The United Nations Office at Geneva
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HRC53: Human Rights Situation in Belarus 13 July 2023
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STORY: Incidents and displacements in OPT - OCHA
TRT: 02:09"
SOURCE: UNTV
RESTRICTIONS: NONE
LANGUAGE: NATS
DATELINE: 04 AUGUST 2023, GENEVA
TRT: 02:09"
SOURCE: UNTV
RESTRICTIONS: NONE
LANGUAGE: NATS
DATELINE: 04 AUGUST 2023, GENEVA
- Exterior wide shot, Palais des Nations flag alley, nations’ flags flying.
- Wide shot, podium with speaker in Press briefing room, Palais des Nations.
- SOUNDBITE (English) —Jens Laerke, spokesperson for the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA): “In the first six months of 2023, the UN has recorded 591 settler-related incidents resulting in Palestinian casualties, property damage, both. That’s a monthly average of 99 incidents this year.”
- Medium shot, speakers at the podium filmed from the side
- SOUNDBITE (English) —Jens Laerke, spokesperson for the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA): “Palestinian herding communities are particularly vulnerable to these and other settlement activities. This year and last, OCHA has documented the displacement of at least 399 people from settler violence from seven Palestinian herding communities across the OPT. Three of these communities are called Al Baqa’a, Khirbet Bir al'Idd and Wedadiye are now completely empty.”
- Medium shot, camera woman
- SOUNDBITE (English) —Jens Laerke, spokesperson for the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA): “The reason for the herders leaving what they cite most often is settler activities, including violence and settlement expansion which results in the loss of their access to grazing lands. Other reasons include the threat of demolition of their homes and other properties by the Israeli authorities.”
- Medium shot, webcast operator
- SOUNDBITE (English) —Jens Laerke, spokesperson for the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA): “Many communities across the West Bank, for example, are at risk of forcible transfer due to a coercive environment that includes the demolitions, settler activities and other practices. For the record: Israeli settlements are illegal under international law. They deepen humanitarian needs due to their impact on people’s livelihoods, food security and access to essential services.”
- Close up, typing in laptop
- Wide shot, camerawoman filming with screens on the left side of the press room
- Close up, journalist listening
- Wide shot, press briefing room with speaker at the podium and journalists
UN aid office issues alert for 60 Palestinian herding communities affected by settler violence
An urgent needs assessment is under way for dozens of Palestinian herding communities across the Occupied Palestinian Territory after an increase in Israeli settler violence, the UN aid coordination office, OCHA, said on Friday.
“In the first six months of 2023, the UN has recorded 591 settler-related incidents resulting in Palestinian casualties, property damage, both. That’s a monthly average of 99 incidents this year,” said Jens Laerke, OCHA spokesperson.
Speaking at a scheduled briefing in Geneva, Mr. Laerke noted that this represented a 39 per cent increase on 2022, when the monthly average was 71 incidents. Last year’s tally was already the highest since OCHA started recording incidents in 2006.
A total of 60 herding communities are now under assessment.
“Palestinian herding communities are particularly vulnerable to these and other settlement activities,” said Mr. Laerke. “This year and last, OCHA has documented the displacement of at least 399 people from settler violence from seven Palestinian herding communities across the OPT. Three of these communities are called Al Baqa’a, Khirbet Bir al'Idd and Wedadiye (and) are now completely empty.”
Mr. Laerke added that the reason for the herders leaving was “most often settler activities, including violence and settlement expansion which results in the loss of their access to grazing lands. Other reasons include the threat of demolition of their homes and other properties by the Israeli authorities.”
OCHA data indicates that 224 children and 175 adults are among the 399 people impacted by displacement linked to settler violence-related from seven Palestinian herding communities across the Occupied Palestinian Territory.
“Many communities across the West Bank, for example, are at risk of forcible transfer due to a coercive environment that includes the demolitions, settler activities and other practices,” Mr. Laerke said. “For the record: Israeli settlements are illegal under international law. They deepen humanitarian needs due to their impact on people’s livelihoods, food security and access to essential services.”
Set to be finalized in September, the needs assessments will inform the UN and its partners on the type of assistance that will best support herders and their families.
-ends-
Teleprompter
Situation of human rights in Belarus And now let me give the floor to Spain to introduce the texts on behalf of the European Union.
Spain, you have the floor.
I have them not to present the draught resolution L .20 entitled Situation of human Rights in Belarus, which seeks to renew the mandate of the Special Rapporteur on Belarus.
