Human rights in Belarus continue downward spiral, warns Bachelet 

Gender-based unit is of superior concern, with reports that astir 30 per cent of those arbitrarily detained were women and girls, Michelle Bachelet told the Human Rights Council successful Geneva. 

Freedoms nether assault 

Severe restrictions connected cardinal freedoms person besides continued since the disputed re-election of President Alexander Lukashenko successful August past year, Ms Bachelet said. 

She highlighted ongoing constabulary raids against civilian nine groups and autarkic media, and the politically motivated arrests and transgression prosecutions of activists and journalists. 

More than 650 radical are believed to beryllium successful situation due to the fact that of their opinions – including the caput of the well-known quality rights group, Viasna. 

Suppressing dissent 

Ms Bachelet noted that the Belarusian authorities superior aim, was suppressing criticism and dissent of Governmental policies, alternatively than immoderate extortion of quality rights law. 

She added that she regretted that the petition for a gathering with the Belarus Ambassador had been rejected, preventing a moving sojourn to the country. 

The UN rights main said that arsenic of 10 August, 27 journalists and media workers stay successful detention, including the precocious profile blogger Roman Protasevich, who was arrested successful May along with his Russian partner, aft his formation from Greece to Lithuania was diverted to Belarus, sparking worldwide condemnation. 

Belarusian response 

Responding to statements astatine the Council, Belarus said its Government had restored bid successful the state and “people were moving and starring their mean lives”. 

It insisted that the actions of the authorities of Belarus are aimed astatine preserving bid and protecting the rights of each citizens. 

Reiterating its disagreement with solution 46/2,  which condemns “ongoing sedate violations of quality rights successful Belarus”, it stated that the presumption of the Government had been ignored and the main extremity of protests was a revolutionary transition of power. 

Appeal for state access 

Ms. Bachelet told the gathering that a scope of accountability measures could beryllium considered by the Council, however, lone 50 per cent of the resources disposable for the mandate had been approved. 

She said she hoped this would beryllium accrued successful 2022. The UN rights main besides insisted that nonstop entree to the state was important, for example, to physically entree detention facilities. She noted however, that “much could beryllium achieved adjacent without carnal access”.