UN Human Rights Council 55: UK Statement on situation of human rights in Belarus
Statement for the Interactive Dialogue on the High Commissioner’s report on situation of human rights in Belarus. Delivered by the UK's Human Rights Ambassador, Rita French.
Thank you, Mr President.
High Commissioner, thank you for your report highlighting the ever-worsening human rights situation in Belarus.
Since the fraudulent 2020 presidential elections, the international community has witnessed Lukashenko’s regime commit gross human rights violations, including arbitrary detentions, violence, and intimidation against its own people. This repression continues to intensify, as seen through the recent raids targeting the families of political prisoners.
The UK condemns this widespread systemic oppression and the appalling treatment of over 1400 political prisoners, many of whom are held in inhumane conditions. We were horrified by the recent tragic deaths in detention of Ihar Lednik and Vadzim Khrasko.
We continue to call upon Belarus to immediately release all political prisoners. The UK continues to work to hold the regime accountable, including through the International Accountability Platform for Belarus. In December 2023, we sanctioned 17 members of the Belarusian judiciary for their involvement in the repression of civil society or democratic opposition in Belarus.
High Commissioner, how can we support civil society actors working on human rights in Belarus?