Human Rights

As a founding member of the United Nations, the Republic of Belarus is party to a majority of international human rights instruments, including six core human rights pacts: International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination, Convention on the Elimination of all Forms of Discrimination Against Women, Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment, and Convention on the Rights of the Child.

In line with the Constitution, Belarus acknowledges the supremacy of the universally recognized principles of international law and legislates in accordance with them.

Universally recognized rights and standards in the field of human rights are provided in relevant legislative acts, including laws on political parties, public organizations, trade unions, national minorities, foreign citizens, refugees, the rights of children, freedom of religion and the religious organizations and others.

On September, 23rd, 2010 the UN Human Rights Council unanimously approved the report following the results of the universal periodic review (UPR) of Belarus, that took place in Geneva in May, 2010.

More than 30 states representing all regions of the world clearly and unambiguously endorsed Belarusian policy of encouraging and protecting human rights.

The United Nations member states highly appreciated the successes of our country in advocating social and economic rights, including the right to education, public health services, social protection, gender equality, state support of families, and protection of the rights of children.

Delegations of the UN member countries have positively noted early achievement by Belarus of some Millennium Development Goals, high level of human development, political, social and economic and interethnic stability in the country.

A leading idea of many speeches was Belarus international leadership in combating human trafficking, Belarus success in implementing its own initiative about the UN Global Human Trafficking Plan.

In general, of 93 recommendations brought forward as part of the UPR, Belarus adopted 75, concerning governmental continued policies to encourage and protect economic, social, civil, and political rights, as well as encourage and strengthen the rights of women, children and disabled people.

Importantly, the adoption of recommendations was based on whether they meet current technical conditions in Belarus and our country’s international commitments.

Belarus is strongly committed to the implementation of adopted recommendations in their entirety so as to strengthen and improve national human rights in line with advanced world practices, and develop collaboration in the field of human rights with United Nations bodies and agencies.

Belarus progress in fulfilling the recommendations will be considered by the UN Human Rights Council in 2014.