GENEVA – Political repression in Belarus since the 2020 presidential election has deepened structural discrimination against women, undermined their participation in public life and weakened mechanisms for protecting their rights, a UN expert warned today.
“Political repression and gender discrimination in Belarus are increasingly intertwined. The persecution of women human rights defenders, civic activists, journalists and lawyers has silenced independent voices and deprived women of essential legal assistance, protection and support,” said Nils Muižnieks, Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Belarus, presenting his report to the General Assembly.
“The dismantling of independent women’s organisations has severely undermined access to services for survivors of gender-based violence. Belarus cannot achieve genuine gender equality while criminalising women’s civic participation and suppressing those defending their rights,” he said.
The report documents politically motivated prosecutions, arbitrary detention, professional disbarment, employment restrictions and forced exile. “Women subjected to political persecution face lasting employment restrictions, which may persist beyond criminal sentences, depriving women of livelihoods and economic independence,” Muižnieks said. “Forced exile often becomes the only viable option.”
The Special Rapporteur expressed concern about the exclusion of independent women’s voices from policymaking. The National Council on Gender Policy is dominated by State representatives and government-affiliated organisations, while the dissolution of independent trade unions has deprived women of independent representation and advocacy.
Structural inequalities persist, including a gender pay gap of 24-28 per cent, occupational segregation and women’s disproportionate unpaid care responsibilities.
The expert expressed concern about Article 19.16 of the Code of Administrative Offences, which penalises the dissemination of information perceived as promoting same-sex relations, gender transition and voluntary childlessness. He warned that its vague and overly broad provisions risk further legitimising discrimination and persecution of lesbian, bisexual, transgender and intersex women, restricting their freedom of expression, access to information and reproductive autonomy. It also exposes human rights defenders, educators and healthcare professionals to arbitrary sanctions.
“The 2025 recommendations of the Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW) provide a roadmap for reform. Belarus must implement them fully, end reprisals against women human rights defenders, restore independent civil society and strengthen protection against gender-based violence,” Muižnieks said.
The expert urged Belarus to release and rehabilitate women arbitrarily detained for exercising their rights, end the misuse of extremism legislation, remove discriminatory employment restrictions and ensure women’s meaningful participation in public life.
Muižnieks welcomed the adoption of the National Action Plan for the Implementation of the CEDAW Committee’s Recommendations for 2026-2030, but called for its revision to address structural discrimination, strengthen protection against gender-based violence and ensure meaningful participation of independent civil society in its implementation and oversight.
