UNRIC Library Backgrounder: Belarus

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UN News Centre – Belarus
https://news.un.org/en/tags/belarus

Uphold safety, human rights on Belarus-Poland border, UN agencies urge
(UN News, 9 November 2021):
https://news.un.org/en/story/2021/11/1105312

UN Entities

• United Nations in Belarus: https://un.by/en/
• United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA)
  • ReliefWeb – Belarus: https://reliefweb.int/country/blr
• Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) – Belarus: https://www.ohchr.org/en/countries/belarus
  • OHCHR examination of the human rights situation in Belarus: https://www.ohchr.org/en/hr-bodies/hrc/ohchr-belarus/index
  • Belarus: Human rights situation still catastrophic, UN expert says (5 July 2023): https://www.ohchr.org/en/press-releases/2023/07/belarus-human-rights-situation-still-catastrophic-un-expert-says
  • Belarus must release all detainees held on political grounds and protect their rights: UN experts (30 May 2023): https://www.ohchr.org/en/press-releases/2023/05/belarus-must-release-all-detainees-held-political-grounds-and-protect-their
  • Belarus: Verdict against Nobel laureate Ales Bialiatski an effort to quash scrutiny and dissent say UN experts (3 March 2023): https://www.ohchr.org/en/press-releases/2023/03/belarus-verdict-against-nobel-laureate-ales-bialiatski-effort-quash-scrutiny
  • Grave concern at trials in Belarus (6 January 2023): https://www.ohchr.org/en/press-briefing-notes/2023/01/grave-concern-trials-belarus
  • Belarus: UN Human Rights Committee condemns execution (10 March 2022): https://www.ohchr.org/en/press-releases/2022/03/belarus-un-human-rights-committee-condemns-execution
  • Belarus: UN report details scale and patterns of human rights violations committed with impunity (9 March 2022): https://www.ohchr.org/en/press-releases/2022/03/belarus-un-report-details-scale-and-patterns-human-rights-violations
  • Belarus: Bachelet appoints Fact-Finding Mission experts (19 May 2021): https://www.ohchr.org/en/press-releases/2021/05/bachelet-appoints-experts-ohchr-examination-belarus
• Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Belarus: https://www.ohchr.org/en/special-procedures/sr-belarus
• International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO)
  • Council President presents briefing to UN Security Council on the forced landing of Ryanair Flight FR4978 by Belarus (31 October 2022): https://www.icao.int/Newsroom/Pages/Council-President-presents-briefing-to-UN-Security-Council-on-the-forced-landing-of-Ryanair-Flight-FR4978-by-Belarus.aspx
  • ICAO Council condemns Belarus over 2021 Ryanair flight bomb threat and diversion (19 July 2022): https://www.icao.int/Newsroom/Pages/ICAO-Council-strongly-condemns-Belarus-over-2021-Ryanair-flight-bomb-threat-and-diversion.aspx
  • ICAO Council discusses Report on Fact Finding into Ryanair FR4978 (31 January 2022): https://www.icao.int/Newsroom/Pages/ICAO-Council-discusses-Fact-Finding-Report-into-Ryanair-FR4978.aspx
  • ICAO releases fact-finding report on Ryanair FR4978 (17 January 2022): https://www.icao.int/Newsroom/Pages/ICAO-releases-factfinding-report-on-Ryanair-FR4978.aspx
  • Update on fact-finding investigation into Ryanair flight FR4978 (16 June 2021): https://www.icao.int/Newsroom/Pages/Update-on-factfinding-investigation-into-Ryanair-flight-FR4978.aspx
  • ICAO Council to pursue fact finding investigation into Ryanair FR4978 (27 May 2021): https://www.icao.int/Newsroom/Pages/ICAO-Council-agrees-to-pursue-fact-finding-investigation-into-Belarus-incident.aspx
• International Labour Organization (ILO) – Belarus: https://www.ilo.org/moscow/countries/belarus/lang–en/index.htm
  • ILO calls on Belarus President to respect workers’ rights and freedoms amid protests
    (9 September 2020): https://www.ilo.org/global/about-the-ilo/newsroom/news/WCMS_754965/lang–en/index.htm
•  International Organization for Migration (IOM) – Belarus: https://www.iom.int/countries/belarus
  • IOM Offers Safe and Dignified Return Assistance to Migrants Stranded in Belarus (15 December 2021): https://www.iom.int/news/iom-offers-safe-and-dignified-return-assistance-migrants-stranded-belarus
  • IOM and Partners Scaling Up Aid for Migrants and Refugees Stranded in Belarus (29 November 2021): https://www.iom.int/news/iom-and-partners-scaling-aid-migrants-and-refugees-stranded-belarus
  • IOM, UNHCR Provide Emergency Aid to Asylum-Seekers and Migrants at the Belarus-Poland Border, Call to Ensure Wellbeing of People and Prevent Loss of Life (12 November 2021): https://bit.ly/3Hg7wAJ
  • IOM and UNHCR Call for Immediate De-escalation at the Belarus-Poland Border (9 November 2021): https://www.iom.int/news/iom-and-unhcr-call-immediate-de-escalation-belarus-poland-border
• United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) – Belarus: https://www.by.undp.org
• Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) – Belarus: https://www.unhcr.org/belarus.html and https://www.unhcr.org/by/
• World Health Organization (WHO) – Belarus: https://www.euro.who.int/en/countries/belarus
• The World Bank in Belarus: https://www.who.int/belarus
• World Health Organization / Regional Office for Europe (WHO / Europe) – Belarus
  • 60% of migrants who spoke to WHO/Europe on the Belarus-Lithuania border need some form of medical attention (12 November 2021): https://www.who.int/europe/news/item/12-11-2021-60-of-migrants-who-spoke-to-who-europe-on-the-belarus-lithuania-border-need-some-form-of-medical-attention

