Skip to content
Foreign Affairs Trade, International News

Life Under Attack: UN Special Rapporteur on Belarus probes state’s human rights record

Monash University 2 mins read

Monash University’s Eleos Justice will host a discussion with Anaïs Marin, the UN Special Rapporteur on Belarus to probe the realities and legal implications of various forms of state-sanctioned killing in Belarus.

 

Belarus is the only country in Europe that still implements the death penalty and has shown no sign of stopping with at least one execution, further death sentences, and the introduction of new capital offences in 2022/23. 

 

Marin will also touch on other human rights issues including deaths in custody and migrant deaths. In the past year alone, at least four individuals have died in the custody of Belarusian authorities, against a backdrop of unrelenting persecution of political dissidents and rights activists. 

 

In 2021, an influx of thousands of migrants and asylum seekers attempting to cross Belarus’ borders into Latvia, Lithuania and Poland gave rise to a humanitarian crisis allegedly orchestrated by the Belarusian government. As a result, more than 50 asylum seekers were confirmed as having died while trapped at the country’s borders with the EU.

 

Associate Professor Mai Sato, Eleos Justice’s inaugural director, welcomed the discussion with Ms Marin as an opportunity to confront the stark realities of state-sanctioned violence in Belarus and its wider implications globally. 

 

“The death penalty symbolises a state’s authority to wield lethal power over its citizens. By retaining the death penalty under law, states declare that some offenders must be eliminated, and acknowledge that killing human beings forms part of their justice system,” Associate Professor Sato said.

 

Anaïs Marin is the incumbent UN Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Belarus. She is an independent researcher based in Warsaw, Poland, and an associate fellow with the Russia and Eurasia programme at Chatham House, London, United Kingdom.

 

Eleos Justice carries out evidence-based research, teaching and advocacy on the death penalty and other forms of state-sanctioned killing.

 

The discussion will take place via webinar on Tuesday 23 April from 5:00pm to 6:00pm. Registration for the free event is available here

 

-    ENDS    - 

 

Media Enquiries

Kim Loudon

Media and Communications Manager (Arts)

Monash University

T: +61 458 281 704

E: kim.loudon@monash.edu 

 

For more Monash media stories, visit our news and events site: https://www.monash.edu/news

 

For any other topics on which you may be seeking expert comment, please contact the Monash University Media Unit on +613 9903 4840 or media@monash.edu

More from this category

  • Business Company News, Foreign Affairs Trade
  • 14/11/2024
  • 13:00
Advance Global Australians

Australians excelling globally celebrated, as report shows many are hesitant to talk about overseas success

Australians excelling on the global stage have been recognised in the 2024 Global Australian Awards. From a Head Coach of a Premier League Club, Chefs, Business Leaders to Innovators and Researchers - Australians who are excelling across diverse fields have been recognised. The 2024 Global Australian Award winners are announced by Advance Global Australians, a not-for-profit organisation dedicated to connecting, empowering, and championing the achievements of Australians worldwide. The announcement of the winners coincides with the release of the Advancing Australia Global Report, which shows insights into the perceptions of Australians and Australia on the world stage. The key findings…

  • Foreign Affairs Trade
  • 12/11/2024
  • 14:14
United Nations

UN expert on contemporary forms of slavery to visit Australia

GENEVA (12 November 2024) - The UN Special Rapporteur on contemporary forms of slavery, Tomoya Obokata, will visit Australia from 14 to 27 November 2024. The Special Rapporteur will examine the Government's efforts in implementing international and national law, in particular as it relates to individuals and groups facing possible exploitation risks, including women and girls, migrants, asylum seekers, persons with disabilities, Indigenous Peoples, persons experiencing homelessness. The Special Rapporteur will also examine instances of gender­based violence, child exploitation and abuse, and child early and forced marriage. He will meet Government officials, legislators, civil society, human rights institutions, rights-holders, academic…

  • Contains:
  • General News, International News
  • 05/11/2024
  • 17:00
Nippon Electric Glass Co., Ltd.

New Name and Logo Unveiled for Alkali-resistant Glass Fiber Product Range by Nippon Electric Glass

OTSU, Japan, Nov. 5, 2024 /Kyodo JBN/ -- Nippon Electric Glass Co., Ltd., "NEG," headquartered in Otsu, Japan, announced a new name and logo for its alkali-resistant glass fiber (ARG Fiber) product range. This represents a new stage in the over 40-year history of ARG Fiber, which during this time has contributed to many architectural and civil engineering projects. Logo: https://cdn.kyodonewsprwire.jp/prwfile/release/M106496/202410258779/_prw_PI2fl_lp9uq331.jpg Image: https://cdn.kyodonewsprwire.jp/prwfile/release/M106496/202410258779/_prw_PI1fl_472YDyr2.jpeg About the new name "WizARG (TM)" and the brand concept WizARG (TM) is coined from "Wizard" and "ARG Fiber." It conveys the sense of freedom to create magically. NEG will continue to protect the creativity and value…

Media Outreach made fast, easy, simple.

Feature your press release on Medianet's News Hub every time you distribute with Medianet. Pay per release or save with a subscription.