The Council was concerned by the findings of the High Commissioner for Human Rights that suggested the existence of a pattern of serious violations of human rights in Belarus since 19 December 2010, of a systemic nature, and including intensified restrictions on the fundamental freedoms of association and expression as well as allegations of torture and ill-treatment in custody and impunity of perpetrators of human rights violations. The Council decided to appoint a Special Rapporteur to monitor the situation of human rights in Belarus and to make recommendations for its improvement.
Belarus, speaking as the concerned country, said that the European Union aimed to push its own political agenda through this resolution and urged the Council to vote against it. The previous mandate of the Special Rapporteur on Belarus was discontinued in 2006.
The resolution passed by the Council calls on the Belarusian government to release political prisoners, stop persecutions of journalists and human rights activists, and respect freedom of movement. The document also calls on Belarus to fulfill all recommendations of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights' report on Belarus and urges the authorities to cooperate with the Special Rapporteur and provide him/her all necessary information.
The appointment will be made during the 21st Session of the Human Rights Council that takes place on September 10-28, 2012.