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Testimony :: Stephen Nix
Testimony :: Stephen Nix Regional Program Director, Eurasia - International Republican Institute Mr. Chairman, I wish to thank you for the opportunity to testify before the Commission today. We are on the eve of a presidential election in Belarus which holds vital importance for the people of Belarus. The government of the Republic of Belarus has the inherit mandate to hold elections which will ultimately voice the will of its people. Sadly, the government of Belarus has a track record of denying this responsibility to its people, its constitution, and the international community. Today, the citizens of Belarus are facing a nominal election in which their inherit right to choose their future will not be granted. The future of democracy in Belarus is of strategic importance; not only to its people, but to the success of the longevity of democracy in all the former Soviet republics. As we have witnessed in Georgia and Ukraine, it is inevitable that the time will come when the people stand up and demand their rightful place among their fellow citizens of democratic nations. How many more people must be imprisoned or fined or crushed before this time comes in Belarus? Mr. Chairman, the situation in Belarus is dire, but the beacon of hope in Belarus is shining. In the midst of repeated human rights violations and continual repression of freedoms, a coalition of pro-democratic activists has emerged and united to offer a voice for the oppressed. The courage, unselfishness and determination of this coalition are truly admirable. It is vitally important that the United States and Europe remain committed to their support of this democratic coalition; not only in the run up to the election, but post-election as well. -
Review-Chronicle of Human Violations in Belarus in 2009
The Human Rights Center Viasna Review-Chronicle of Human Violations in Belarus in 2009 Minsk 2010 Contents A year of disappointed hopes ................................................................7 Review-Chronicle of Human Rights Violations in Belarus in January 2009....................................................................9 Freedom to peaceful assemblies .................................................................................10 Activities of security services .....................................................................................11 Freedom of association ...............................................................................................12 Freedom of information ..............................................................................................13 Harassment of civil and political activists ..................................................................14 Politically motivated criminal cases ...........................................................................14 Freedom of conscience ...............................................................................................15 Prisoners’ rights ..........................................................................................................16 Review-Chronicle of Human Rights Violations in Belarus in February 2009................................................................17 Politically motivated criminal cases ...........................................................................19 Harassment of -
Protests in Belarus (1994-2011) .Pdf
Number of Participants Number of Day Month Year Location (numeric) Arrests Topic Organizing Group Sources UPI "Belarus against Marks Russification of National Front of Independence 27 7 1994 Minsk 6500 0 Belarus Belarus Day" "the state's decision to discontinue eight [opposition] UPI "Belarussians 4 1 1995 Minsk 300 0 newspapers" protest press ban" " lower taxes, increase wages, create new jobs and enlarge AP "Thousands spending for health Rally In Minsk care, education Against Low Pay, 26 1 1995 Minsk 40000 0 and science." Unions Price Hikes" "introduction of teaching in the BBC World "Police Belarussian confiscate grenade language at higher at Belarussian educational Assembly of language 15 2 1995 unk 100 1 establishments," Belarussian Gentry demonstration" PAP News Wire Financing of "BELARUSSIAN construction of ASSOCIATION OF POLES DEMAND Polish language POLES IN POLISH SCHOOL 1 3 1995 Minsk 10 0 school BELARUS IN GRODNO" BBC World " Police arrest student activists Procession of for burning state 24 5 1995 Minsk 70 30 Uknown Political Convicts flag" ITAR-TASS "Minsk workers march on Police arrest presidential student activists residence in payment of back for burning state protest at wage 17 7 1995 Minsk . 0 wages flag arrears" AFP "Security forces arrest Minsk Minsk Metro metro strike 21 8 1995 Minsk 150 1 Metro strike Workers leaders" Number of Participants Number of Day Month Year Location (numeric) Arrests Topic Organizing Group Sources Interfax "Belarusian Popular Front Reconsideration of protests against oil oil agreement with -
General Conclusions and Basic Tendencies 1. System of Human Rights Violations