Human Rights Council

• Human Rights Council hears that some of the human rights violations documented in Belarus could amount to crimes against humanity, and that there were reasonable grounds to believe that crimes against humanity, including torture, were committed in Venezuela (22 March 2023): https://www.ohchr.org/en/news/2023/03/human-rights-council-hears-some-human-rights-violations-documented-belarus-could
• Belarus ‘engulfed in fear’ as systematic violations and impunity persist: UN expert (29 June 2022): https://www.ohchr.org/en/press-releases/2022/06/belarus-engulfed-fear-systematic-violations-and-impunity-persist-un-expert
• Human Rights Council: United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights urges government of Belarus to end ongoing human rights violations (4 December 2020): https://www.ohchr.org/en/press-releases/2020/12/human-rights-council-united-nations-high-commissioner-human-rights-urges
• Human Rights Council adopts resolution on situation of human rights in Belarus
  (18 September 2020): https://www.ohchr.org/en/press-releases/2020/09/human-rights-council-adopts-resolution-situation-human-rights-belarus
• Human Rights Council holds urgent debate on the situation of human rights in Belarus (18 September 2020): https://www.ohchr.org/en/press-releases/2020/09/human-rights-council-holds-urgent-debate-situation-human-rights-belarus
• Human rights council opens forty-fifth regular session, decides to hold an urgent debate on Belarus (14 September 2020): https://www.ohchr.org/en/statements/2020/09/human-rights-council-opens-forty-fifth-regular-session-decides-hold-urgent

