Featured photo: Belarusian human rights defenders – participating in 31d session of the CRPD. Photo from Belarus Human Rights Centre “Viasna” website
Belarus, one of the last remaining dictatorships in Europe, has been in the international spotlight since the controversial 2020 presidential election, which triggered an unprecedented wave of repression. The brutality of the state response reached shocking levels, affecting all segments of society, including people with disabilities, who have faced significant challenges in accessing their rights.
According to the latest statistics, over 575,000 people in Belarus, or about 6.12% of the population, are officially registered as persons with disabilities. However, the government’s repressive policies have forced many, including disability rights activists, to flee the country, leaving those whose human rights are most severely impacted without adequate representation.
Escalating Repression and the Impact on Persons with Disabilities
Since the crackdown on civil society in 2020, more than 1,000 organisations have been shut down, including the Office for the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. The dismantling of independent disability organisations has left a void, with Government-Organised Non-Governmental Organisations (GONGOs) taking their place and promoting the regime’s agenda, often at the expense of effective advocacy for disability rights.
The conditions for persons with disabilities in detention are particularly dire. There have been reports of deaths in prisons, lack of access to essential medical care, and discriminatory practices. Persons with disabilities are the most at risk, such as those living in state-run institutions (including children), remain isolated, often without the support needed to live independently or with family members in the case of children. Furthermore, the government continues to enforce archaic legal structures that deprive persons with disabilities of their legal capacity, stripping them of their rights and subjecting them to forced institutionalisation.
Shrinking Space for Civil Society and Growing Discrimination
Discrimination against persons with disabilities is pervasive in Belarus. The state continues to use outdated and derogatory language, such as “invalid,” in legal and public discourse, reinforcing negative stereotypes. The lack of an independent monitoring mechanism further exacerbates the situation, making it difficult to hold institutions accountable for discrimination and human rights violations.
Women and children with disabilities are especially marginalised, facing multiple layers of discrimination, including gender-based violence. Children with disabilities are often excluded from inclusive education and social opportunities, leading to segregation in institutions and depriving them of the family support essential for their development.
In August 2024, the UN Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities reviewed Belarus’ initial report on the implementation of the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD). The Committee expressed serious concerns about the ongoing violations of the rights of persons with disabilities in Belarus and the shrinking space for independent advocacy. The Belarusian government was urged to address critical issues, such as the recognition of legal capacity for persons with psychosocial and intellectual disabilities, the elimination of discrimination in access to justice, and the need for accessible healthcare services.
Key Recommendations from the UN Committee
The UN Committee made several key recommendations, including:
- Ratification of the Optional Protocol to the Convention to ensure stronger legal protection for persons with disabilities.
- Development of a deinstitutionalisation strategy to replace outdated residential care systems with community-based services that support independent living.
- Elimination of legal incapacitation practices and the adoption of supported decision-making models in accordance with the CRPD’s human rights approach.
- Creation of an accessible justice system, ensuring that persons with disabilities, particularly those with psychosocial and intellectual disabilities, have full access to legal proceedings with the necessary accommodations.
For more information on the session and the Committee’s full recommendations, you can access the official documents here or web article by Belarus Human Rights Centre “Viasna”.
As the situation in Belarus worsens, it is crucial that the international community continues to support Belarusian civil society, particularly disability rights advocates, who are increasingly silenced. International advocacy and solidarity are needed to keep the plight of persons with disabilities in Belarus on the global agenda.
The ongoing repression and systemic violations of disability rights require continuous monitoring and action from global human rights bodies. Supporting the independent organisations that continue to fight for the rights of persons with disabilities—both inside and outside the country—is essential to ensuring that these individuals are not left behind in Belarus’ struggle for justice.