A/HRC/RES/38/14
United Nations
General Assembly
Distr.: General
16 July 2018
Original: English
Human Rights Council
Thirty-eighth session
18 June–6 July 2018
Agenda item 4
Resolution adopted by the Human Rights Council
on 6 July 2018
38/14.
Situation of human rights in Belarus
The Human Rights Council,
Guided by the purposes and principles of the Charter of the United Nations, the
provisions of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the International Covenants on
Human Rights and other applicable human rights instruments,
Recalling all resolutions adopted by the Commission on Human Rights, the General
Assembly and the Human Rights Council on the situation of human rights in Belarus,
including Council resolution 35/27 of 23 June 2017, and regretting the inadequate response
and lack of cooperation by the Government of Belarus to the requests made by the Council
in its resolutions, including on access of the Special Rapporteur on the situation of human
rights in Belarus and other special procedure mandate holders to the country, while
acknowledging the growing openness of Belarus to cooperation with the Office for
Democratic Institutions and Human Rights of the Organization for Security and
Cooperation in Europe, the Council of Europe and the European Union,
Recalling also Human Rights Council resolutions 5/1 and 5/2 of 18 June 2007,
1.
Welcomes the report of the Special Rapporteur on the situation of human
rights in Belarus;1
2.
Expresses continued concern at the situation of human rights and
fundamental freedoms in Belarus, especially the undue restrictions on the freedoms of
peaceful assembly, association and expression, while noting the positive step taken in
permitting a public celebration of the one-hundredth anniversary of the declaration of
independence of the Republic of Belarus on 25 March 2018; the continued allegations of
torture and inhuman or degrading treatment by law enforcement and prison officers, which
are not properly investigated by the authorities; the ongoing harassment of human rights
defenders, trade unions and civil society organizations, many of which are denied
registration or raided by the authorities; and the arrest and fining of journalists for
performing their activities and various infringements of freedom of expression, including
by the media; and urges the Government to fully respect the freedoms of peaceful
assembly, association and expression;
1
A/HRC/38/51.
GE.18-11659(E)