The conclusion of the third cycle of the Universal Periodic Review (2020–2025) and the beginning of the fourth (2025–2030) took place amid a significant decline in the State’s cooperation with international human rights mechanisms. As a result, the UPR has become particularly important as one of the few universal forums in which Belarus continues to participate in international dialogue on human rights. // 05.09.2026
Spoiler: For the first time in seven years, the overall Index score has not declined compared to the previous year. However, this does not mean that the human rights situation has stabilized. Rather, it reflects the effect of approaching the lower limit of the scale. // 02.07.2026
Belarus has introduced administrative liability for the “propaganda of homosexual relations, gender transition, and childlessness”. The Belarusian Helsinki Committee and the queer initiative Prismatica explain the potential legal implications for individuals and organisations. // 20.04.2026
By criminalizing human rights activity, the authorities create intolerable conditions for practicing this profession. This constitutes a violation of the right to work of human rights defenders as a professional group, particularly the freedom to choose one’s occupation as guaranteed by the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights. Such actions effectively amount to a ban on the profession.At the same time, this form of persecution against organizations operating in exile is part of a pattern of transnational repression. // 14.04.2026
The arbitrary invalidation of passports may be viewed as part of a state policy involving a widespread and systematic attack against the population, as a contextual element of crimes against humanity under the qualification framework of the International Criminal Court in the context of the ongoing investigation into the Lithuania/Belarus situation. // 10.04.2026