REVIEW-CHRONICLE OF THE HUMAN RIGHTS VIOLATIONS IN BELARUS IN 2003 2 REVIEW-CHRONICLE OF THE HUMAN RIGHTS VIOLATIONS IN BELARUS IN 2003 INTRODUCTION: GENERAL CONCLUSIONS AND BASIC TENDENCIES 1. SYSTEM OF HUMAN RIGHTS VIOLATIONS The year 2003 was marked by deterioration of the human rights situation in Belarus. While the general human rights situation in the country did not improve, in its certain spheres it significantly changed for the worse. Disrespect for and regular violations of the basic constitutional civic rights became an unavoidable and permanent factor of the Belarusian reality. In 2003 the Belarusian authorities did not even hide their intention to maximally limit the freedom of speech, freedom of association, religious freedom, and human rights in general. These intentions of the ruling regime were declared publicly. It was a conscious and open choice of the state bodies constituting one of the strategic elements of their policy. This political process became most visible in formation and forced intrusion of state ideology upon the citizens. Even leaving aside the question of the ideology contents, the very existence of an ideology, compulsory for all citizens of the country, imposed through propaganda media and educational establishments, and fraught with punitive sanctions for any deviation from it, is a phenomenon, incompatible with the fundamental human right to have a personal opinion. Thus, the state policy of the ruling government aims to create ideological grounds for consistent undermining of civic freedoms in Belarus. The new ideology is introduced despite the Constitution of the Republic of Belarus which puts a direct ban on that. -
SITUATION of HUMAN RIGHTS in BELARUS in 2014
Human Rights Centre “Viasna” SITUATION OF HUMAN RIGHTS in BELARUS in 2014 REVIEW-CHRONICLE Minsk, 2015 SITUATION OF HUMAN RIGHTS IN BELARUS in 2014 REVIEW-CHRONICLE Author and compiler: Tatsiana Reviaka Editor and author of the foreword: Valiantsin Stefanovich The edition was prepared on the basis of reviews of human rights violations in Belarus published every month in 2014. Each of the monthly reviews includes an analysis of the most important events infl uencing the observance of human rights and outlines the most eloquent and characteristic facts of human rights abuses registered over the described period. The review was prepared on the basis of personal appeals of victims of human rights abuses and the facts which were either registered by human rights activists or reported by open informational sources. The book features photos from the archive of the Human Rights Center “Viasna”, as well as from publications on the websites of Radio Free Europe/ Radio Liberty Belarus service, the Nasha Niva newspaper, tv.lrytas.lt, baj.by, gazetaby.com, and taken by Franak Viachorka and Siarhei Hudzilin. Human Rights Situation in 2014: Trends and Evaluation The situation of human rights during 2014 remained consistently poor with a tendency to deterioration at the end of the year. Human rights violations were of both systemic and systematic nature: basic civil and political rights were extremely restricted, there were no systemic changes in the fi eld of human rights (at the legislative level and (or) at the level of practices). The only positive development during the year was the early release of Ales Bialiatski, Chairman of the Human Rights Centre “Viasna” and Vice-President of the International Federation for Human Rights. -
Review-Chronicle of Human Rights Violations in Belarus in 2008
1 Human Rights Center ‘Viasna’ Review-Chronicle of human rights violations in Belarus in 2008 Minsk 2009 2 Прага вясны Review-Chronicle of human rights violations in Belarus in 2008 The book was prepared on the basis of the short reviews of the human rights situation in Belarus for each month of 2008. It begins with the gener- al analysis of the civil and political situation in the country for the reporting time. The book describes important events and the reaction of the internation- al community to them. Then there are presented some concrete facts of hu- man rights violations by which one can trace back a certain history of struggle of representatives of the Belarusian democratic community for human rights and fundamental freedoms. Among the main violations there are politically motivated criminal and administrative persecution, trampling upon the free- dom of expression, prohibition of peaceful assemblies and denial of the right to association. The book includes photos from the web resources photo.bymedia.net, nn.by, charter97.org, spring96.org. ISBN 15-26496-006-P 3 Contents Review-Chronicle of Human Rights Violations in Belarus in January 2008 ....................................................................................6 Administrative punishment of participants of peaceful protest actions ......... 8 Politically motivated criminal cases .................................................................. 9 Torture and other kinds of violent and inhuman treatment .......................... 11 Freedom of expression and the right -
New Challenges of Economic and Business Development – 2012 May 10 - 12, 2012, Riga, University of Latvia
New Challenges of Economic and Business Development – 2012 May 10 - 12, 2012, Riga, University of Latvia DEMANDS FOR IMPROVING MANAGEMENT EDUCATION IN BELARUS Doctor of sociology, Professor Valentina Simkhovich Belarus State Economic University Partisan Avenue, 26, Minsk, 220670, Republic of Belarus Phone: +375 172097849 E-mail: [email protected] Keywords: management education, curriculum, managerial competences, socially responsible employee Abstract The article discusses the state of management education in Belarus and ways to improve it. Although a number of Belarusian universities train qualified managers and economists, management education is separated from real life because home graduates have good theoretical knowledge but poor competences in managing an economic entity. The first demand is to avoid the disbalance of the curricula of some majors which don’t include the course of Management that may cause specialists’ poor competences. The other demand is a need to train socially responsible employees. Social responsibility seems their essential quality as it meets the demands of socially responsible business to shorten the time and cost of professional socialization and avoid egocentrism of contemporary student youth resulted from the impact of globalization processes. Improving management education in Belarus needs a number of steps to undertake, among them are working out new educational standards oriented to provide a union of theoretical knowledge and developed managerial competences, and perfecting the curricula of training economists and managers by including some actual courses such as Corporate Social Responsibility as it was done by Russia, Ukraine and other CIS countries etc. Introduction In Belarus managers have been trained since the times of the Soviet Union when the Highest Party School enrolled people who had got higher education and work experience to train them as specialists in state governance. -
