CERD Experts Discuss Belarus’ Policies Related to Interethnic Peace and Ethnic Minority Associations

The Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination (CERD) recently completed their periodic review of Belarus and the strategies promoted by the State Party to enhance interethnic peace in Belarus. 

Despite the fact that, Yury Ambrazevich, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs and Head of the Delegation, in his presentation of the state report, indicated that Belarus is becoming more tolerant and highlighted Belarus’ Interethnic Consultative Council, Interconfessional Consultative Council and public associations for ethnic minorities, Committee members raised concerns over the fact that, in the past 4 years, the State party has dissolved many non-governmental organisations and independent trade unions, in particular those associated with Polish, Lithuanian and Armenian minorities.

Committee members also referenced a report by the UN Committee Against Torture, which contained findings on the use of torture in Belarus. They pressed the state delegation to provide statistics on how many persons reporting the use of torture belonged to ethnic minorities. At the same time, the Committee commended the repeal of a decree on underemployment tax, which disproportionately affected minorities including Roma. A full transcript of the proceedings can be found on the website of the OHCHR, including a link to download the combined twenty-fourth and twenty-fifth periodic report of Belarus.