MINSK – Belarusian human rights campaigners urge the UN Human Rights Council (UNHRC) to extend the mandate of its special rapporteur on the republic, Viasna, a non-registered human rights center, said in a statement.
“During the meetings we described our position that the country needs a renewal of the mandate of the Special Rapporteur. The situation in Belarus, unfortunately, has not improved, but even worsened significantly during March, April and May,” Viasna lawyer Valiantsin Stefanovich said after meeting with UNHRC members’ delegates in Geneva.
The mandate is also important because Belarus is not a member of the Council of Europe and thus not covered by the regional system of human rights, he said.
“Accordingly, the only international mechanism that we can use is the United Nations,” Stefanovich said.
“Belarus’ cooperation with the UN is extremely random: it does not consider views by the UN Human Rights Committee as binding decisions, nor does it recognize its procedures; the country does not only invite the Special Rapporteurs, but thematic rapporteurs, as well,” he said.
“From this perspective, we believe that it is necessary to call on Belarus to be engaged in closer cooperation in the framework of its international treaty obligations,” Stefanovich said.
The UNHRC begins its 35th session on June 6. The current special rapporteur on Belarus, Miklos Haraszti will present his report on June 14. according to the report, the human rights situation in the republic has sharply deteriorated.
The UN special rapporteur’s report is biased and useless, the Belarusian Foreign Ministry said.