2009 Human Rights Report: Belarus Page 1 of 36
2009 Human Rights Report: Belarus Page 1 of 36 Home » Under Secretary for Democracy and Global Affairs » Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor » Releases » Human Rights Reports » 2009 Country Reports on Human Rights Practices » Europe and Eurasia » Belarus 2009 Human Rights Report: Belarus BUREAU OF DEMOCRACY, HUMAN RIGHTS, AND LABOR 2009 Country Reports on Human Rights Practices March 11, 2010 Belarus is a republic with a population of 9.5 million. The country has a directly elected president, who is chief of state, and a bicameral parliament, the National Assembly, consisting of the Chamber of Representatives (lower house) and the Council of the Republic (upper house). A prime minister appointed by the president is the nominal head of government. In practice, however, power is concentrated in the presidency. Since his election in 1994 as president, Alyaksandr Lukashenka has consolidated his power over all institutions and undermined the rule of law through authoritarian means, manipulated elections, and arbitrary decrees. Subsequent presidential elections have not been free or fair, and the September 2008 parliamentary election failed to meet international standards. While civilian authorities generally maintained effective control of the security forces, their members continued to commit numerous human rights abuses. The government's human rights record remained very poor as government authorities continued to commit frequent serious abuses. The right of citizens to change their government was severely restricted. The government failed to account for past politically motivated disappearances. Prison conditions remained extremely poor, and reports of abuse of prisoners and detainees continued. Arbitrary arrests, detentions, and imprisonment of citizens for political reasons, criticizing officials, or for participating in demonstrations also continued. -
Monitoring Report on Developments in Belarus October 2008 - February 2009
MONITORING REPORT ON DEVELOPMENTS IN BELARUS OCTOBER 2008 - FEBRUARY 2009 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY As the six-month EU-Belarus dialogue period draws to a close, this monitoring report has been prepared by Belarusian civil society organisations and their international partners 1 to ensure that detailed information regarding the actual situation on the ground in Belarus is available to decision makers reviewing the EU decision on suspending sanctions for Belarus. The report draws the following conclusions: • The steps taken by the Belarusian authorities during this dialogue period have been primarily cosmetic and are ultimately reversible; the process has been neither systematic nor institutionalized. While a small number of organizations have benefited, little has been done to facilitate the functioning of independent civic and media sectors in any meaningful manner. • The minor changes have not addressed the core problems facing civil society in Belarus today. On-going restrictions on human rights and fundamental freedoms continue to cause concern and demonstrate that Belarus has not yet begun a meaningful democratization process. In particular, the authorities’ repression against young political and civic activists, as well as religious minorities, continues unabated. But rather than creating more political prisoners, more subtle forms of repression, including forced military service and “restricted freedom” (house arrest) are increasingly being utilized to control civic and political activists. • While the recent steps by the Belarusian government -
MEDIA MONITORING in BELARUS: “Parliamentary Election 2004
MEDIA MONITORING IN BELARUS: “Parliamentary Election 2004 Coverage in the Belarusian Mass-Media” 1. INTRODUCTION 1.1 Summary of Findings; 1.2 Monitoring Objectives 1.3 Ethics and Professional Standards; 2. POLITICAL BACKGROUND AND MEDIA SITUATION IN BELARUS 2.1 Brief Overview of the Political Situation; 2.2 Media and Administration; 2.3 Monitored Media. 3. MONITORING RESULTS 3.1 News and Current Affairs 3.1.1 Electronic Media; 3.1.2 Printed Media; 3.2 Direct Access; 3.3 Opinion Materials 3.3.1 Electronic Media; 3.3.2 Printed Media. 4. BIASED INFORMATION AND PROPAGANDA IN STEAD OF VOTERS EDUCATION 4.1 Media Effects; 4.2 Propaganda Advertisements; 4.3 State Owned and Independent Media after the Election and Referendum. 5. CONCLUSIONS APPENDIX 1: Graphs APPENDIX 2: International standards on media coverage of elections APPENDIX 3: Monitoring methodology APPENDIX 4: Freedom of expression violations. 2 1. INTRODUCTION This Report summarizes the monitoring results from the Belarusian electronic and printed media coverage of the Parliamentary Election held on October 17, 2004. During the monitored period (from August 16 to October 16, 2004) on September the 7th the President of the country proclaimed the National Referendum to allow him to take part at 2006 Presidential election contrary to the Article 81of the Belarusian Constitution, which says that “One and the same person can be the President no more than two terms”. 1. The proclamation of Referendum, which was held on the parliamentary election’s day, noticeably influenced the whole of the election coverage in the state-owned electronic and printed media, which ascribed to the Referendum-related topics a prominent significance. -
Healthy Behaviour and Psychological Well-Being in Young Adult Belarusian Men: How Much the Realization of Personal Goals in Life Matters?
