BELARUS

Overview

Official name: Republic of Belarus
President: Alexander Lukashenko (since 1994)
Size: 207,600 square kilometers
Population: 9, 480,900 people (as of 1 January 2015)
Life expectancy at birth: 73.2 years
Capital: Minsk (Population 1,938,200)
National Structure: Belarusians – 83.7%, Russian – 8.3%, Poland – 3.1%, Ukrainians – 1.7%,  Other nationalities – 3.1% (according to the census in 2009)
Official languages: Belarusian, Russian
National currency: Belarus ruble (Br).
Economic indicators: (2014) GDP of $ 76.1 billion and the GDP per capita. $ 8,030.9 GDP growth – 1.6%, inflation – 18.1% [2].
Industry sectors: metallurgy, mechanical engineering, metal processing, chemical and petrochemical industries, light and food industry.
Natural resources: wood, peat, potash and stone salt, small deposits of oil and natural gas, granite, dolomite, limestone, clay, sand.

Source: ‘The most important facts, Belarus’ www.belarus.by / Official website of the Republic of Belarus. – Minsk, 2015 – Access: http://www.belarus.by/ru/about-belarus/key-facts. – Access Date: 2015.10.18.
World Bank in Belarus [Electronic Resource] / The World Bank Group. – Washington, DC, USA. – Type of access: http://www.worldbank.org/en/country/belarus. – Date of access. – 2015.10.18.

ISHR Section Belarus

The Belarusian Section currently has 75 members and is based in Brest, Belarus. It joined the ISHR in 1997.

The Belarusian conducts its activities in accordance with the Constitution of the Republic of Belarus, the state regulations for public associations, and the statutes of the International Society for Human Rights. The organization was founded and operates on the principles of voluntariness, independence, transparency, efficiency, and equality of its members.

The main purpose of the work of the section is to develop a strong culture and consciousness of human rights, as well as respect for human dignity and life. It focuses its work on the following areas:

  • Carrying out activities to support the realization of human rights
  • Promoting the importance of the ideas of human rights in society
  • Protecting the rights and legitimate interests of citizens and members of society
  • Promoting the establishment of a republican system of human rights education

In practice, the issue of human rights still remains relevant in Belarus. Thus, the organization has paid great attention to the issue of human rights education. This includes addressing human rights as a concept which extends beyond political rights and freedoms to include the relationship between economic, social and cultural rights.

The section is not affiliated with any political party or association, as human rights organizations should not have to fight for power, but rather have a humanizing impact on existing powers.

The Belarusian Section works to accomplish these goals strictly through non-violent and peaceful means, including activities such as conferences, academic studies, and expert field analyses. The Section also concentrates heavily on its work with students.

Reports

Institute of the Ombudsman in the Republic of Belarus
Profile: Prof. Ivan Kotlar

News

Interview with World War II veteran Konstantin Kruglikov (Belarus)

Interview with World War II veteran Konstantin Kruglikov (Belarus)

The Battle of Kursk participant shares his thoughts to the matter in accordance with the 75th anniversary of the Victory over Fascism in an op-ed Interview with World War II veteran ...
Statement by the ISHR (Belarus) on Racial Discrimination in the USA

Statement by the ISHR (Belarus) on Racial Discrimination in the USA

ISHR Belarus declares that the right to life must be respected for all despite differences in skin color: the life of a black person is as valuable as the life ...
Does Belarus downplay the global coronavirus pandemic?

Does Belarus downplay the global coronavirus pandemic?

Does Belarus downplay the global coronavirus pandemic? (©Guus Krol) Belarusians began to feel the consequences of the global coronavirus pandemic around the beginning of the second decade of March 2020. ...
Impressive Eastern Europe conference on disinformation in Frankfurt a.M.

Impressive Eastern Europe conference on disinformation in Frankfurt a.M.

Impressive Eastern Europe conference on disinformation in Frankfurt a.M. Facebook, Twitter, Instagram Increasing means of disinformation and manipulation in Eastern Europe "Media, opinion making, human rights in the countries of ...
Summer 2019 - Hot topics

Summer 2019 – Hot topics

Summer 2019, hot topics in the project work of the German section in the 6 countries of the Eastern Partnership and Russia ...
Belarus. Collective responsibilty against disinformation.

Belarus. Collective responsibilty against disinformation.

 About the collective responsibility of state, media, civil society and user against disinformation From a speech at the round-table meeting “Disinformation in the media. Ways to overcome it” (“Disinformation in ...
Cybercrime and the rules of a personal response

Cybercrime and the rules of a personal response

Cybercrime and the rules of a personal response From a report at the seminar “Media, opinion formation, human rights” (Brest, September 28, 2019) The international experts on cybersecurity of Cybersecurity ...
“Disinformation in the media. Ways to overcome it” – the Belarusian section of the ISHR held a round table in Minsk

“Disinformation in the media. Ways to overcome it” – the Belarusian section of the ISHR held a round table in Minsk

“Disinformation in the media. Ways to overcome it” – the Belarusian section of the ISHR held a round table in Minsk In terms of the implementation of the grant by ...