National Documentation Packages (NDPs) are lists of public documents that provide information about conditions in specific countries. Updates occur periodically based on publicly available information. Countries with high volumes of claims may be updated more frequently. In periods of rapid change and/or uncertainty, updates may be delayed to build a body of relevant information.
NDPs support the refugee determination process. They do not imply recognition of a particular territory's sovereignty or political status.
NDPs include Responses to Information Requests (RIRs) published by the IRB on its website. RIRs may have attachments that are not available online. To obtain a copy of any such attachment, please
email us.
Jurisprudential Guides Notes
Jurisprudential Guides Notes
On
July 28, 2022, the Chairperson identified the following Refugee Appeal Division decision as being a
Jurisprudential Guide:
-
Decision TC1 05038 – The proper interpretation of the ‘generalized risk’ exception to protection found at subparagraph 97(1)(b)(ii) of the Act, in claims for protection involving allegations of gang-targeting or other acts of criminality.
On
December 22, 2020, the Chairperson identified the following Refugee Appeal Division decision as being a
Jurisprudential Guide.
-
Decision MB8-00025 – This Jurisprudential Guide addresses, in applying Article 1E of the Refugee Convention, whether members should consider allegations of risk in a country of residence if they conclude that a refugee claimant has the rights and obligations which are attached to the possession of nationality in that country.
On
July 6, 2018, the Chairperson identified the following Refugee Appeal Division decision as being a
Jurisprudential Guide.
-
Decision TB7-19851 – Nigeria – This Jurisprudential Guide addresses internal flight alternatives in major cities in south and central Nigeria for claimants fleeing non-state actors.
Revoked
The country documentation referenced in each of these decisions has been included in s.16 of the updated National Documentation Packages published on July 10, 2018.
On
July 20, 2017, the Chairperson identified the following Refugee Appeal Division decision as being
Jurisprudential Guides.
-
Decision TB7-01837 – Pakistan – Whether the treatment experienced by Ahmadis in Pakistan amounts to persecution, whether state protection is available and whether there is a viable internal flight alternative.
-
Decision MB6-01059/60 – India – Availability of an internal flight alternative in India for claimants from Punjab.
Revoked
-
Decision TB6-11632 – China – Analysis of the efficacy of the Chinese national computer network known as the Golden Shield Project and its impact on whether a person wanted by the authorities can exit China via an airport using a genuine passport.
Revoked
The country documentation referenced in each of these decisions has been included in s.16 of the updated National Documentation Packages published on July 20, 2017.
Back
28 June 2024
BELARUS
List of Documents
1.
General Information and Maps
Source:
United Nations. Cartographic Section.
Date of Document:
January 2004
Accessed Date:
5 November 2012
Title:
Présentation de la Biélorussie
Source:
France. Ministère de l'Europe et des Affaires étrangères.
Date of Document:
25 May 2022
Accessed Date:
12 June 2024
Title:
Belarus. The World Factbook.
Source:
United States. Central Intelligence Agency.
Date of Document:
11 June 2024
Accessed Date:
19 June 2024
Title:
Biélorussie. L'aménagement linguistique dans le monde.
Source:
L'aménagement linguistique dans le monde
Date of Document:
16 February 2024
Accessed Date:
12 June 2024
Title:
Belarus. Civic Freedom Monitor.
Source:
International Center for Not-for-Profit Law
Date of Document:
3 April 2024
Accessed Date:
12 June 2024
Title:
Belarus. BTI 2024 Country Report.
Source:
Bertelsmann Stiftung
Date of Document:
March 2024
Accessed Date:
12 June 2024
Title:
Situation of human rights in Belarus in the run-up to the 2020 presidential election and in its aftermath
Source:
Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights
Date of Document:
25 March 2024
Accessed Date:
19 June 2024
Source:
United States. Congressional Research Service.
Date of Document:
6 December 2023
Author:
Cory Welt; Shelby B. Senger
Accessed Date:
12 June 2024
Title:
Silencing the Voice of a Nation: Belarus' Descent Into Totalitarianism
Source:
Stockholm Centre for Eastern European Studies
Date of Document:
8 May 2023
Accessed Date:
12 June 2024
Title:
Belarus. Country Reports on Human Rights Practices for 2023.
Source:
United States. Department of State.
Date of Document:
22 April 2024
Accessed Date:
15 May 2024
Title:
Belarus. Amnesty International Report 2023/24: The State of the World's Human Rights.
Source:
Amnesty International
Date of Document:
23 April 2024
Accessed Date:
12 June 2024
Title:
Belarus. World Report 2024: Events of 2023.
Source:
Human Rights Watch
Date of Document:
January 2024
Accessed Date:
12 June 2024
Title:
Suppression of the Right to Defend Human Rights in Belarus: Policy and Legislative Changes in 2021-2023
Source:
Observatory for the Protection of Human Rights Defenders et al.
Date of Document:
June 2023
Author:
Eugenia Andreyuk et al.
Editor:
Delphine Reculeau et al.
Accessed Date:
12 June 2024
Title:
Belarus. Freedom in the World 2024.
Accessed Date:
12 June 2024
Title:
Report on the serious threat to the OSCE human dimension in Belarus since 5 November 2020. OSCE fact-finding mission on Belarus (2023) under paragraph 12 of the Moscow Mechanism Document.