Selected UN Documents

• A/HRC/53/53 (3 May 2023): Report of the Special Rapporteur on the Situation of Human Rights in Belarus, Anaïs Marin: https://undocs.org/A/HRC/53/53
  Submitted pursuant to Human Rights Council resolution 50/20; covers the period 1 Apr. 2022 to 31 Mar. 2023.
• A/HRC/RES/52/29: Situation of human rights in Belarus in the run-up to the 2020 presidential election and in its aftermath: resolution / adopted by the Human Rights Council on 4 April 2023: https://undocs.org/A/HRC/RES/52/29
• A/HRC/53/26/Add.2 (18 March 2023): Visit to Belarus: report of the Special Rapporteur on the Human Rights of Migrants, Felipe González Morales: https://undocs.org/A/HRC/53/26/Add.2
  Visit to Belarus from 16 to 20 July 2022. Summary issued in all official languages; annexed report in English and Russian only.
• A/HRC/52/68 (3 February 2023): Situation of human rights in Belarus in the run-up to the 2020 presidential election and in its aftermath : report of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights: https://undocs.org/A/HRC/52/68
  Submitted pursuant to Human Rights Council resolution 49/26. Annexes (p. 17-20): 1. Note verbale of 23 August 2022 from OHCHR to Belarus — 2. Note verbale of 11 November 2022 from OHCHR to Belarus. Annexes in English only.
• A/HRC/RES/50/20: Situation of human rights in Belarus : resolution / adopted by the Human Rights Council on 8 July 2022: https://undocs.org/A/HRC/RES/50/20
• A/HRC/50/58 (24 May 2022): Situation of human rights in Belarus : report of the Special Rapporteur on the Situation of Human Rights in Belarus, Anaïs Marin: https://undocs.org/A/HRC/50/58
  Submitted pursuant to Human Rights Council resolution 47/19; covers the period 1 Apr. 2021 to 31 Mar. 2022.
• A/HRC/49/71 (4 March 2022): Situation of human rights in Belarus in the run-up to the 2020 presidential election and in its aftermath: Report of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights: https://undocs.org/A/HRC/49/71
• A/HRC/RES/47/19: Situation of human rights in Belarus: resolution / adopted by the Human Rights Council on 13 July 2021: https://undocs.org/A/HRC/RES/47/19
• A/HRC/47/49 (4 May 2021): Report of the Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Belarus, Anaïs Marin: https://undocs.org/A/HRC/47/49
• A/HRC/RES/46/20: Situation of human rights in Belarus in the run-up to the 2020 presidential election and in its aftermath: Resolution adopted by the Human Rights Council on 24 March 2021: https://undocs.org/A/HRC/RES/46/20
• A/HRC/46/4 (15 February 2021): Situation of human rights in Belarus in the context of the 2020 presidential election: Report of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights: https://undocs.org/A/HRC/46/4
• A/HRC/RES/45/1: Situation of human rights in Belarus in the run-up to the 2020 presidential election and in its aftermath : resolution / adopted by the Human Rights Council on 18 September 2020: https://undocs.org/A/HRC/RES/45/1
• S/2020/900 (14 September 2020): Letter dated 14 September 2020 from the Permanent Representative of Estonia to the United Nations addressed to the President of the Security Council: https://undocs.org/S/2020/900
  Transmits summary of the Arria-formula meeting of the Security Council on the theme “Human rights in Belarus”, held on 4 Sept. 2020.
• A/74/995-S/2020/820 (21 August 2020): Letter dated 18 August 2020 from the representatives of Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania and Poland to the United Nations addressed to the Secretary-General: https://undocs.org/A/74/995
  Transmits joint declaration dated 13 Aug. 2020 on the situation in Belarus.
• A/HRC/RES/44/19: Situation of human rights in Belarus : resolution / adopted by the Human Rights Council on 17 July 2020: https://undocs.org/A/HRC/RES/44/19
• A/HRC/44/55 (8 April 2020): Situation of human rights in Belarus: report of the Special Rapporteur on the Situation of Human Rights in Belarus: https://undocs.org/A/HRC/44/55
  Submitted by Special Rapporteur Anaïs Marin pursuant to Human Rights Council resolution 41/22. Covers the period 1 Apr. 2019 to 31 Mar. 2020.
• Further documents – click here
• UN Member States on the Record: Belarus
  https://www.un.org/en/library/unms
  United Nations Member States on the Record provides access to selected documents reflecting the views of United Nations Member States.

Security Council

• Meetings in 2022: 31 October – Threats to international peace and security
  Meeting records, press releases and resolutions:
  https://research.un.org/en/docs/sc/quick/meetings/2022
• Related press releases:
  • Belarus improperly diverted passenger flight, endangered lives, International Civil Aviation Organization Senior Official tells Security Council (SC/15088, 31 October 2022): https://press.un.org/en/2022/sc15088.doc.htm

