Statement by India at the 2nd UPR of Belarus during the 22nd Session of the Universal Periodic Review Working Group, Geneva, 4 May 2015 Statement by India at the 2nd UPR of Belarus during the 22nd Session of the Universal Periodic Revie..

Statement by India at the 2nd UPR of Belarus during the 22nd Session of the Universal Periodic Review Working Group, Geneva, 4 May 2015

Universal Periodic Review (UPR) Working Group

22nd Session (04-15 May 2015)

2nd UPR of Belarus– Interactive Dialogue

Monday, 4th May 2015, 09:00 am - 12:30 pm

Statement by India

Mr. President,

1.India welcomes the delegation of Belarus led by H.E. Mr. ValentinRybakov, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Belarus and thanks the delegation for their comprehensive presentation. We take positive note of Belarus’s continued efforts towards improving of national human rights-related legislation and collaboration with relevant UN treaty bodies.

 

2.We welcome the readiness expressed by Belarus to accede to CRPD. It is indeed commendable that Belarus, during 2011-14, has cleared its backlog of reports to various UN treaty bodies.

 

3.We take note with appreciation of Belarus’s constructive engagement with Special procedures mandate holders of the HRC and its standing invitation to the UN High Commissioner of Human Rights.

 

4.We appreciate Belarus’s remarkable achievement on MDGs especially on Goals 1 to 5 and also take note of various social security and protection programmes implemented especially in the wake of 2011 economic crisis. The country’s performance in containing infant and maternal mortality rate is exceptional. Similarly, efforts undertaken towards spread of literacy, including human rights education and training, invite our appreciation.

 

5.While taking note of active involvement of women in public and political life, we encourage Belarus to further strengthen the financial and human resource capacity of national institutions engaged in pursuit of gender parity. Belarus may also consider strengthening the National Commission on the Rights of the Child.

 

6.We note with appreciation that Belarus is a party to all the universal instruments of the United Nations on combating human trafficking. We welcome the new anti-trafficking legislative measures especially Action against Trafficking in Persons Act of 2012.We would encourage Belarus to continue its efforts in the field of training and human resource development for combating human trafficking.

 

7.We encourage Belarus to take further steps towards enhancing freedom of expression of the media as well as freedom of association and peaceful assembly.

 

8.We wish the delegation of Belarus all success in its current and future endeavours.

 

Thank you, Mr. President.

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