Code:
ODIHR.GAL/39/23/Corr.1
Source:
Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe. Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights.
Date of Document:
11 May 2023
Accessed Date:
12 June 2024
Title:
Report of the Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Belarus, Anaïs Marin
Source:
Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights
Date of Document:
9 May 2024
Accessed Date:
12 June 2024
Title:
National report submitted in accordance with paragraph 5 of the annex to Human Rights Council resolution 16/21: Belarus
Code:
A/HRC/WG.6/36/BLR/1
Date of Document:
25 February 2020
Accessed Date:
4 March 2021
Code:
A/HRC/WG.6/36/BLR/2
Source:
Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights
Date of Document:
27 February 2020
Accessed Date:
4 March 2021
Title:
Summary of Stakeholders' submissions on Belarus
Code:
A/HRC/WG.6/36/BLR/3
Source:
Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights
Date of Document:
17 February 2020
Accessed Date:
4 March 2021
Title:
Belarus. Nations in Transit 2024.
Author:
Tatsiana Ziniakova; Artyom Shraibman
Accessed Date:
12 June 2024
Title:
Belarusian Women Human Rights Defenders and Civil Activists: Specifics of Persecution and New Conditions.
Date of Document:
March 2023
Accessed Date:
12 June 2024
Title:
Human Rights Situation in Belarus in 2023: Analytical review
Source:
Human Rights Center Viasna
Accessed Date:
12 June 2024
Title:
Monitoring of the situation with freedom of association and the status of civil society organizations in the Republic of Belarus
Date of Document:
February 2024
Accessed Date:
12 June 2024
Title:
“I swear to fulfill the duties of defense lawyer honestly and faithfully”: politically motivated crackdown on human rights lawyers in Belarus
Source:
Human Rights Watch et al.
Date of Document:
27 May 2024
Author:
Anastasiia Kruope et al.
Accessed Date:
12 June 2024
3.
Identification Documents and Citizenship
Title:
Law of the Republic of Belarus on Citizenship of the Republic of Belarus (As Amended in 2016)
Accessed Date:
4 March 2021
Title:
Belarus. U.S. Visa: Reciprocity and Civil Documents by Country.
Source:
United States. Department of State.
Accessed Date:
19 June 2024
Title:
Belarus: Decree Puts Exiled Citizens at Risk
Source:
Human Rights Watch
Date of Document:
8 September 2023
Accessed Date:
12 June 2024
Title:
Belarus: New Laws for Stripping Nationals of Citizenship and Property Adopted
Source:
United States. Law Library of Congress. Global Legal Monitor.
Date of Document:
13 February 2023
Accessed Date:
12 June 2024
4.
Political Activities and Organizations
Title:
2020 Presidential Election. Preliminary report on election observation.
Source:
Belarusian Helsinki Committee; Viasna Human Rights Center
Date of Document:
9 August 2020
Accessed Date:
4 March 2021
Title:
Belarus. Belarusian Referendum of 27 February 2022.
Source:
International Foundation for Electoral Systems. Election Guide.
Accessed Date:
12 June 2024
Title:
About parliament; Election results. Belarus: House of Representatives.
Source:
Inter-Parliamentary Union. Parline.
Accessed Date:
12 June 2024
Title:
The United Civil [Civic] Party (UCPB, UCP) including its structure (national and local), number of members, duties of members; whether the party issues membership cards, appearance and format of membership cards, including a sample; treatment...
Source:
Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada
Date of Document:
12 January 2016
Accessed Date:
27 May 2016
Title:
Belarus: Crackdown Amid Growing Information Vacuum
Source:
Human Rights Watch
Date of Document:
11 January 2024
Accessed Date:
12 June 2024
Title:
Biélorussie : Les trois partis politiques « Hramada » (ou « Gramada ») : La Hramada sociale-démocrate biélorusse (BSDH) ; le Parti social-démocrate biélorusse, BSDP(NH) ou Assemblée populaire (Narodnaia Hramada, NH) ; et le Parti social-démocrat...
Source:
France. Office français de protection des réfugiés et apatrides.
Date of Document:
9 October 2019
Accessed Date:
4 March 2021
Title:
Biélorussie : Le parti Front populaire de Biélorussie (ou Parti « BNF ») depuis 2020
Source:
France. Office français de protection des réfugiés et apatrides.
Date of Document:
6 January 2022
Accessed Date:
13 June 2024
Source:
European Forum for Democracy and Solidarity
Accessed Date:
13 June 2024
Title:
Elections 2024. Final analytical report on the results of monitoring the elections of deputies on a single voting day on February 25, 2024
Source:
Belarusian Helsinki Committee; Viasna Human Rights Center
Date of Document:
2 April 2024
Accessed Date:
13 June 2024
Title:
The Belarus Barometer of Repression
Source:
Center for New Ideas
Date of Document:
January 2024
Accessed Date:
13 June 2024
Title:
Belarus: How Political Persecution Extends to Families
Source:
Institute for War and Peace Reporting
Date of Document:
13 April 2023
Accessed Date:
13 June 2024
5.