Selected Statements and Speeches by UN Officials

• Belarus must end systematic repression, release detainees, UN Human Rights Chief says (17 March 2023): https://www.ohchr.org/en/press-releases/2023/03/belarus-must-end-systematic-repression-release-detainees-un-human-rights
• Interim oral update of OHCHR on the situation of human rights in Belarus / delivered by Nada Al- Nashif, UN Acting High Commissioner for Human Rights at 51st session of the Human Rights Council (23 September 2022): https://www.ohchr.org/en/statements-and-speeches/2022/09/interim-oral-update-ohchr-situation-human-rights-belarus
• Interactive dialogue on the High Commissioner’s report on Belarus / delivered by Michelle Bachelet, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights at Interactive dialogue on the High Commissioner’s report on Belarus, 49th session of the Human Rights Council (17 March 2022): https://www.ohchr.org/en/statements-and-speeches/2022/03/interactive-dialogue-high-commissioners-report-belarus
• Statement by Ms. Anaïs Marin, Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Belarus – Belarus advocacy for the Day of Endangered Lawyer, 24 January 2022: https://www.ohchr.org/en/statements/2022/01/belarus-advocacy-day-endangered-lawyer
• Comment by UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Michelle Bachelet on the Belarus-Poland border situation (10 November 2021): https://www.ohchr.org/en/2021/11/comment-un-high-commissioner-human-rights-michelle-bachelet-belarus-poland-border-situation
• Belarus and Poland: Stop sacrificing migrant lives to political dispute ̶  UN Special Rapporteurs
  (6 October 2021): https://www.ohchr.org/en/press-releases/2021/10/belarus-and-poland-stop-sacrificing-migrant-lives-political-dispute-un
• Interactive Dialogue on the interim oral update of OHCHR on the situation of human rights in Belarus, 48th session of the Human Rights Council – Statement by Michelle Bachelet, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, 24 September 2021: https://www.ohchr.org/en/2021/09/interactive-dialogue-interim-oral-update-ohchr-situation-human-rights-belarus
• Comment by UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Michelle Bachelet on Belarus
  (15 July 2021): https://www.ohchr.org/en/2021/07/comment-un-high-commissioner-human-rights-michelle-bachelet-belarus
• Over the past year, more than 35,000 people have been arbitrarily detained in Belarus, Special Rapporteur on Belarus tells Human Rights Council (5 July 2021): https://www.ohchr.org/en/2021/07/over-past-year-more-35000-people-have-been-arbitrarily-detained-belarus-special-rapporteur
• Belarus: Massive human rights violations unprecedented in scope and gravity, says UN expert (5 July 2021): https://www.ohchr.org/en/press-releases/2021/07/belarus-massive-human-rights-violations-unprecedented-scope-and-gravity-says
• Belarus: ‘Black hole’ for media freedoms after egregious attacks, say UN experts (7 June 2021): https://www.ohchr.org/en/press-releases/2021/06/belarus-black-hole-media-freedoms-after-egregious-attacks-say-un-experts
• OHCHR Press briefing notes on Belarus (25 May 2021): https://www.ohchr.org/en/2021/05/press-briefing-notes-belarus
• Deeply concerned about apparent forced landing of passenger aircraft over Belarus, journalist detained from flight, Secretary-General calls for full investigation (SG/SM/20738, 24 May 2021): https://www.un.org/press/en/2021/sgsm20738.doc.htm
• Belarus must end pattern of police brutality and impunity: UN experts (1 April 2021): https://www.ohchr.org/en/press-releases/2021/04/belarus-must-end-pattern-police-brutality-and-impunity-un-experts
• Belarus: Crackdown on human rights defenders deepens – expert (19 March 2021): https://www.ohchr.org/en/press-releases/2021/03/belarus-crackdown-human-rights-defenders-deepens-expert
• Enhanced Interactive Dialogue on the High Commissioner’s report on Belarus, 46th session of the Human Rights Council, Statement by Michelle Bachelet, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, 25 February 2021: https://www.ohchr.org/en/2021/02/enhanced-interactive-dialogue-high-commissioners-report-belarus
• Remarks by Ms. Anais Marin, UN Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Belarus at the side-event on Belarus HRC 46, 18 February 2021: https://www.ohchr.org/en/statements/2021/02/remarks-ms-anais-marin-un-special-rapporteur-situation-human-rights-belarus-side