In her latest report, the Special Rapporteur concludes that the already deplorable human rights situation in Belarus has deteriorated further and requires continuous monitoring.
She documents the ongoing crackdown on independent journalists, media workers, lawyers, human rights defenders and trade unions, as well as the attack on academic freedom, the lack of independence of the judiciary and the deliberate perch of civil society's last dissenting elements.
The Special Rapporteur aligns herself with a recent report of the **** Commissioner concluding that some of the human rights violations committed in Belarus may amount to crimes against humanity, when such acts are committed as part of a widespread or systematic attack directed against any civilian population.
We are alarmed about the growing number of political prisoners, including those selling incommunicado detention, the arbitrary deprivation of the right to life and to liberty, torture and in treatment, including sexual violence, and the denial of the right to a fair trial.
[Other language spoken]
President, there are already, there are currently around 1500 political prisoners in Belarus.
The EU calls for the immediate and unconditional release of all those arbitrarily detained.
We deplore the efforts to eradicate civil space, civic space and the severe legislative restrictions of the rights to freedom of expression and peaceful assembly, especially amendments widening the use of the death penalty and allowing Belarusian authorities to revoke the nationality of citizens.
Belarus has failed to conduct effective investigations into those violations and to hold perpetrators of human rights violations accountable.
It is regrettable that Belarusian authorities refused to cooperate with a Special Rapporteur or with this Human Rights Council.
We are deeply concerned about the decision of Belarusian authorities to withdraw from the First Optional Protocol of the ICCPR.
Given the scale and severity of the human rights violations committed in Belarus, it is indispensable that the Council continues its scrutiny.
[Other language spoken]
President, dear colleagues, this raft resolution is an outcome of open, transparent and inclusive negotiations.
We thank all delegations that engaged in this process and presented their constructive comments.
We call upon all members of this Council to support the adoption of this resolution.
[Other language spoken]
Let me inform you that there are four additional Co sponsors and let me open the floor for general comments.
United States of America, Thank you, Mr.
President, we are proud to Co sponsor this resolution renewing the mandate of the Special Rapporteur.
Regrettably, this mandate is now more important than ever, as authorities in Belarus have redoubled their efforts to silence any who do not share their views by locking up those who challenge regime propaganda, intimidating civil society, including NGOs, trade unions and journalists, and passing draconian laws to punish critics inside and outside of Belarus.
The Special Rapporteur takes on the critical work of investigating human rights violations committed by the regime.
We particularly appreciate the mandate holders interaction with civil society and support her repeated efforts to engage the Belarusian authorities.
We urge Belarus to engage with the Special Rapporteur and to provide her access to the country.
Despite the regime's brutal and systematic crackdown on all sectors of Belarusian society, brave Belarusians continue to stand up for their rights and the future of their country.
We commend them and ask that you all honour their resilience.
By supporting the independent review of the situation in Belarus, the Special Rapporteur provides a critical independent voice that cannot be silenced.
We thank the European Union for its leadership on this resolution and all of those who have Co sponsored it.
And we particularly appreciate this resolutions focus on accountability.
We will proudly vote yes on this resolution and we urge every delegation to do the same.
I thank you, thank you, and now let me invite Lithuania.
[Other language spoken]
President, Lithuania alliance with this statement by the by the EU Human Rights Council established the mandate of the Special Rapporteur in Belarus 11 years ago.
Since then, the human rights situation in Belarus continued to deteriorate.
As the current mandate holder pointed out, the situation is catastrophic.
Some of the recently documented violations may amount to crimes against humanity and require urgent accountability measures.
Civil society lives in constant fear.
Civic space and independent media are being eradicated from the country through severe legislative restrictions on the right to freedom of expression, peaceful assembly and association.
Members of the political opposition, lawyers, human rights defenders, journalists and media workers in Belarus are being corruptarily arrested.
They're given long prison sentences in appalling prison conditions.
Widespread and systematic practise of torture and I'll treatment are prevalent.
Thousands of people have already been forced to flee the country to avoid persecution.
The Belarusian authorities also withdrew from the First Optional Protocol to the ICCPM, depriving their citizens of the possibility to address complaints of human rights violations and seek redress.
Therefore, communications communication with a Special Rapporteur on Belarus is essential for many Belarusian people on the ground and in exile to get support and provide evidence in the crimes committed on the crimes committed against them.