Gender, Domestic Violence and Children
Title:
Ninth periodic report submitted by Belarus under article 18 of the Convention, due in 2023
Date of Document:
1 November 2023
Accessed Date:
13 June 2024
Title:
Belarus: List of Issues on the Implementation of CEDAW: Submission Prepared by the Belarusian Helsinki Committee for the 83rd Pre-Sessional Working Group of the CEDAW
Source:
Belarusian Helsinki Committee
Date of Document:
October 2023
Accessed Date:
13 June 2024
Title:
Female political prisoners: unveiling portraits and imprisonment motivations
Source:
Viasna Human Rights Center
Date of Document:
4 January 2024
Accessed Date:
19 June 2024
Title:
Belarus. WAVE Country Report 2023: The status and value of women's specialist services in preventing and tackling gender-based violence against women.
Source:
Women Against Violence Europe
Date of Document:
December 2023
Author:
Elena Floriani et al.
Accessed Date:
13 June 2024
Title:
Belarus: Right of Persons Affected by Violence and Discrimination Based on Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity to Health, in Relation to SDG 3
Source:
Belarusian Helsinki Committee
Accessed Date:
13 June 2024
Title:
Belarus. Annual Review of the Human Rights Situation of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans and Intersex People in Europe and Central Asia 2024.
Source:
International Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans and Intersex Association. ILGA-Europe.
Date of Document:
February 2024
Accessed Date:
13 June 2024
7.
Criminality and Corruption
Title:
Belarus: Tier 3. Trafficking in Persons Report 2024.
Source:
United States. Department of State.
Date of Document:
24 June 2024
Accessed Date:
24 June 2024
Title:
Belarus. Global Organized Crime Index 2023.
Source:
Global Initiative Against Transnational Organized Crime
Accessed Date:
13 June 2024
Title:
Report concerning the implementation of the Council of Europe Convention on Action against Trafficking in Human Beings by Belarus: Second Evaluation Round
Source:
Council of Europe. Group of Experts on Action against Trafficking in Human Beings.
Date of Document:
27 October 2022
Accessed Date:
13 June 2024
Title:
Belarus: military obligations in the context of Russia's war in Ukraine
Source:
France. Office français de protection des réfugiés et apatrides.
Date of Document:
19 June 2023
Accessed Date:
13 June 2024
Title:
Belarus begins mobilizing under guise of military exercises
Source:
The Jamestown Foundation
Date of Document:
17 April 2024
Accessed Date:
13 June 2024
9.
Judiciary, Legal and Penal Systems
Title:
Criminal Prosecution for Political Reasons: Belarus 2021-2022
Source:
Viasna Human Rights Center
Accessed Date:
13 June 2024
Title:
Injustice Unveiled: The trial against Viasna activists in Belarus : the case of Ales Bialiatski, Valiantsin Stefanovic, Uladzimir Labkovich
Source:
Observatory for the Protection of Huma Rights Defenders
Date of Document:
June 2023
Editor:
Ilya Nuzov et al.
Accessed Date:
13 June 2024
Title:
Systemic Issues that prevent the exhaustion of local remedies in Belarus, and the inability to demonstrate information about exhaustion to the UN Human Rights Committee
Date of Document:
September 2023
Accessed Date:
13 June 2024
Title:
Crimes against Humanity in Belarus: Referral to the International Criminal Court
Source:
International Strategic Action Network for Security
Date of Document:
September 2023
Accessed Date:
13 June 2024
10.
Police and Security Forces
Title:
Belarus. The Law on Police Use of Force Worldwide.
Source:
University of Pretoria. Institute for International and Comparative Law in Africa.
Accessed Date:
13 June 2024
Title:
Biélorussie : La police anti-émeute OMON (ou AMAP)
Source:
France. Office français de protection des réfugiés et apatrides.
Date of Document:
25 May 2023
Accessed Date:
13 June 2024
Title:
Belarus. World Press Freedom Index 2024.
Source:
Reporters Without Borders
Accessed Date:
13 June 2024
Title:
Belarus. Freedom on the Net 2023.
Editor:
Adrian Shahbaz et al.
Accessed Date:
13 June 2024
Title:
Belarus Equates Rights Protection to Extremism
Source:
Human Rights Watch
Date of Document:
10 March 2023
Author:
Anastasiia Kruope
Accessed Date:
13 June 2024
Title:
Monitoring of violations of cultural rights and human rights of cultural figures. Belarus, 2023
Date of Document:
3 March 2024
Accessed Date:
13 June 2024
Title:
Restrictions on freedom of expression under the pretext of combating extremism and terrorism
Source:
Viasna Human Rights Center
Accessed Date:
13 June 2024
Title:
Belarus. International Religious Freedom Report for 2022.
Source:
United States. Department of State.
Date of Document:
15 May 2023
Accessed Date:
13 June 2024
13.
Nationality, Ethnicity and Race
Title:
Combined twenty-fourth and twenty-fifth periodic reports submitted by Belarus under article 9 of the Convention, due in 2020
Date of Document:
18 February 2022
Accessed Date:
13 June 2024
Title:
The Belarusian language in the period of socio-political crisis: signs of linguistic discrimination
Date of Document:
26 September 2022
Accessed Date:
13 June 2024
Source:
France. Office français de protection des réfugiés et apatrides.
Date of Document:
4 September 2019
Accessed Date:
4 March 2021
Title:
Overview of language rights violations in Belarus during the second half of 2023
Date of Document:
February 2024
Author:
International Union of Belarusian Writers
Accessed Date:
13 June 2024
14.
