UK Statement for the Interactive Dialogue with the Special Rapporteur on Belarus. Delivered by the UK's Human Rights Ambassador, Eleanor Sanders.
Thank you, Mr Vice President.
The United Kingdom thanks you, Special Rapporteur, for your latest report and reiterates our strong support for your mandate.
We remain gravely concerned by the persistent and worsening human rights situation in Belarus. The systematic repression of civil society, independent media and political opposition continues unabated. Reports of arbitrary detention, torture and forced labour in detention facilities are alarming.
We welcome the recent release of several political prisoners, which offers a moment of hope. We urge Belarus to unconditionally release the nearly 1,200 individuals who remain unjustly detained for exercising their fundamental rights.
We are also concerned by the targeting of women and girls, including gender-based violence and discriminatory practices. The extraterritorial reach of repression, including threats to exiled Belarusians, is also deeply troubling.
We are following closely reports of the transfer of Ukrainian children to Belarus. Any such actions must be transparent, voluntary and fully in line with international humanitarian and human rights law.
Special Rapporteur,
How can the international community best support accountability efforts? What more can be done to protect exiled Belarusians from transnational repression?
