01.11.2013
Belarus concerned over increasing number of human rights violations in the West
MINSK, 1 November (BelTA) – Belarus’ delegation took part in the debate on the promotion and protection of human rights at the UN General Assembly in New York on 31 October, BelTA learned from the press service of the Belarusian Foreign Minsitry.
Tatyana Leshkova, a representative of the Global Policies and Humanitarian Cooperation Division at the Foreign Ministry of Belarus, informed the participants about Belarus’ efforts to ensure and protect the economic, social, cultural, civil and political rights.
The Belarusian diplomat expressed deep concern over the increasing number of human rights violations in the so-called mature democracies: “Today western countries are becoming more associated with human rights violations such as racial discrimination and ill-treatment of migrants, manifestation of anti-Semitism, chauvinism, neo-fascism, tortures, persecution of journalists, religious intolerance, rejection of moral and spiritual values.”
Tatyana Leshkova noted that in Germany neo-Nazi organizations and parties, in particular the National Democratic Party, the party for Germany, have recently intensified their activities. In the UK there have been violations of journalists’ rights to freedom and personal security, protection from arbitrary arrest or detention, to freedom of expression.
“We believe that Poland, which in July 2013 acquitted the persons accused of desecration of monuments to Soviet soldiers in Warsaw, does not fulfill the obligation to eliminate racial discrimination in all its forms,” Tatyana Leshkova said.
In addition, attention was drawn to the growth of nationalist sentiments in Czechia targeting primarily Roma people. The problem of racial discrimination is also relevant for Switzerland.
The diplomat noted that Belarus has been monitoring human rights violations in western countries. A relevant report was prepared based on the results of this work in 2012. "At the end of 2013, we are preparing to issue a second report on human rights violations in "the advanced democracies” that wrongly position themselves as lecturers in the field of human rights," said Tatyana Leshkova.
“Belarus has repeatedly emphasized the inadmissibility of the use of unilateral coercive economic measures and considered them as a means of political pressure on sovereign states. Some made them a tool of foreign policy to serve their political interests, completely ignoring the fact that such measures fundamentally undermine economic and social rights of people in the affected countries,” said Belarus’ delegate.
Tatyana Leshkova, a representative of the Global Policies and Humanitarian Cooperation Division at the Foreign Ministry of Belarus, informed the participants about Belarus’ efforts to ensure and protect the economic, social, cultural, civil and political rights.
The Belarusian diplomat expressed deep concern over the increasing number of human rights violations in the so-called mature democracies: “Today western countries are becoming more associated with human rights violations such as racial discrimination and ill-treatment of migrants, manifestation of anti-Semitism, chauvinism, neo-fascism, tortures, persecution of journalists, religious intolerance, rejection of moral and spiritual values.”
Tatyana Leshkova noted that in Germany neo-Nazi organizations and parties, in particular the National Democratic Party, the party for Germany, have recently intensified their activities. In the UK there have been violations of journalists’ rights to freedom and personal security, protection from arbitrary arrest or detention, to freedom of expression.
“We believe that Poland, which in July 2013 acquitted the persons accused of desecration of monuments to Soviet soldiers in Warsaw, does not fulfill the obligation to eliminate racial discrimination in all its forms,” Tatyana Leshkova said.
In addition, attention was drawn to the growth of nationalist sentiments in Czechia targeting primarily Roma people. The problem of racial discrimination is also relevant for Switzerland.
The diplomat noted that Belarus has been monitoring human rights violations in western countries. A relevant report was prepared based on the results of this work in 2012. "At the end of 2013, we are preparing to issue a second report on human rights violations in "the advanced democracies” that wrongly position themselves as lecturers in the field of human rights," said Tatyana Leshkova.
“Belarus has repeatedly emphasized the inadmissibility of the use of unilateral coercive economic measures and considered them as a means of political pressure on sovereign states. Some made them a tool of foreign policy to serve their political interests, completely ignoring the fact that such measures fundamentally undermine economic and social rights of people in the affected countries,” said Belarus’ delegate.