ITEM 4 - Interactive dialogue on the High Commissioner's report on Belarus

52nd session of the United Nations Human Rights Council: Statement by Finland, Delivered by Ambassador Kirsti Kauppi, Permanent Representative of Finland, 22 March 2023.

Chairperson,

Finland aligns itself with the EU statement. We welcome the report of the High Commissioner and strongly support the extension of the mandate.

The repression in Belarus continues to intensify. There are now close to 1 500 political prisoners, among them children. The detained face torture and ill-treatment, including sexual and gender-based violence.

We note with grave concern the conclusion of the OHCHR that some of the violations may amount to crimes against humanity. We urge Belarus to release all political prisoners immediately and unconditionally.

Finland strongly condemns the politically motivated prison sentences of human rights defender Ales Bialiatski, with three others, and the five representatives of the democratic opposition in exile.

These absurd sentences demonstrate the shrinking civic space. The authorities intensify intimidation and harassment against human rights defenders, journalists and lawyers, online and offline. Over a thousand civil society organizations and independent media outlets have been forcibly dissolved. Belarus must stop this systematic crackdown.

High Commissioner, what is your assessment on the situation of the detained children, what more can be done for their release?