Belarus Human Rights, Civil Society, Anti-Censorship, etc., Organizations

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Association for Legal Assistance to the Population (PDN)

• Provides assitance to citizens of Belarus in a variety of ways. For example, it provided social assistance to those who suffered from the tragedy (53 were killed) at the Nemiga (Nyamiha) Metro Station on May 30, 1999, and to the families of those who died in the disaster, and to those arrested and mal-treated by the authorities at and in the vicinity of the October 17th [1999] Freedom March.

• On December 9, 1999, Mr. Volchek, Chairperson of the Association for Legal Assistance to the Population (ALAP), received the New York-based International League for Human Rights (ILHR) Defender's Day Award at a ceremony in New York.

• The Belarusian Justice Department re-registered the association on August 10, 1999.

• In October, 1999, the Belarusian Justice Department examined all of the ALAPs records, documents, and premises looking for "irregularities" -- the first organization the Justice Department has inspected since re-registration.

  Chairperson: Oleg Volchek

  (As Mr. Volchek told BelaPAN, prosecutors are looking for evidence in order to charge him with malicious hooliganism in connection with his participation in a demonstration marking the end of Aleksandr Lukashenko's 5-year presidency. Mr. Volchek, along with two members of the Belarusian Social Democratic Party (BSDP), was detained and beaten up by police after that demonstration on July 21 [1999]. In late November, 1999, these charges were dropped.     Source: BelaPAN, No. 90; Monday, August 23, 1999; 7:10 p.m. and No. 102; Thursday, November 25, 1999; 1:30 p.m.)

  (Note: In November, 1999, the Belarusian Justice Minister Gennady Vorontsov suspended the license of the ALAP. The ALAP claims this decision is politically motivated, and the ALAP intends to appeal the ministry's decision.)

• In May, 2000, the ALAP office was broken into and many things were stolen, including computers that contained records of recent ALAP work. This work includes a database of investigations into the suspected kidnapping of former Interior Minister Yury Zakharenko and the May 1999 stampede. The ALAP office was also broken into in December, 1999.     (Source: BelaPAN, No. 86; Monday, May 22, 2000; 8:30 p.m.)
• In August, 2003, "The justice department of the Minsk Executive Committee has filed a lawsuit in a Minsk court for the liquidation of the Association for Legal Assistance to the Population (PDN), BelaPAN reported on 4 August, quoting the press office of the Vyasna human rights group. The PDN was notified of the action on 2 August and described the authorities' decision as an attempt to "prevent human rights activists from rendering efficient and prompt assistance to individuals." The PDN was established in 1998 and has provided legal assistance to around 4,000 people, including the disabled, war veterans, single mothers, minors, and the unemployed. PDN lawyers have also represented the families of politicians Yury Zakharanka and Viktar Hanchar, businessman Anatol Krasouski, and journalist Dzmitry Zavadski -- all of whom have disappeared under unexplained circumstances. AM "    (Source: RFERL, CEE Report, Aug. 5, 2003)

Center for Legal Protection

The Center for Legal Protection was founded by Belarusian lawyers and human rights activists on January 14, 2001. ALAP works in Minsk, while the new center is expected to offer legal assistance throughout Belarus. On January 13 [2001], Representatives of ALAP and the American Bar Association held a conference in Mensk on the impact of public representatives on civil and administrative cases and the role of relatives and legal representatives in criminal proceedings. Those present shared their assistance experience and discussed legal education issues.     (Source: BelaPAN, No. 53; Monday, January 15, 2001; 7:30 p.m.)

