Events

Opinion: Belarus is against the use of human rights topic as a tool of pressure, sanctions

An archive photo

MINSK, 21 June (BelTA) - The 53rd session of the UN Human Rights Council began its work in Geneva on 20 June. The session will be running for almost a month, BelTA learned from Belarus’ Permanent Mission to the UN Office and other international organizations in Geneva.

An interactive discussion of the annual report of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights took place on the first day of the session. More than 120 states participated in the discussion.

Permanent Representative of the Republic of Belarus to the United Nations Office at Geneva Larisa Belskaya noted in her speech: “The principle of sovereign equality of all member states is the basis of the UN activities in all areas, including human rights, as well as the principle of non-interference in the competence of the state, which bears the main responsibility for the implementation of human rights. When all partners in the human rights system will act on these principles, without attributing quasi-judicial functions to themselves, then we can talk about real cooperation on human rights.”

“Unfortunately, today the Human Rights Council and many human rights structures are an instrument of big politics,” the diplomat stated. The dominant human rights doctrine in the UN often blocks alternative opinions, ignores the national specifics, cultural and religious characteristics of non-Western states. The Council and OHCHR need to stop pressure through biased country mandates on Belarus, Russia, Syria, Nicaragua, Iran and a number of other states, stop gross attempts to interfere in China's internal affairs under the pretext of human rights in Xinjiang.”

Larisa Belskaya said: “Belarus will not tolerate the fact that the topic of human rights is used to serve the policy of pressure and sanctions. It is impossible to cooperate with mechanisms imposed against the will of a sovereign state. We have been and remain open to cooperation with OHCHR based on our national interests.”

Belarus believes that OHCHR does not need additional resources, but the rejection of politicization, impartiality and intensification of work with states based on priorities determined by governments.

print version

make home page

add to bookmarks