed at “breaking” them into admission of guilt.

The Special Rapporteur accounts for enduring and emerging human rights concerns to be read in the light of the international commitments of Belarus. Lastly, the Special Rapporteur makes his recommendations.