Exit/Entry and Freedom of Movement
Title:
Report of the Special Rapporteur on the Human Rights of Migrants, Felipe González Morales on his visit to Belarus
Source:
United Nations. Human Rights Council.
Date of Document:
18 May 2023
Accessed Date:
13 June 2024
Title:
Belarus' Collaboration With Russia in the Systematic Deportation of Ukraine's Children
Source:
Yale School of Public Health. Humanitarian Research Lab.
Date of Document:
12 December 2023
Accessed Date:
13 June 2024
15.
Labour, Employment and Unions
Title:
Belarus. 2024 ITUC Global Rights Index: The World's Worst Countries for Workers.
Source:
International Trade Union Confederation
Date of Document:
4 June 2024
Accessed Date:
19 June 2024
16.
Other - (No items in this section)
The following changes have been made to the previous package dated 31 May 2024:
Title:
Belarus. The World Factbook.
Source:
United States. Central Intelligence Agency.
Date of Document:
19 March 2021
URL:
https://www.cia.gov/the-world-factbook/countries/belarus/
Accessed Date:
19 March 2021
Title:
BTI 2020 Country Report — Belarus
URL:
https://www.bti-project.org/en/reports/country-report-BLR-2020.html
Accessed Date:
4 March 2021
Title:
Belarus. Human Rights in Eastern Europe and Central Asia: Review of 2019.
Source:
Amnesty International
Date of Document:
16 April 2020
URL:
https://www.amnesty.org/download/Documents/EUR0113552020ENGLISH.PDF
Accessed Date:
4 March 2021
Title:
Belarus. World Report 2021: Events of 2020.
Source:
Human Rights Watch
Date of Document:
January 2021
URL:
https://www.hrw.org/world-report/2021/country-chapters/belarus
Accessed Date:
4 March 2021
Title:
Belarus. Freedom in the World 2021.
URL:
https://freedomhouse.org/country/belarus/freedom-world/2021
Accessed Date:
19 March 2021
Title:
Belarus. Nations in Transit 2020.
URL:
https://freedomhouse.org/country/belarus/nations-transit/2020
Accessed Date:
4 March 2021
Title:
Belarus. U.S. Visa: Reciprocity and Civil Documents by Country.
Source:
United States. Department of State.
URL:
https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/us-visas/Visa-Reciprocity-and-Civil-Documents-by-Country/Belarus.html
Accessed Date:
4 March 2021
Title:
Belarus. Annual Review of the Human Rights Situation of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans and Intersex People in Europe and Central Asia.
Source:
International Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans and Intersex Association. ILGA-Europe.
Date of Document:
February 2021
URL:
https://www.ilga-europe.org/sites/default/files/2021/belarus.pdf
Accessed Date:
19 March 2021
Title:
Belarus: Tier 3. Trafficking in Persons Report 2020.
Source:
United States. Department of State.
Date of Document:
25 June 2020
URL:
https://www.state.gov/reports/2020-trafficking-in-persons-report/belarus/
Accessed Date:
4 March 2021
Title:
Belarus. Freedom on the Net 2020.
Editor:
Elisha Aaron et al.
URL:
https://freedomhouse.org/country/belarus/freedom-net/2020
Accessed Date:
4 March 2021
Title:
Belarus. International Religious Freedom Report for 2019.
Source:
United States. Department of State.
Date of Document:
10 June 2020
URL:
https://www.state.gov/reports/2019-report-on-international-religious-freedom/belarus/
Accessed Date:
4 March 2021
Title:
Biélorussie. L'Encyclopédie en ligne.
URL:
http://www.larousse.fr/encyclopedie/cartes/Bi%C3%A9lorussie/1306026
Accessed Date:
5 November 2012
Title:
Common core document forming part of the reports of States parties: Belarus.
Date of Document:
18 January 2016
URL:
http://undocs.org/HRI/CORE/BLR/2015
Accessed Date:
12 April 2017
Title:
EaP CSF Monitoring Mission: Belarus political and societal developments after the presidential elections
Source:
Eastern Partnership Civil Society Forum
Date of Document:
1 September 2020
Author:
Hennadiy Maksak et al.
Editor:
Natalia Yerashevich et al.
URL:
https://eap-csf.eu/wp-content/uploads/EaPCSF-Monitoring-Mission-report-Belarus-political-societal-developments-elections.pdf
Accessed Date:
4 March 2021
Title:
Belarus: Suggested issues and questions for the List of Issues Prior to Reporting
Source:
Belarusian Helsinki Committee et al.
URL:
https://tbinternet.ohchr.org/Treaties/CESCR/Shared%20Documents/BLR/INT_CESCR_ICS_BLR_32545_E.doc
Accessed Date:
4 March 2021
Title:
Belarus: Crackdown on Political Activists, Journalists: Arrests, Criminal Charges, Police Beatings Ahead of August 9 Presidential Vote
Source:
Human Rights Watch
Date of Document:
30 July 2020
URL:
https://www.hrw.org/news/2020/07/30/belarus-crackdown-political-activists-journalists
Accessed Date:
4 March 2021
Title:
Situation of human rights in Belarus. Report of the Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Belarus.
Source:
United Nations. Human Rights Council.
