3 July 2024

Australian Statement

Thank you, Special Rapporteur, for your report.

Australia reiterates its strong condemnation of the Belarusian Government’s complicity in Russia’s illegal invasion of Ukraine. We call on Belarus to cease its support of Russia’s war of aggression.

Australia is alarmed by the Belarusian Government’s continued erosion of the right to freedom of association, including its suppression of opposition political parties, independent trade unions and civil society. We are deeply concerned by the application of vague “anti-extremist” legislation and reports of arbitrary detention of people on political grounds. Australia acknowledges the challenging work undertaken by grass-roots civil society organisations, including those in exile, and is dismayed by Belarus’ ever-shrinking civic space.

We are also concerned by laws recently introduced by the Belarusian Government that impinge upon the rights of Belarusians living abroad. Of particular concern are those laws that require data collection and impact upon services available to Belarusians abroad, which may interfere with the enjoyment of their human rights.

Special Rapporteur, what additional accountability mechanisms can the international community support to respond to the deteriorating human rights situation in Belarus?