Belarus was not elected to the UN ECOSOC Committee on NGOs
Lukashenko wanted his representatives to get into the UN ECOSOC Committee on NGOs. This would have given him the ability to control who says what at the UN about his crimes.
One of Lukashenko’s main goals now is to “turn the page” – to make himself be perceived as a normal leader of a normal country.
But his plans were not meant to come true. Lukashenko’s representatives did not get into the Committee and will not have influence over who among human rights defenders receives consultative status with ECOSOC.
This result is not accidental.
In recent weeks, the international campaign #OpenTheDoors2NGOs, coordinated by the International Service for Human Rights (ISHR), has drawn attention to the risks of allowing states that suppress civil society to enter the NGO Committee.
As part of these efforts, 10 Belarusian organizations in exile (including Our House) joined forces and carried out targeted advocacy work.
A joint appeal was sent to around 150 Permanent Missions to the UN and included evidence of systematic repression of civil society in Belarus.
At the same time, independent UN experts (Special Procedures of the Human Rights Council) publicly warned about the risks of allowing states that restrict civil society to take part in decision-making within the NGO Committee.
We would especially like to thank:
– the International Service for Human Rights (ISHR) for coordinating the global campaign;
– Belarusian organizations in exile, former Belarusian political prisoners, our partners, and the broader human rights community for their support and solidarity;
– UN Member States that took these arguments into consideration.
This result shows that solidarity brings results.
Our work continues.
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