Collection Of Signatures: Appeal Of Civil Society Representatives Of The OSCE Member States

Dear colleagues!
 
Human rights initiatives of the OSCE member states start now a civil campaign aimed at creation of special OCSE human rights mission in Belarus. Such a mission (group) could be established in the frames of the OSCE “third basket” – human dimension. 
 
Our colleagues from CIS countries and EU have started already collection of signatures on the Appeal placed below.

If you decide to sign this document, please let us know about this before 12.00 10 of January 2011 to the addrss: [email protected]  or [email protected]

Yours sincerely,
Elena Tonkacheva, Foundation for legal Technologies Development

We, representatives of civil society organizations and citizens of member states of the Organization of Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE):

• Expressing our concern with the multitude of evidence of proof of gross and massive violations of human rights and civil liberties in Belarus after the presidential elections, which were held on December 19, 2010,
• Taking special note of the systematic violations in the area of freedom from inhumane treatment and torture during arrest and while being held in custody; violations of the principles of fair treatment during investigation and trials; intimidation during searches, and interrogation, as well as at work and school; pressure on journalists and lawyers; and paralyzing the activities of nongovernmental organizations and civil society activists by confiscating computers during searches of offices and apartments,
• Noting that a significant part of these violations were directly related to the creation of hindrances to the activities of civil society institutions and are direct violations of the fundamental right to freedom of expression and freedom of association,
• Honestly wanting to stop the persecution of civil society organizations and activists and to restore civilized dialogue between the authorities and civil society of Belarus,
• Underscoring, in accordance with the principles of the OSCE, which were confirmed at the summit of heads of state and governments of member states of the OSCE in Astana on December 1-2, 2010, that human rights are an object of direct and legitimate concern of all member states of the OSCE and of international civil society and are not simply the internal affairs of a state,

Appeal to the member states of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe to:

1. Immediately state their attitude toward the massive human rights violations in Belarus following the presidential elections of December 19, 2010 and inform the authorities of Belarus of its failure to observe its responsibilities in the sphere of the human dimension of the OSCE,
2. Immediately begin the procedure to initiate the “Moscow Mechanism” of the OSCE  because of the massive human rights violations by the authorities of Belarus and the failure of Belarus to meet its human dimension obligations to the OSCE.

We appeal to the member states of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe to undertake action in response to the systemic crisis in observing human rights in Belarus and to display a principled stance in its relationships with the authorities of Belarus and solidarity with its people.


Initiators of the Appeal
names of organizations, country (or state that it is an international organization)

Those who sign on to the appeal:

Signatures from Organizations
Organization name, country (or state that this is an international organization)
 
Individual Signatures
First name, last name, country

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