Date of Document:
8 April 2020
URL:
http://undocs.org/A/HRC/44/55
Accessed Date:
4 March 2021
Title:
Report of the Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Belarus, Anaïs Marin
Source:
United Nations. Human Rights Council.
Date of Document:
17 July 2020
URL:
http://undocs.org/A/75/173
Accessed Date:
4 March 2021
Title:
Country Report: Belarus
Source:
European University Institute. European Union Democracy Observatory on Citizenship.
Date of Document:
January 2013
URL:
https://cadmus.eui.eu/bitstream/handle/1814/19604/RSCAS_EUDO_CIT_2013_2.pdf?sequence=3&isAllowed=y
Accessed Date:
28 May 2013
Title:
OSCE Rapporteur's Report under the Moscow Mechanism on Alleged Human Rights Violations related to the Presidential Elections of 9 August 2020 in Belarus
Source:
Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe. Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights.
Date of Document:
5 November 2020
URL:
https://www.osce.org/files/f/documents/2/b/469539.pdf
Accessed Date:
4 March 2021
Title:
Republic of Belarus. Election for Palata Predstaviteley (Belarusian Chamber of Representatives) of 17 November 2019.
Source:
International Foundation for Electoral Systems. Election Guide.
URL:
https://www.electionguide.org/elections/id/3262/
Accessed Date:
4 March 2021
Title:
Police Crack Down On Protests In Belarus After Results Show Lukashenka Winning In Landslide
Source:
Radio Free Europe
Date of Document:
10 August 2020
URL:
https://www.rferl.org/a/belarus-lukashenka-presidential-election/30773816.html
Accessed Date:
4 March 2021
Title:
Concluding observations on the eighth periodic report of Belarus
Source:
United Nations. Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women.
Date of Document:
25 November 2016
URL:
http://undocs.org/en/CEDAW/C/BLR/CO/8
Accessed Date:
26 May 2017
Title:
Authorities breaking silence on harassment and gender-based violence in Belarus
Date of Document:
18 January 2018
URL:
https://belarusdigest.com/story/authorities-breaking-silence-on-harassment-and-gender-based-violence-in-belarus/
Accessed Date:
4 May 2018
Title:
Belarus. Social Institutions and Gender Index 2019.
Source:
Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development
Date of Document:
7 December 2018
URL:
https://www.genderindex.org/wp-content/uploads/files/datasheets/2019/BY.pdf
Accessed Date:
11 February 2019
Title:
Biélorussie : Situation des minorités sexuelles et de genre
Source:
France. Office français de protection des réfugiés et apatrides.
Date of Document:
14 August 2020
URL:
https://www.ofpra.gouv.fr/sites/default/files/atoms/files/2008_blr_situation_osig.pdf
Accessed Date:
19 March 2021
Title:
4.2 Belarus. Less Equal: LGBTI Human Rights Defenders in Armenia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, and Kyrgyzstan.
Source:
Amnesty International
Date of Document:
22 December 2017
URL:
https://www.amnesty.org/en/documents/eur04/7574/2017/en/
Accessed Date:
4 May 2018
Title:
Belarus. 2020 Crime and Safety Report.
Source:
United States. Overseas Security Advisory Council.
Date of Document:
1 June 2020
URL:
https://www.osac.gov/Country/Belarus/Content/Detail/Report/07fbc776-0fcb-4771-8c23-18d3347ad7c8
Accessed Date:
4 March 2021
Title:
Belarus Escalates Crackdown on Independent Journalism: Online News Outlet TUT.BY Stripped of Media Credentials
Source:
Human Rights Watch
Date of Document:
7 December 2020
Author:
Anastasiia Zlobina
URL:
https://www.hrw.org/news/2020/12/07/belarus-escalates-crackdown-independent-journalism
Accessed Date:
4 March 2021
Title:
Consideration of reports submitted by States parties under article 9 of the Convention. Twentieth to twenty-third periodic reports of States parties due in 2016: Belarus.
Source:
United Nations. Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination.
Date of Document:
29 July 2016
URL:
http://undocs.org/CERD/C/BLR/20-23
Accessed Date:
12 April 2017
Title:
Report on Implementation of International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination by the Republic of Belarus Prepared by Civil Society Organizations
Source:
Belarusian Helsinki Committee et al.
URL:
https://tbinternet.ohchr.org/Treaties/CERD/Shared%20Documents/BLR/INT_CERD_NGO_BLR_29418_E.pdf
Accessed Date:
4 March 2021
Title:
Belarusian labour activists pressured as political crisis drags on
Source:
openDemocracy; Global Voices
Date of Document:
26 August 2020
Author:
Maxim Edwards; Thomas Rowley
URL:
https://www.opendemocracy.net/en/odr/belarusian-labour-activists-pressured-political-crisis-drags/
Accessed Date:
4 March 2021
Title:
Présentation de la Biélorussie
Source:
France. Ministère de l'Europe et des Affaires étrangères.
Date of Document:
25 May 2022
URL:
https://www.diplomatie.gouv.fr/fr/dossiers-pays/bielorussie/presentation-de-la-bielorussie/
Accessed Date:
12 June 2024
Title:
Biélorussie. L'aménagement linguistique dans le monde.
