The Law and Democracy Center (JusticeHub), is pleased to announce an upcoming international conference titled «Accountability for Crimes and Human Rights Violations in Belarus», co-organized with Prof. Dainius Žalimas, a Member of the European Parliament. This conference seeks to bring together leading experts in law, human rights advocacy, governmental representatives, and pro-democratic Belarusian activists to discuss and strategize on effective avenues for pursuing justice for the numerous atrocities committed in Belarus.
Date: September 13, 2024
Venue: Neringa Hotel, Vilnius and online (via Zoom)
Language: English, Russian
Registration is available here
Please find the conference’s concept note attached. And here is the program of the conference.
Since the fraudulent presidential election in Belarus in 2020, the international community has been provided with numerous reports and resolutions from various organizations documenting the severe human rights abuses perpetrated by the Lukashenka regime. These documents highlight the brutal methods of repression and the widespread violations of fundamental rights, including, but not limited to, the right to dignity, personal security, privacy, freedom of assembly, association, expression, and the right to a fair trial.
In 2024, both the United Nations Human Rights Council and the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe recognized that the systemic repression by the Lukashenka regime could amount to crimes against humanity. This recognition underscores the urgent need for comprehensive accountability through domestic and international legal mechanisms. However, despite the calls for justice, progress has been worryingly slow. For instance, the application of the principle of universal jurisdiction and efforts to establish a special tribunal for Belarus have seen only limited advancement.
The conference will provide an opportunity to discuss the reasons behind this slow progress in achieving justice and explore viable solutions to overcome these obstacles.
The event will feature discussions on three critical avenues for accountability:
- Universal jurisdiction.
- A special tribunal for Belarus.
- Sanctions against the Lukashenka regime and its supporters.
This conference represents a crucial opportunity for voices in this field to come together, share insights, and develop actionable strategies to hold the Lukashenka regime accountable for its actions. We invite you to join us in this important discussion and contribute to the ongoing fight for justice in Belarus.
Join us in Vilnius as we work towards accountability and justice for Belarus.