On March 19, 2024, the UN Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW) urged Belarus to take immediate steps to safeguard Palina Sharenda-Panasiuk, Respect-Protect-Fulfill organization informed.
CEDAW’s interim measures process allows the Committee to request urgent actions from a State party, upon receiving an individual complaint, to prevent irreparable harm to the alleged victims before a final decision is made.
In January 2024, CEDAW registered Andrei Sharenda’s complaint against Belarus regarding the discrimination faced by his wife, Palina Sharenda-Panasiuk. She was unjustly convicted of allegedly insulting state officials, assaulting a police officer, and subsequently, twice for refusing to follow orders in the penal colony. Palina is serving her sentence in a Belarusian penal colony under harsh conditions: she has been subjected to solitary confinement, denied essential parcels (including medical supplies), and her correspondence has been withheld. She lacked basic amenities such as bedding and heating, leading to deteriorating health. Despite numerous requests, the colony administration failed to provide adequate medical attention. Since January 8, 2024, there has been no communication with Palina, and her lawyer has been denied access.
Due to the detrimental effects of prolonged incarceration in such conditions on physical and mental health, lawyers from Respect-Protect-Fulfill appealed to CEDAW for interim measures. The Committee agreed and requested Belarus to ensure comprehensive medical care for Palina Sharenda-Panasiuk and protect her life and well-being. CEDAW’s interim measures are legally binding.
This case marks a significant milestone in CEDAW’s jurisprudence against Belarusian authorities, being the first instance of Belarusian human rights lawyers utilizing this mechanism.
CEDAW is responsible for overseeing compliance with the Convention on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women, to which Belarus has been a party since 1981. Filing individual complaints with CEDAW remains one of the limited avenues for Belarusians to seek redress for rights violations through international legal channels.