Source:
L'aménagement linguistique dans le monde
Date of Document:
16 February 2024
URL:
https://www.axl.cefan.ulaval.ca/europe/bielorussie3-lng-officielles.htm
Accessed Date:
12 June 2024
Title:
Belarus. Civic Freedom Monitor.
Source:
International Center for Not-for-Profit Law
Date of Document:
3 April 2024
URL:
https://www.icnl.org/resources/civic-freedom-monitor/belarus
Accessed Date:
12 June 2024
Title:
Situation of human rights in Belarus in the run-up to the 2020 presidential election and in its aftermath
Source:
Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights
Date of Document:
25 March 2024
URL:
http://undocs.org/en/A/HRC/55/61
Accessed Date:
19 June 2024
Source:
United States. Congressional Research Service.
Date of Document:
6 December 2023
Author:
Cory Welt; Shelby B. Senger
URL:
https://crsreports.congress.gov/product/pdf/IF/IF10814
Accessed Date:
12 June 2024
Title:
Silencing the Voice of a Nation: Belarus' Descent Into Totalitarianism
Source:
Stockholm Centre for Eastern European Studies
Date of Document:
8 May 2023
URL:
https://www.ui.se/globalassets/ui.se-eng/publications/sceeus/silencing-the-voice-of-a-nation-belarus-descent-into-totalitarianism.pdf
Accessed Date:
12 June 2024
Title:
Suppression of the Right to Defend Human Rights in Belarus: Policy and Legislative Changes in 2021-2023
Source:
Observatory for the Protection of Human Rights Defenders et al.
Date of Document:
June 2023
Author:
Eugenia Andreyuk et al.
Editor:
Delphine Reculeau et al.
URL:
https://www.omct.org/site-resources/files/Suppression-of-the-Right-to-Defend-Human-Rights-in-Belarus-2021-2023-The-Observatory-Report-ENG.pdf
Accessed Date:
12 June 2024
Title:
Report on the serious threat to the OSCE human dimension in Belarus since 5 November 2020. OSCE fact-finding mission on Belarus (2023) under paragraph 12 of the Moscow Mechanism Document.
Code:
ODIHR.GAL/39/23/Corr.1
Source:
Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe. Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights.
Date of Document:
11 May 2023
URL:
https://www.osce.org/files/f/documents/d/5/543240.pdf
Accessed Date:
12 June 2024
Title:
Report of the Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Belarus, Anaïs Marin
Source:
Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights
Date of Document:
9 May 2024
URL:
https://undocs.org/en/A/HRC/56/65
Accessed Date:
12 June 2024
Title:
Belarusian Women Human Rights Defenders and Civil Activists: Specifics of Persecution and New Conditions.
Date of Document:
March 2023
URL:
https://www.lawtrend.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/Belarusian-Women-Human-Rights-Defenders-and-Civil-Activists-en-red.pdf
Accessed Date:
12 June 2024
Title:
Human Rights Situation in Belarus in 2023: Analytical review
Source:
Human Rights Center Viasna
URL:
https://spring96.org/files/reviews/en/review_2023_en.pdf
Accessed Date:
12 June 2024
Title:
Monitoring of the situation with freedom of association and the status of civil society organizations in the Republic of Belarus
Date of Document:
February 2024
URL:
https://www.lawtrend.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/Monitoring_situatsii_s_polozheniem_OGO_fevral_2024_ENG-r.pdf
Accessed Date:
12 June 2024
Title:
“I swear to fulfill the duties of defense lawyer honestly and faithfully”: politically motivated crackdown on human rights lawyers in Belarus
Source:
Human Rights Watch et al.
Date of Document:
27 May 2024
Author:
Anastasiia Kruope et al.
URL:
https://www.hrw.org/sites/default/files/media_2024/05/belarus0524web_0.pdf
Accessed Date:
12 June 2024
Title:
Belarus: Decree Puts Exiled Citizens at Risk
Source:
Human Rights Watch
Date of Document:
8 September 2023
URL:
https://www.hrw.org/news/2023/09/08/belarus-decree-puts-exiled-citizens-risk
Accessed Date:
12 June 2024
Title:
Belarus: New Laws for Stripping Nationals of Citizenship and Property Adopted
Source:
United States. Law Library of Congress. Global Legal Monitor.
Date of Document:
13 February 2023
URL:
https://www.loc.gov/item/global-legal-monitor/2023-02-12/belarus-new-laws-for-stripping-nationals-of-citizenship-and-property-adopted/
Accessed Date:
12 June 2024
Title:
Belarus. Belarusian Referendum of 27 February 2022.
Source:
International Foundation for Electoral Systems. Election Guide.
URL:
https://www.electionguide.org/elections/id/3862/
Accessed Date:
12 June 2024
Title:
About parliament; Election results. Belarus: House of Representatives.
Source:
Inter-Parliamentary Union. Parline.
URL:
https://data.ipu.org/parliament/BY/BY-LC01/
Accessed Date:
12 June 2024
Title:
Belarus: Crackdown Amid Growing Information Vacuum
Source:
Human Rights Watch
Date of Document:
11 January 2024
URL:
https://www.hrw.org/news/2024/01/11/belarus-crackdown-amid-growing-information-vacuum
Accessed Date:
12 June 2024
Title:
Biélorussie : Le parti Front populaire de Biélorussie (ou Parti « BNF ») depuis 2020
Source:
France. Office français de protection des réfugiés et apatrides.