It remains concerning that Belarusian authorities do not cooperate fully with international and regional human rights monitoring mechanisms and do not implement any of the recommendations of the OECHR or the Special Rapporteur.
We cannot turn our backs on the Belarusian civil society, political prisoners and their families.
Continuously deteriorating situation has to be monitored until human rights violations and account and accountability is ensured.
[Other language spoken]
Well, thank you, Mr.
President, Thank you.
[Other language spoken]
Well, thank you very much, Mr.
[Other language spoken]
Let me start by thanking our colleagues in the European Union for their leadership on this resolution.
We, like so many others here, are seriously concerned about the human rights situation in Belarus, which the Special Rapporteur recently called catastrophic.
The regime continues to target civilians, independent journalists, trade unions and human rights defenders in its brutal, ongoing crackdown on civil society.
Through a broad policy of arrest and arbitrary detention, the regime is holding almost 1 1/2 thousands of its citizens as political prisoners, many of whom, as we've heard, are subject to torture and cruel and degrading treatment.
Just in recent months, many political prisoners have been starved of contact with the outside world, with no ability to speak with relatives or update on their condition.
It's tragically just earlier this week, Alice Pushkin, imprisoned for his political beliefs, died in detention.
The mandate of the Special Rapporteur is one of the few remaining outlets to shine a light on this situation.
We have seen at this session, through interactions with numerous Belarusian human rights defenders, the importance they place on this mandate.
[Other language spoken]
President, I believe that this Council mustn't let them down.
We urge the Belarusian authorities to engage faithfully with the mandate and regret, regret the attitude of disdain shown towards international human rights mechanisms as described by the Special Rapporteur to this Council.
[Other language spoken]
President, this Council can adopt this important resolution by consensus.
[Other language spoken]
[Other language spoken]
So let me ask the Members if there is somebody wishing take Ukraine the other floor.
[Other language spoken]
President, Ukraine thanks the delegation of the European Union for its important work on this resolution and for keeping the issue of human rights situation in Belarus on the agenda of this Council.
We are great gravely concerned about the reports of arbitrarily arrests and detentions, absence of due process and fair trial, prosecution of lawyers for performing their professional functions, disproportionate sentences against opposition figures, journalists and human rights defenders.
Therefore, we wish to specifically commend the authors of this draught for adding the strong boarding on condemnation of arbitrary deprivation of the right to life and to liberty.
An urgent call on Belarus to consider re exceeding to the individual complaints procedure under the Optional Protocol to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights.
By supporting Russian aggression against Ukraine against the will of its people, the Government of Belarus makes itself an accomplice to Russia war crimes and crimes against humanity committed against the people of Ukraine of neighbouring Ukraine.
Ukraine fully supports the mandate of the Special Rapporteur and value the work done by its mandate in highlighting the demonstrative impunity for fundamental freedoms constantly demonstrated by the Belarusian authorities.
We can continue to send ready to back all meaningful efforts aimed at facilitating the return of the official Minsk to compliance with its human rights obligations and see the current draught and the work of the Special Rapporteur as crucial elements in this process.
Therefore, Ukraine strongly supports L20 and IT.
If voted, Ukraine will vote on its favour and call all members of the Council to do the same.
[Other language spoken]
And a member wishing to take the floor at this point doesn't seem to be the case.
So let me give the floor to the country concerned and let me invite the delegation of Belarus.
[Other language spoken]
[Other language spoken]
[Other language spoken]
Zapatna, probably at resources resolution.
Minister of Resolution.
[Other language spoken]
Let me inform you that there are Pbis and they were posted on the extranet.
And we'll start with explanations of votes before the vote.
China, you have the floor.
[Other language spoken]
[Other language spoken]
Now let me give the floor to Cuba.
[Other language spoken]
Cuba na pollo El proento de resolution El Punto vente Y en consequencia voter en Contra muchas Thank you, another member wishing to take the floor.
Now it's not the case.
So at the request of the delegation of China, the Council will now proceed to a recorded vote on Draught proposal L20.
And let me ask the Secretariat to open the voting machine and let me ask you to register your votes.
So please check whether your votes are accurately reflected on the screen.
And if so, let me ask the Secretary out to close the voting machine.
And the voting is now closed.
The results of the recorded vote are as follows.
20 in favour, 6 against and 21 abstentions.
Therefore, let me inform you that the draught proposal L20 is adopted call.