Monitoring Report on Developments in Belarus for the period March – October 2009.
This report is the third of a series designed to inform policymakers and other interested parties about developments in Belarus during the ongoing Dialogue Process with the EU. The Dialogue Period is an opportunity to bring Belarus’ legislation and respect for human rights and freedoms back in line with European and international standards and practices. The report examines developments in the areas of fundamental freedoms of concern to the EU, including freedom of the media, freedom of association and freedom of assembly. It follows the release of the most recent Non-paper of the Republic of Belarus in September 2009.
This report has been prepared through the joint efforts of over 50 Belarusian and international civil society organizations following a decision of the Belarusian International Implementers Meeting (BIIM), held in Warsaw in October 2008. The BIIM have been held on a regular, bi-annual basis since 2002 and bring together donor and NGO implementer organizations from across Europe and the USA working in the areas of human rights and democratic development in Belarus.
This report captures the key developments concerning civil society in Belarus during the period of March-September 2009. It is the third of a series designed to inform policymakers about developments in Belarus during the ongoing EU-Belarus Dialogue Process. This report has been prepared through the joint efforts of over 50 Belarusian and international civil society organizations.
The Belarusian government’s policies have remained largely unchanged since the last monitoring report1 was released in March 2009. While isolated concessions were made to the political opposition and civil society that allowed them carry out some activities without harassment, repressive measures remained in place and continued to be enforced on a selective basis. No changes have been made to the legal framework that would indicate a substantive shift in government policy. With local and presidential elections scheduled for 2010 and 2011, substantive amendments to current legislation and the transparent implementation of legal norms are necessary prerequisites for conducting free and fair elections that would demonstrate real progress in Belarus.
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This report is the third of a series designed to inform policymakers and other interested parties about developments in Belarus during the ongoing Dialogue Process with the EU. The Dialogue Period is an opportunity to bring Belarus’ legislation and respect for human rights and freedoms back in line with European and international standards and practices. The report examines developments in the areas of fundamental freedoms of concern to the EU, including freedom of the media, freedom of association and freedom of assembly. It follows the release of the most recent Non-paper of the Republic of Belarus in September 2009.
This report has been prepared through the joint efforts of over 50 Belarusian and international civil society organizations following a decision of the Belarusian International Implementers Meeting (BIIM), held in Warsaw in October 2008. The BIIM have been held on a regular, bi-annual basis since 2002 and bring together donor and NGO implementer organizations from across Europe and the USA working in the areas of human rights and democratic development in Belarus.
This report captures the key developments concerning civil society in Belarus during the period of March-September 2009. It is the third of a series designed to inform policymakers about developments in Belarus during the ongoing EU-Belarus Dialogue Process. This report has been prepared through the joint efforts of over 50 Belarusian and international civil society organizations.
The Belarusian government’s policies have remained largely unchanged since the last monitoring report1 was released in March 2009. While isolated concessions were made to the political opposition and civil society that allowed them carry out some activities without harassment, repressive measures remained in place and continued to be enforced on a selective basis. No changes have been made to the legal framework that would indicate a substantive shift in government policy. With local and presidential elections scheduled for 2010 and 2011, substantive amendments to current legislation and the transparent implementation of legal norms are necessary prerequisites for conducting free and fair elections that would demonstrate real progress in Belarus.
Read more