UN human rights chief wants access to Belarus
| Publisher | Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty |
| Publication Date | 20 September 2011 |
| Cite as | Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, UN human rights chief wants access to Belarus, 20 September 2011, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/4e8973f223.html [accessed 17 September 2023] |
| Disclaimer | This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States. |
September 20, 2011
UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Navi Pillay
The UN's top human rights official has called on Belarus to release all political prisoners immediately and to allow a UN rights mission to visit the country.
Navi Pillay, the head of the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR), made that call in a preliminary oral report on the situation in Belarus.
The report was requested by the UN Human Rights Council, which in June condemned the Belarusian government's crackdown on the opposition.
Pillay told the Human Rights Council that "the human rights situation significantly deteriorated after the December 19, 2010 presidential election."
Pillay said that "Particular concerns relate to rights to freedoms of association, assembly, conscience, speech, and right to a fair trial."
She mentioned "serious allegations of torture and ill-treatment in custody" and "impunity of perpetrators" among the violations of individual rights.
Pillay called on the Belarusian authorities to accept an OHCHR mission "in the near future" and "immediately und unconditionally release all political opponents, activists and journalists who were not involved in any violence."
compiled from agency reports
Link to original story on RFE/RL website