Ræða Íslands í umræðu um skýrslu mannréttindafulltrúans um stöðu mannréttinda í Hvíta-Rússlandi

Thank you Madame President, and thank you to the High Commissioner for her report and the panelist today for their presentations.

We reiterate our concerns over the use of widespread violence against peaceful demonstrators, journalists and other media workers, as well as harassment, persecution, and unlawful detention of political activists, human rights defenders and others following the recent election in Belarus. All perpetrators of human rights violations must be held accountable.

As highlighted in the High Commissioners report, this unfortunately is underpinned by a long-standing, chronic pattern of systemic violations and impunity in the country, with the recent violations in the context of the elections leading to a human rights crisis of a magnitude unprecedented in Belarus.

We urge the Belarussian authorities to fully implement the recommendations of the High Commissioner and release unlawfully detained persons and support efforts to conduct an independent and transparent investigation into allegations of torture, sexual and gender-based violence, and other ill-treatment of detained persons.

We will continue to support a democratic, independent, and prosperous Belarus and call on the current Government to initiate a dialogue that will contribute to that end; as well as foster a new climate of respect for human rights and democracy.

I thank you.