UN Put Belarus on a Par with Egypt and Tunisia

04.02.2011 20:57
Архив Редакция

Group of special rapporteurs and experts of the UN Human Rights issued a statement, which noted that "over the past few weeks, men and women in many countries, including Belarus, Egypt and Tunisia, have complained about the shortage of workers places and violations of the right to an adequate standard of living."

The UN experts stressed that the demonstrators in these countries were against the rising prices for food and other basic goods, as well as against the inability to participate meaningfully in decision-making. According to the UN human rights defenders, it confirms once again the indivisibility of civil, cultural, economic, political and social rights, UN News Center reports.

«We are concerned about increasing restrictions on the freedom of expression and information, introduced by the authorities, who are actively trying to stifle the voices of those, willing to be heard,» said the UN, expressing concern about the arrests of protesters, journalists, lawyers, as well as the obstacles of press work.

It was recalled that «freedom of peaceful assembly and association is the fundamental law in a democratic society.» They also condemned acts of violence, causing deaths and injuries, as well as urged the authorities to adhere to international standards, including those, relating to the principles of force and use of weapons by security forces.

The UN officials reported the need to conduct a thorough investigation of the protesters’ deaths and injuries. Experts stated that these events confirmed the impossibility to ignore the reasons for people’s protests. Human rights activists have called for effective national and international measures to ensure the peaceful ways of fulfilling the aspirations of the people.

According to Telegraf, national protests broke out in Tunisia in January, which forced the president, who had been ruling the country for more than two decades, to flee abroad. Unrest also spread in Egypt in late January. Thousands of people in Cairo are now demanding the resignation of President Hosni Mubarak, who has been in power for 30 years.

Как вам новость?