• Keynote Statement to the Arria Formula Meeting of the UN Security Council, Sp. Rapporteur on freedom of expression, 22 January 2021: https://www.ohchr.org/en/press-releases/2021/01/keynote-statement-arria-formula-meeting-un-security-council
• Intersessional meeting of the Human Rights Council – The situation in Belarus: Statement by Michelle Bachelet, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, 4 December 2020: https://www.ohchr.org/en/statements/2020/12/intersessional-meeting-human-rights-council-situation-belarus
• Belarus: UN experts call for probe into violence against protesters (19 November 2020): https://www.ohchr.org/en/press-releases/2020/11/belarus-un-experts-call-probe-violence-against-protesters
• Belarus: UN experts decry threats against women human rights defenders (3 November 2020): https://www.ohchr.org/en/press-releases/2020/11/belarus-un-experts-decry-threats-against-women-human-rights-defenders
• Statement of Mrs Anaïs Marin, UN Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Belarus, at the 75th session of the General Assembly (26 September 2020): https://www.ohchr.org/en/statements/2020/10/statement-mrs-anais-marin-un-special-rapporteur-situation-human-rights-belarus
• UN human rights experts: Belarus must release opposition leader Maria Kalesnikava
  (25 September 2020): https://www.ohchr.org/en/press-releases/2020/09/un-human-rights-experts-belarus-must-release-opposition-leader-maria
• Statement of Mrs Anaïs Marin, UN Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Belarus, at the Urgent Debate on the situation of human rights in Belarus Human Rights Council 45th session (18 September 2020): https://www.ohchr.org/en/statements/2020/09/statement-mrs-anais-marin-un-special-rapporteur-situation-human-rights-belarus-0
• 45th session of the Human Rights Council Urgent debate on the situation of human rights in Belarus: Statement by Nada Al-Nashif, UN Deputy High Commissioner for Human Rights (18 September 2020): https://www.ohchr.org/en/press-releases/2020/09/urgent-debate-situation-human-rights-belarus
• Statement of Mrs Anaïs Marin, UN Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Belarus, at the Urgent Debate on the situation of human rights in Belarus Human Rights Council 45th session (18 September 2020): https://www.ohchr.org/en/statements/2020/09/statement-mrs-anais-marin-un-special-rapporteur-situation-human-rights-belarus-0
• Calling on Belarus authorities to refrain from using force against protestors, Secretary-General says only inclusive dialogue can resolve crisis (SG/SM/20244, 11 September 2020): https://www.un.org/press/en/2020/sgsm20244.doc.htm
• Statement of Mrs. Anais Marin, UN Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Belarus, at the Arria Formula meeting at UN Security Council (Unofficial translation) (4 September 2020): https://www.ohchr.org/en/statements/2020/09/statement-mrs-anais-marin-un-special-rapporteur-situation-human-rights-belarus
• Belarus: UN committee hails role of women in political process and protests
  (3 September 2020): https://www.ohchr.org/en/press-releases/2020/09/belarus-un-committee-hails-role-women-political-process-and-protests
• Secretary-General Spotlights Peaceful Expression Rights amid Demonstrations in Belarus (SG/SM/20207, 14 August 2020): https://www.un.org/press/en/2020/sgsm20207.doc.htm
• Belarus must stop attacking peaceful protesters, UN human rights experts say
  (13 August 2020): https://www.ohchr.org/en/press-releases/2020/08/belarus-must-stop-attacking-peaceful-protesters-un-human-rights-experts-say
• Bachelet condemns violent response of Belarus to post-electoral protests (12 August 2020): https://www.ohchr.org/en/press-releases/2020/08/bachelet-condemns-violent-response-belarus-post-electoral-protests
• Belarus: International community must continue scrutinising human rights situation ahead of election, says UN expert (10 July 2020): https://www.ohchr.org/en/press-releases/2020/07/belarus-international-community-must-continue-scrutinising-human-rights
• UN experts demand end to crackdown on protesters in Belarus ahead of elections (1 July 2020): https://www.ohchr.org/en/news/2020/07/un-experts-demand-end-crackdown-protesters-belarus-ahead-elections
• Belarus must stop crackdown to silence opposing views – UN experts (5 June 2020): https://www.ohchr.org/en/news/2020/06/belarus-must-stop-crackdown-silence-opposing-views-un-experts

Non-UN Sources

•  Security Council Report – Belarus: https://www.securitycouncilreport.org/belarus/

5 July 2023
not an official document – for information only
https://unric.org/en/unric-library-backgrounder-belarus/