Belarus Human Rights Index is created by a group of civil society experts under the overall coordination of the Belarusian Helsinki Committee. The Index estimates the realization of 18 rights (11 civil and political, and 7 social, economic, and cultural), as well as 4 general measures.
The Index demonstrates changes in the human rights situation in Belarus in specific tangible numbers, rather than “good/bad” terms.
Following the analysis of the Index changes over five years (2019-2023), the Belarusian Helsinki Committee has reached the following conclusions:
As of the baseline assessment in 2019, the human rights situation in Belarus was already far from excellent. However, the authorities at least formally articulated recognition of international human rights standards and officially declared their commitment to building a rule-of-law state.
Despite how dreadful 2020 might seem compared to 2019, the overall Index score decreased by only 1 point. This indicates only one thing: all systemic human rights issues already existed before, but society was not ready to pay attention to them.
In 2020, amid the political crisis, a state of emergency was practically introduced, which persists to this day and has the following characteristics:
A simple mathematical comparison of scores from 2019 and 2023 shows that only 6 out of 1850 scores improved. The most significant improvement was less than 1 point, whereas the maximum deterioration was 5.6 points. The improvements are mainly explained by the adoption of laws (on personal data; amendments to the electoral code allowing detainees to vote; amendments to procedural legislation allowing appeals against Supreme Court decisions).
On the other hand, the most significant declines are seen in the scores for the rights to:
See a more detailed analysis in the Belarusian Helsinki Committee review.
The Index demonstrates changes in the human rights situation in Belarus in specific tangible numbers, rather than “good/bad” terms.
Following the analysis of the Index changes over five years (2019-2023), the Belarusian Helsinki Committee has reached the following conclusions:
As of the baseline assessment in 2019, the human rights situation in Belarus was already far from excellent. However, the authorities at least formally articulated recognition of international human rights standards and officially declared their commitment to building a rule-of-law state.
Despite how dreadful 2020 might seem compared to 2019, the overall Index score decreased by only 1 point. This indicates only one thing: all systemic human rights issues already existed before, but society was not ready to pay attention to them.
In 2020, amid the political crisis, a state of emergency was practically introduced, which persists to this day and has the following characteristics:
- Systematic and widespread persecution (repression) of those the authorities consider dissenters: state (and especially law enforcement) agencies often blatantly violate the law ("sometimes laws can be put aside"), justifying this as protecting public order and national security.
- Specific legalism — the systematic adoption of unlawful legislation to justify repressions (legalization of lawlessness).
- Anti-Western stance and withdrawal from international mechanisms: Belarus abandons international human rights treaties, getting rid of functional mechanisms that are actively utilized against the authorities.
- Political repression began to affect social and economic rights, particularly the right to work, and the situation in the education and healthcare systems.
A simple mathematical comparison of scores from 2019 and 2023 shows that only 6 out of 1850 scores improved. The most significant improvement was less than 1 point, whereas the maximum deterioration was 5.6 points. The improvements are mainly explained by the adoption of laws (on personal data; amendments to the electoral code allowing detainees to vote; amendments to procedural legislation allowing appeals against Supreme Court decisions).
On the other hand, the most significant declines are seen in the scores for the rights to:
- A fair trial (the so-called “legal default”)
- Freedom of thought, conscience, and religion
- Life
- Peaceful assembly
- Participation in cultural life
- Work
See a more detailed analysis in the Belarusian Helsinki Committee review.