President: Oleg Volchek         Vice President: Raisa Mikhailovskaya

Belarus League for Human Rights

Republic of Belarus (BY)
220050 Mensk
Post Office Box 23
Belarus Leagure for Human Rights

Tel/fax +375 17 231 75 50

E-mail: evgeny@novikove.minsk.by

Belarusian Association of Journalists

President: Zhanna Litvina         Vice President: Vladimir Glod

Director of Media Protection Center: Mikhail Pastukhov

220030, Republic of Belarus
Mensk
Pl. Svabody 17-304
Belarusian Association of Journalists

tel/fax: [ refer to their Web site ]

E-mail (listed on their news bulletin Web site): baj@baj.by

Their daily news reports (one of the best sources of news about Belarus on the Internet): BAJ News Bulletins   (Belarusian- and English-language versions)

Belarusian Association of Prisoners of the Lukashenko Regime

Organized in March, 1998, as noted in the public statement:

"No person can feel safe enough in Belarus today. The authorities regularly violate citizens' rights to freedom of speech and assembly... Thousands of people have been harassed by the regime, beaten during peaceful demonstrations of protest, subjected to large fines, thrown behind bars or forced to emigrate... Under these conditions, we, people who were once repressed by the authorities, have decided to establish a Belarusian Association of Prisoners of the Lukashenko Regime."

"The association would aim to help victims of political repressions, support political prisoners and their families, and inform the international community about human rights violations in Belarus. The organizers plan to hold a foundation conference in the near future."

Belarusian Center for Legal Protection of the Media

Chairperson: Mikhail Pastukhov

Republic of Belarus (BY)
2200?? Mensk
??
Belarusian Center for Legal Protection of the Media

Tel: +375 (17) ??? ?? ??

Belarusian Foundation for Legal Cooperation (BFLC)

President: ? ?         Vice President: Mikhail Volchek

Republic of Belarus (BY)
2200?? Mensk
??
Belarusian Foundation for Legal Cooperation (BFLC)

Tel: +375 (17) ??? ?? ??

The Belarusian Helsinki Committee

Belarusian Helsinki Committee   Web site   in Russian and in English

The Belarusian Helsinki Committee (BHC) is a voluntary, independent, and non-political, non-governmental organization. It was registered by the Ministry of Justice in November, 1995. In accordance with the Charter, the main objective of the BHC is "the protection of Human Rights declared by the Helsinki agreements and other international treaties on Human Rights in the Republic of Belarus."

At the BHC WWW Site one can find:

• General information about BHC activity

• Publication: Crushing Civil Society (August 1997)

• Press Releases

• Memorandum to the EU mission

  For more information:

  Republic of Belarus
  220049 Mensk
  ul. Knorina, 8-23
  Belarusian Helsinki Committee

  Tel/fax +375 17 266 2691
  e-mail: pavel@bhc.belpak.minsk.by

  Chairperson: Tatyana Protko

  Honorary Chairperson: Vasily Bykau
  Deputy Chairperson: Garry Pogonyailo
  Press Secretary: Svyatlana Kurs
  Secretary: Pavel Kurza

  Members of the BHC Council: writers Sergei Zakonnikov, Valentin Taras, Yegor Borodulin, and Gennady Buravkin; historian Radim Goretsky; politicians Lyavon Borshchevsky, Mecheslav Grib, and Oleg Trusov.

The Belarusian Human Rights Association (BHRA)

A real human rights organization (versus things such as the NHRL and Charter 98).

(I have almost no information about this organization, other than the Belarusian government denied the organization "registration" in November, 1999. "Registration" and "re-registration" are completely arbitrary, capricious processes used by the Belarusian government to make non-governmental organizations that do not support the current regime illegal, lose funding, etc.)

The Belarusian Human Rights League (BHRL)

A real human rights organization (versus things such as the NHRL and Charter 98).

(I have almost no information about this organization, other than the Belarusian government denied the organization "registration" in November, 1999. "Registration" and "re-registration" are completely arbitrary, capricious processes used by the Belarusian government to make non-governmental organizations that do not support the current regime illegal, lose funding, etc.)

The Belarusian League for the Freedom of Sexual Minorities, Lambda

Publishes the magazine, Forum Lambda

Chairperson: Eduard Tarletsky

WWW: http://www.irex.minsk.by/~gayforum/

Go to this link, for articles about gay and lesbian issues in Belarus.

