Moldovan Human Rights Activists Urge Belarusian Authorities to Change Laws on Public Organizations

16.12.2003.

Representatives of such Moldovan human rights organizations as Amnesty International in the Republic of Moldova, Helsinki Committee on Human Rights, the Rehabilitation Center of Torture Victims “MEMORIA”, Moldovan Section of the International Society of Human Rights, Center of the resource NGOs on human rights of the Republic of Moldova and Lawyers for human rights have sent the following letter to Belarusian authorities:

“Human rights organizations of Moldova are concerned with the increasing intolerance of Belarus authorities to other-mindedness. The tendency to intolerance is manifested in closure or threats to close public human rights organizations, including “Legal Assistance to Population”, Human Rights Center “Viasna” and Belarusian Helsinki Committee that directly or indirectly deal with human rights and educational activity on the territory of Belarus.

We urge the authorities of Belarus to take urgent measures for reconsideration of the laws, rulings and the administrative practice concerning registration and supervision of the activity of public (non-governmental) organizations in order to make the creation and daily work of NGOs easier according to Article No. 22 of the International pact about public and political rights.

We also urge to provide execution of the principles of the UNO Declaration on Human Rights Defenders (Declaration on the Right and Responsibility of Individuals, Groups and Organs of Society to Promote and Protect Universally Recognized Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms) that was adopted by the UN General Assembly on 9 December 1998.”

This letter was sent to the authorities of the Republic of Belarus – the President, the Minister of Justice, Head of the Chamber of Representatives, the Prosecutor General, the Minister of Internal Affairs and the Ambassador of the Republic of Belarus in the Republic of Moldova as well as to the President of the Republic of Moldova, the Prime-Minister of the Republic of Moldova, Head of the Parliament of the Republic of Moldova, the Minister of Justice of the Republic of Moldova, Head of the OSCE mission in Moldova and representatives of the diplomatic missions, accredited in the Republic of Moldova.

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