Connection e.V. and WRI Stand at the UN for Belarusian Conscientious Objectors and Human Rights Defenders

19th September 2025

«Connection e.V.», in partnership with «War Resisters’ International» (WRI), participated in the interactive dialogue with the Group of Independent Experts reporting on the situation of human rights in Belarus.

The international advocacy coordinator of «Connection e.V.», Zaira Zafarana, took the floor in the plenary after the presentation of the report by Ms. Karinna Moskalenko, President of Group of Experts on Belarus and raised the issue of repressive laws targeting human rights defenders like Olga Karatch of «Our House» (Наш dом) and the issue of the violation of the right to conscientious objection to military service. The statement delivered referred as well to the ongoing militarization of children in the country and the need for protection of objectors seeking asylum abroad. The statement concluded with a specific call to Member States to fully participate in the upcoming Universal Periodic Review (UPR) of Belarus and to fully protect conscientious objectors seeking protection abroad.

19th Meeting ⸻ 60th Session of Human Rights Council ↷

Oral statement delivered by WRI, in collaboration with «Connection e.V.» ↷

Closing the accountability gap for human rights violations and related crimes in Belarus ⸻ report of the Group of Independent Experts on the situation of human rights in Belarus ↷

Keywords:    ⇒ Conscientious Objection   ⇒ Human Rights   ⇒ United Nations   ⇒ United Nations Human Rights Council