12 NERP 2019;9(1):12-8 Healthy Behaviour and Psychological Well-Being in Young Adult Belarusian Men: How Much the Realization of Personal Goals in Life Matters? Marina Surmach Grodno State Medical University, Belarus Key Words: young male, healthy behavior, psychological well-being, life goals, social inequality, Belarus. Summary. Background. Since the braking down from the Soviet Union, there has been an un- natural population decrease in Belarus. At present, life expectancy of men is 10–12 years lower than in women. The aim of this study was to investigate the healthy behaviour and psychological well-being of young adult Belarusian men in association with the subjective estimation of the possibility to realise personal goals in life. Methods. An anonymous cross-sectional survey design was employed. The study was conducted in 2016 with a randomised sample of men aged 18–30 (n = 895). The sample was representative of the national distribution of adult men (18–30 years) by place of residence. The methods of descrip- tive statistics, criterion χ² and the Mann-Whitney criterion were used for data analysis. Results. The majority of young adult men were brought up in full families, in an atmosphere of love and understanding or respect and benevolence. Despite these, more that 60% of the respondents ever experienced depressive mood, and about 17% did not deny suicidal thoughts. The unhealthy behaviour, low psychological well-being and the smallest proportion (57.7%) of positive estimation of the possibility to realise life goals were more prevalent among rural male inhabitants. Respondents who reported the most favourable behaviour in relation to their own health were of average age, having higher education, officially married, mostly urban, raised more frequently in a full parental family, and in an atmosphere of love and understanding. -
Belarus Still Retains Death Penalty
REVIEW-CHRONICLE OF THE HUMAN RIGHTS VIOLATIONS IN BELARUS IN 2002 2 REVIEW-CHRONICLE OF THE HUMAN RIGHTS VIOLATIONS IN BELARUS IN 2002 PREFACE: GENERALIZATIONS AND CONCLUSIONS 2002 brought about no changes for the better in the overall situation with human rights in Belarus. In spite of certain traits witnessing the regime liberalization the official politics was still accompanied with violations of international standards in the branches of human rights and the national legislation. The situation with freedom of conscience and liberty of speech has become considerably worse. Still violated are the civil rights to peaceful assemblies, participation in unions and associations, exists criminal persecution for political reasons, the problem of the missing Belarusian politicians and public activists remains unsolved. Absence of just, objective, independent and objective court impedes defense of the violated rights… For the Belarusian State human rights still aren’t the irreversible principle that should dominate in all manifestations of the State policy. The highest level authorities are constantly speaking of human rights violations as an informational campaign of certain politicians aimed at pressurization of the government. The attention of international organizations to human rights violations in Belarus is almost always treated as an attempt of interference with internal affairs of Belarus. The interest of AMG OSCE to human rights issues resulted in extrusion of OSCE Belarusian mission. The authorities refused to prolong visas to members of AMG OSCE, violating the earlier diplomatic agreements. The Belarusian authorities try to conceal the internal human rights issues from international observers. Conflict with OSCE is not the only example. The international experts who wanted to take part in the conference International Standards of Democratic Election and Belarusian legislation, organized by Human Rights Center Viasna in December 2002 were denied access to Belarus.