The capital of Belarus, Minsk, Victory Square. Belarus: Independent Experts – “On the Lack of Responsibility for the Cruel Treatment of Women in Prison” Women
Independent human rights experts today expressed deep concern about the lack of effective investigations into allegations of gender-based violence and abuse against women in pre-trial detention facilities and penal colonies in Belarus.
Conditions of detention
“Conditions of detention for women prisoners in Belarus are appalling,” the experts said. “We call on the authorities to immediately launch effective and transparent investigations into all allegations of abuse and to ensure that witnesses are protected from reprisals.”
According to the allegations received, prison staff, the Department of Correctional Institutions and the prosecutor’s office may be involved in covering up abuses.
Experts received reports of overcrowding in pretrial detention facilities, unsanitary conditions, difficulties in obtaining medical care, lack of clean or warm clothing, strip searches by male and female prison staff, and lack of privacy when going to the toilet.
Reports of Arbitrary Punishments
Female prisoners are reportedly subjected to arbitrary punishments, including solitary confinement and incommunicado detention with no access to children. There are also reports of widespread inter-prisoner violence at one facility, Penal Colony No. 4, where violence is tolerated and encouraged by prison authorities.
“Some abuses are related to shortcomings in Belarusian legislation, while others violate both international human rights law and national legislation,” the experts said. They cited as an example the “cage of shame” in the courtyard of Penal Colony No. 4, where women are forced to stand for hours in all weather conditions to be publicly shamed for disciplinary violations. “This type of punishment is inhumane and humiliating in its essence,” they said.
The Problem of Gender-Based Violence
“Widespread gender-based violence and other ill-treatment of women prisoners in Belarus is a long-standing problem,” the experts said. They cited the 2024 report of the Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Belarus to the General Assembly, which found that the country had consistently failed to implement recommendations from UN human rights bodies and mandates to address ill-treatment of women for over a decade.
The experts remain in contact with the Government of Belarus on this issue.
UN Independent Experts
The statement was signed by Nils Muižnieks, Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Belarus; Alice Jill Edwards, Special Rapporteur on torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment; and members of the Working Group on the issue of discrimination against women and girls, Laura Nirinkindi (Chair), Claudia Flores (Vice-Chair), Dorothy Estrada-Tank, Ivana Krstic and Haina Lu.
Special rapporteurs, independent experts and working groups are part of the so-called special procedures of the Human Rights Council. Special Procedures, the largest body of independent experts in the UN Human Rights system, is the general name for the Council’s independent fact-finding and monitoring mechanisms that address either specific country situations or thematic issues in all parts of the world.
Special Procedures experts work on a voluntary basis – they are not UN staff and do not receive a salary for their work. They are independent from any government or organization and serve in their individual capacity.