Nine Belarusian Exile Organizations Urge UN Delegates to Reject Belarus ECOSOC Bid
Nine exile groups urge UN delegates to block Belarus ECOSOC candidacy vote
Nine Belarusian organizations in exile, including International Centre for Human Rights and Relief “Our House” have jointly addressed delegates of United Nations Member States, calling on them not to support Belarus in the upcoming elections to the United Nations Economic and Social Council.
The appeal is signed by human rights and civil society organizations, alongside former political prisoners who speak as direct victims of repression. The letter was distributed to approximately 80 Permanent Missions to the United Nations.
The signatories stress that ECOSOC plays a central role within the UN system, including in matters related to human rights. Through ECOSOC and its Committee on NGOs, decisions are made on which non-governmental organizations are granted consultative status and access to UN mechanisms. This directly determines which voices are able to participate in international processes.
The letter outlines systematic dismantling of civil society in Belarus since 2020:
At least 1,990 non-profit organizations—including human rights groups, independent trade unions, women’s and youth organizations, and humanitarian initiatives—have been forcibly or coercively dissolved.
Human rights activity has been effectively criminalized, while Belarusian NGOs are unable to obtain ECOSOC consultative status due to indefinite procedural delays.
More than 4,500 individuals have been recognized as political prisoners, with at least 1,141 still in detention as of 28 February 2026. These figures are widely considered underreported, as leading organizations such as Viasna and Our House have been designated “terrorist” entities and prevented from conducting full monitoring.
Civil society actors, journalists, and activists are systematically labeled as “extremists” or “terrorists.” The official list of “extremist materials” contains 8,172 entries, with 2,107 added in 2025 alone.
Forced labor of detainees, including political prisoners, has been documented by a UN Special Rapporteur (A/80/217, July 2025).
Individuals deemed undesirable are subjected to forced expulsion following so-called “pardons,” without the possibility to remain in their country. UN experts have identified this practice as a serious violation of international human rights standards.
The death penalty remains in force.
In this context, the participation of a state that suppresses civil society domestically in a body responsible for determining NGO access to UN mechanisms is presented as a structural risk to the integrity of the UN system and its human rights framework.
The stated aim of the appeal is to reduce the likelihood of representatives of the regime of Alexander Lukashenko being elected to ECOSOC structures.
At the same time, the authors underline that informal political bargaining in international voting processes remains a persistent challenge. Addressing this issue requires systemic work and coordination with partners and allies within the UN system.
The initiative reflects broader efforts by Belarusian civil society in exile to safeguard independent participation at the international level and to prevent the further institutionalization of repressive practices.
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