Date of Document:
6 January 2022
URL:
https://www.ofpra.gouv.fr/libraries/pdf.js/web/viewer.html?file=/sites/default/files/ofpra_flora/2201_blr_le_parti_bnf_153981_web.pdf
Accessed Date:
13 June 2024
Source:
European Forum for Democracy and Solidarity
URL:
https://europeanforum.net/countries-list/belarus/
Accessed Date:
13 June 2024
Title:
Elections 2024. Final analytical report on the results of monitoring the elections of deputies on a single voting day on February 25, 2024
Source:
Belarusian Helsinki Committee; Viasna Human Rights Center
Date of Document:
2 April 2024
URL:
https://spring96.org/en/news/114884
Accessed Date:
13 June 2024
Title:
The Belarus Barometer of Repression
Source:
Center for New Ideas
Date of Document:
January 2024
URL:
https://newideas.center/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/Barometer-I.pdf
Accessed Date:
13 June 2024
Title:
Belarus: How Political Persecution Extends to Families
Source:
Institute for War and Peace Reporting
Date of Document:
13 April 2023
URL:
https://iwpr.net/global-voices/belarus-how-political-persecution-extends-families
Accessed Date:
13 June 2024
Title:
Ninth periodic report submitted by Belarus under article 18 of the Convention, due in 2023
Date of Document:
1 November 2023
URL:
https://www.undocs.org/en/CEDAW/C/BLR/9
Accessed Date:
13 June 2024
Title:
Belarus: List of Issues on the Implementation of CEDAW: Submission Prepared by the Belarusian Helsinki Committee for the 83rd Pre-Sessional Working Group of the CEDAW
Source:
Belarusian Helsinki Committee
Date of Document:
October 2023
URL:
https://euneighbourseast.eu/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/int_cedaw_ngo_blr_47989_e.pdf
Accessed Date:
13 June 2024
Title:
Female political prisoners: unveiling portraits and imprisonment motivations
Source:
Viasna Human Rights Center
Date of Document:
4 January 2024
URL:
https://spring96.org/en/news/113809
Accessed Date:
19 June 2024
Title:
Belarus. WAVE Country Report 2023: The status and value of women's specialist services in preventing and tackling gender-based violence against women.
Source:
Women Against Violence Europe
Date of Document:
December 2023
Author:
Elena Floriani et al.
URL:
https://wave-network.org/wp-content/uploads/WAVE_CountryReport2023.pdf
Accessed Date:
13 June 2024
Title:
Belarus: Right of Persons Affected by Violence and Discrimination Based on Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity to Health, in Relation to SDG 3
Source:
Belarusian Helsinki Committee
URL:
https://www.ohchr.org/sites/default/files/documents/cfi-subm/2308/subm-un-hrc-realisation-cso-belarusian-helsinki-committee.docx
Accessed Date:
13 June 2024
Title:
Belarus. Global Organized Crime Index 2023.
Source:
Global Initiative Against Transnational Organized Crime
URL:
https://ocindex.net/country/belarus
Accessed Date:
13 June 2024
Title:
Report concerning the implementation of the Council of Europe Convention on Action against Trafficking in Human Beings by Belarus: Second Evaluation Round
Source:
Council of Europe. Group of Experts on Action against Trafficking in Human Beings.
Date of Document:
27 October 2022
URL:
https://rm.coe.int/greta-evaluation-report-on-belarus-2nd-evaluation-round/1680a8bc61
Accessed Date:
13 June 2024
Title:
Belarus: military obligations in the context of Russia's war in Ukraine
Source:
France. Office français de protection des réfugiés et apatrides.
Date of Document:
19 June 2023
URL:
https://www.ofpra.gouv.fr/libraries/pdf.js/web/viewer.html?file=/sites/default/files/ofpra_flora/2306_blr_military_obligations_in_the_context_of_russia__039_s_war_in_ukraine_eng.pdf
Accessed Date:
13 June 2024
Title:
Belarus begins mobilizing under guise of military exercises
Source:
The Jamestown Foundation
Date of Document:
17 April 2024
URL:
https://jamestown.org/program/belarus-begins-mobilizing-under-guise-of-military-exercises/
Accessed Date:
13 June 2024
Title:
Criminal Prosecution for Political Reasons: Belarus 2021-2022
Source:
Viasna Human Rights Center
URL:
https://spring96.org/files/book/en/2022_politically_motivated_criminal_prosecutions_en.pdf
Accessed Date:
13 June 2024
Title:
Injustice Unveiled: The trial against Viasna activists in Belarus : the case of Ales Bialiatski, Valiantsin Stefanovic, Uladzimir Labkovich
Source:
Observatory for the Protection of Huma Rights Defenders
Date of Document:
June 2023
Editor:
Ilya Nuzov et al.
