Interactive Dialogue with the the Special Rapporteur on human rights in Belarus

Thank you Mr President, 

Sweden fully aligns itself with the statement made by the European Union and thank Madame Special Rapporteur Marin for her update.  

Sweden continues to follow the human rights situation in Belarus closely. We welcome the engagement of Belarus in international fora and its increasing openness to discuss human rights. We note with regret the lack of tangible improvements in the enjoyment of human rights in the country. 

Despite recent legal amendments, severe restrictions on the freedom of expression, association and assembly continue to be applied by the authorities. This includes arrests of peaceful protesters, reprisals against opposition members, trade unionists, human rights defenders and journalists. 

The continued application of the death penalty in Belarus is deeply worrying. Sweden calls on Belarus, the only country in Europe still applying this unacceptable, inhumane and cruel punishment, to introduce without delay a moratorium, as a step towards abolition. 

Belarus is a state party to the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child, which stipulates the right of the child to know and be cared for by his or her parents. Belarus is also a state party to the 1980 Hague Convention on child abduction and thereby has legally binding obligations to cooperate and combat child abduction. We remain concerned that the lengthy court proceedings in Belarus affects the right of the child to stay in contact with both parents, and may have an impact on the possibilities of the return of a child.

Sweden strongly encourages Belarus to continue its work on the UPR recommendations. Sweden remains committed to its long-term engagement in Belarus and looks forward to strengthening our bilateral cooperation.

Thank you.