Belarusian authorities ignore Convention against Enforced Disappearance

• 16.08.2010, 9:21

High-ranking officials, opponents of the current regime, were abducted in the country.

An application had been submitted to Brest city executive committee for holding a meeting in the capital of the region. Its participants are set to demand signing the International Convention for the Protection of All Persons from Enforced Disappearance by Belarus, BelaPAN was told by human rights activist Raman Kislyak.

The event is planned for August 30. Its aim is to attract attention of city dwellers to the demand of signing this convention by relevant government authorities.

Kislyak reminded that August 30 is the International Day of the Disappeared. “And I believe that on this day the society should be reminded about the disappeared prominent figures in Belarus – Yury Zakharanka, Viktar Hanchar, Anatol Krasouski and a journalist Zmitser Zavadski, and also to demand signing by our state this convention, which is a serious instrument intended to prevent disappearances of people worldwide,” the activist noted.

As said by him, after the International Convention for the Protection of All Persons from Enforced Disappearance was adopted by the UN General Assembly, “some high-ranking officials of our country stated that this convention is not relevant for Belarus”. “We do not agree with that, and we are determined to successfully insist on Belarus’ signing this international document by Belarus,” he said.