URL:
https://www.fidh.org/IMG/pdf/injustice_unveiled._the_trial_against_viasna_activists_in_belarus__the_case_of_ales_bialiatski_valiantsin_stefanovic_uladzimir_labkovich.pdf
Accessed Date:
13 June 2024
Title:
Systemic Issues that prevent the exhaustion of local remedies in Belarus, and the inability to demonstrate information about exhaustion to the UN Human Rights Committee
Date of Document:
September 2023
URL:
https://redress.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/Systemic-ISSUES-THAT-PREVENT-THE-EXHAUSTION-OF-LOCAL-REMEDIES-IN-BELARUS-3.pdf
Accessed Date:
13 June 2024
Title:
Crimes against Humanity in Belarus: Referral to the International Criminal Court
Source:
International Strategic Action Network for Security
Date of Document:
September 2023
URL:
https://isans.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/referral-to-the-icc-on-cah-in-belarus_policy-paper_isans_sept_2023.pdf
Accessed Date:
13 June 2024
Title:
Belarus. The Law on Police Use of Force Worldwide.
Source:
University of Pretoria. Institute for International and Comparative Law in Africa.
URL:
https://www.policinglaw.info/country/belarus
Accessed Date:
13 June 2024
Title:
Biélorussie : La police anti-émeute OMON (ou AMAP)
Source:
France. Office français de protection des réfugiés et apatrides.
Date of Document:
25 May 2023
URL:
https://www.ofpra.gouv.fr/libraries/pdf.js/web/viewer.html?file=/sites/default/files/ofpra_flora/2305_blr_les_omon_amap_153977_web.pdf
Accessed Date:
13 June 2024
Title:
Belarus. World Press Freedom Index 2024.
Source:
Reporters Without Borders
URL:
https://rsf.org/en/country/belarus
Accessed Date:
13 June 2024
Title:
Belarus Equates Rights Protection to Extremism
Source:
Human Rights Watch
Date of Document:
10 March 2023
Author:
Anastasiia Kruope
URL:
https://www.hrw.org/news/2023/03/10/belarus-equates-rights-protection-extremism
Accessed Date:
13 June 2024
Title:
Monitoring of violations of cultural rights and human rights of cultural figures. Belarus, 2023
Date of Document:
3 March 2024
URL:
https://penbelarus.org/en/2024/03/03/manitoryng-parushennyau-kulturnyh-pravou-i-pravou-chalaveka-u-dachynenni-da-dzeyachau-kultury-belarus-2023-god.html
Accessed Date:
13 June 2024
Title:
Restrictions on freedom of expression under the pretext of combating extremism and terrorism
Source:
Viasna Human Rights Center
URL:
https://spring96.org/files/book/en/freedom_of_expression.pdf
Accessed Date:
13 June 2024
Title:
Combined twenty-fourth and twenty-fifth periodic reports submitted by Belarus under article 9 of the Convention, due in 2020
Date of Document:
18 February 2022
URL:
https://www.undocs.org/en/CERD/C/BLR/24-25
Accessed Date:
13 June 2024
Title:
The Belarusian language in the period of socio-political crisis: signs of linguistic discrimination
Date of Document:
26 September 2022
URL:
https://penbelarus.org/en/2022/09/26/belaruskaya-mova-u-peryyad-gramadska-palitychnaga-kryzisu-prayavy-mounaj-dyskryminaczyi.html
Accessed Date:
13 June 2024
Title:
Overview of language rights violations in Belarus during the second half of 2023
Date of Document:
February 2024
Author:
International Union of Belarusian Writers
URL:
https://bellit.info/manitorynh/overview-of-language-rights-violations-in-belarus-during-the-second-half-of-2023.html
Accessed Date:
13 June 2024
Title:
Report of the Special Rapporteur on the Human Rights of Migrants, Felipe González Morales on his visit to Belarus
Source:
United Nations. Human Rights Council.
Date of Document:
18 May 2023
URL:
https://www.undocs.org/en/A/HRC/53/26/Add.2
Accessed Date:
13 June 2024
Title:
Belarus' Collaboration With Russia in the Systematic Deportation of Ukraine's Children
Source:
Yale School of Public Health. Humanitarian Research Lab.
Date of Document:
12 December 2023
URL:
https://hub.conflictobservatory.org/portal/sharing/rest/content/items/b024b68ca6e54ecdadec2e79fa779f2d/data
Accessed Date:
13 June 2024
Title:
Belarus. 2024 ITUC Global Rights Index: The World's Worst Countries for Workers.
Source:
International Trade Union Confederation
Date of Document:
4 June 2024
URL:
https://www.ituc-csi.org/IMG/pdf/2024_ituc_global_rights_index_en.pdf
Accessed Date:
19 June 2024
Disclaimer
National Documentation Packages (NDPs) include country-of-origin information that is publicly accessible at the time of publication and available within time constraints. While the Research Directorate strives to maintain the
NDP with current information, the research is not exhaustive and country conditions can change rapidly. Members of the public are invited to
suggest documents they feel are relevant to the
NDP.
NDPs are not, and do not purport to be, conclusive as to the merit of any particular claim for refugee protection. Rather, they are intended to support the refugee determination process. The assessment and weight to be given to the information in the
NDPs are the responsibility of independent
IRB members (decision-makers) after considering the evidence and arguments presented by the parties.
All sources are fully cited, including a hyperlink, to facilitate the location of the information. The
IRB will attempt to ensure that these links are maintained for the most recent
NDP. It cannot guarantee or be responsible for:
- the functionality of links to external sources,
- the content accessed by these links,
- the availability of external content in both English and French,
- any other part of a third party website.
The information presented in
NDPs solely reflects the views and perspectives of the sources cited and does not necessarily reflect the position of the
IRB or the Government of Canada.