Fifth Session of the Human Rights Council

Report of the Special Representative on the Situation of Human Rights in Belarus

U.S. Statement delivered by Judith A. Chammas
Deputy Head of Delegation

Geneva,
June 12, 2007

Thank you, Mr. President.

The United States welcomes this opportunity to engage with the Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Belarus.  The United States commends the Special Rapporteur for his continued efforts to reach out to the people and Government of Belarus to assess the human rights situation in Belarus.  The United States regrets the obstructionist tactics employed by the Lukashenko regime, and calls upon the Government of Belarus to begin cooperating with the work of the Special Rapporteur.

We encourage the Human Rights Council to extend the mandates of all special procedures, so that the Special Rapporteur may continue his excellent work in bringing attention to the abuses suffered by the Belarusian people.

As has been amply noted by Mr. Severin in his report in the course of 2006, and now into 2007, the human rights situation in Belarus has continued to deteriorate.

Mr. President, given the accelerating abuse of human rights and fundamental freedoms in Belarus, it is imperative that the international community support the work of the Special Rapporteur and of those groups and individuals who struggle to keep human rights and fundamental freedoms alive in Belarus, and who are building a civil society in the face of massive repression.  The international community must speak with one voice and let the Lukashenko regime know that this behavior is intolerable.

We have the following question for Mr. Severin.  What immediate concrete steps can the international community take to help protect the human rights of the Belarusian people?  

Thank you, Mr. President.