UNHRC Extends Mandate Of Special Rapporteur On Belarus

• 5.04.2024, 14:11

For one year.

The UN Human Rights Council adopted the resolution "The Situation of Human Rights in Belarus" at the 55th session in Geneva on April 4 by 24 votes in favour, 6 against and 17 abstaining, writes Pozirk.

Among other things, the Council decided to extend the mandate of the Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Belarus "for one year, starting from the end of its 56th session" (until July 12, 2025 - note) and asked the Special Rapporteur "to continue to monitor developments and make recommendations on ways to strengthen respect for, protection and fulfilment of human rights in Belarus, to consult with all interested parties, including civil society in Belarus and abroad".

The Special Rapporteur will report on the situation of human rights in Belarus to the HRC at its 59th session (summer 2025) and to the UN General Assembly at its 80th session (autumn 2025)

The UN HRC decided to establish, as a matter of urgency, a panel of three independent experts on the human rights situation in Belarus. Its mandate will be to investigate and establish the facts, circumstances and root causes of all alleged human rights violations and abuses committed in Belarus since May 1, 2020.

The panel will "collect, collate, preserve and analyse evidence of such violations and abuses and, where possible, identify perpetrators with a view to conduct appropriate judicial and other proceedings, including prosecutions before courts and tribunals having appropriate jurisdiction" and "make recommendations, inter alia, on accountability measures" to "put an end to impunity".

The mandate of the Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Belarus was established in 2012 and has been renewed annually since then. Since November 2018, the position has been held by Anaïs Marin (France).