The President of the Human Rights Council has appointed the members of the new Group of Independent Experts on Human Rights in Belarus. The group includes Susan Bazilli (Canada), Karinna Moskalenko (Russian Federation), and Monika Stanisława Płatek (Poland).
The Legal Team of the Office of Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya notes: “The establishment of such an expert group is an unprecedented procedure for Belarus. It testifies to the high-level attention from international human rights organizations to what is happening in our country. The events of 2020 and subsequent years are not forgotten. Crimes will be investigated, and the perpetrators will be held internationally accountable”.
What are the duties of the Human Rights Expert Group on Belarus?
📎 Investigating and establishing the facts, circumstances, and causes of human rights violations and abuses committed in Belarus since May 1, 2020;
📎 Collecting, summarizing, preserving, and analyzing evidence of such violations and abuses. Identifying perpetrators where possible, considering judicial and other proceedings, including criminal prosecution in courts and tribunals;
📎 Making recommendations on measures to hold the perpetrators accountable in order to end impunity in Belarus;
📎 Ensuring accountability and access to justice and effective remedies, including compensation for victims;
📎 Cooperating with all interested parties (Belarusian, as well as regional and international civil society, international human rights organizations) to exchange information and take actions to hold the perpetrators of human rights violations in Belarus accountable.
The Legal Team of Sviatlana Tsikhanoyskaya’s Office continues to actively cooperate with the mandate of the UN Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Belarus. In particular, it has prepared a set of documents on human rights violations in Belarus and methods of holding all perpetrators internationally accountable to make sure the joint work with the UN Human Rights Expert Group on Belarus can begin as soon as possible.
