The European Union Delegation in Belarus, together with the embassies of the United Kingdom, Sweden, Germany and Lithuania, drew attention to the situation of women human-rights defenders and called on the authorities not to use the judicial system to criminalise their work.
In a statement published on 29 November — the International Day of Women Human Rights Defenders — the diplomats noted that many activists face persecution and what they described as unfounded criminal charges.
“ 29 November marks International Day for Women Human Rights Defenders. Many women face harassment and fabricated criminal charges for standing up for human rights. Activists have been sentenced to lengthy prison terms for their work, often branded as “terrorists” to further restrict their freedoms, and suffer serious health issues. The justice system must never be used to criminalise human rights activism or silence dissent.”