The Center for Human Rights

The Center organized recently and has had two campaigns:

• At the end of 1999, the Center handed over clothes, writing materials, toys, fruit, sweets, and money to a private orphanage in Mensk. The ceremony was held on December 31 [1999], and Valery Shchukin, a prominent politician and human rights activist, acted as Santa Claus.

• In August, 2000, the Center has launched a campaign to collect clothes, toys, and writing materials and money for orphans.

  Chairperson: Vera Stremkovskaya

Centre Supolnasc, Civil Society Center

The leading Belarusian national democratic organization. Supolnasc's purpose is to assist in building and maintaining long-term, pro-democracy coalitions of like-minded people to advance democratic values and create an open, pluralistic society.

Republic of Belarus (BY)
220040 Miensk
P.O.Box 208
Centre Supolnasc, Civil Society Center

Chairman: Valentin G. Vechorka

Tel: +375 17 237 37 38

Tel/Fax: +375 17 210 16 37

E-mail: supolnasc@user.unibel.by   or   cscsc@cscsc.lingvo.minsk.by

Charter 97

Current URL: Charter 97 (at http://charter97.org/)

Alternative URL: Charter 97 (at http://charter97.irex.minsk.by/)

Earlier Alternative URL: http://www.svaboda.com/Charter97/English/

Original URL: http://www.charter97.org/

One of the best resources about current events in Belarus; updated daily. Includes major news stories, often with pictures, directly from Mensk, Belarus.

Summary: "The Charter was declared on November 10, 1997 in Minsk. One hundred well known figures in culture and science, representatives of leading political parties and trade unions, and journalist from almost all the independent newspapers were the first to sign the Charter document. The main goal of Charter 97 is to restore democracy and the rule of law in the country. Establishing an efficient system of collective security of citizens' rights and freedoms has become the main means to achieve this goal. The essence of this civil initiative is "Unity in Action", when representatives of human rights organizations, NGOs, political parties, trade unions jointly assert citizens' rights. Within a year Charter 97 organized seventy pickets, rallies, and concerts. More than a million leaflets have been distributed. Today 99,706 people have put their signatures under Charter 97."

Major sections of Charter 97 Web site include (in English and Russian):

• News
• Press Releases
• Bulletins
• Photo Chronicle
• Notorious Cases
• Actions
• ILHR - Belarus Update
• Charter 97
• Guest Book
• Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
• Feedback
• Congress of Democratic Forces of Belarus

Tel/Fax: (+375-17)-239-62-89

e-mail: charter@charter97.org

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Note: Please do not confuse Charter 97 with Charter 98:

". . .Khartiya-98 was adopted at a rally held in Minsk on March 15, 1998, on the occasion of the 100th anniversary of the First Convention of the Russian Social Democratic Labour Party. The charter [of Khartiya-98] provides for support of President Aleksandr Lukashenko's policies, the reestablishment of the USSR, and the 'building of a society of social justice.' "

Source: BelaPAN, No. 42; Friday, August 14, 1998; 2:20 p.m.

Movement for Free and Democratic Elections (Mensk)

"The movement aims to assist in building a civil society and a law-ruled state in Belarus, and in holding free and fair elections in the country. The organization plans to arrange training for election monitors and promote a dialogue between the government, opposition political parties, and non-governmental organizations. The gathering adopted an appeal to the Belarusian citizens, urging them to contribute to holding free and fair parliamentary and presidential elections. The appeal states the principles of the new organization and emphasizes the importance of democratic elections for the country's development. The meeting participants elected the movement's Central Council."

"The new organization will soon file the documents required for registration with the Ministry of Justice."

"The founding conference of the Movement for Free and Democratic Elections took place in Minsk on December 4, 1999, with some 120 delegates from all over Belarus attending."

Source: BelaPAN, No. 17; Saturday, December 4, 1999; 6:20 p.m.




Chairperson of the Organizing Committee: Mecheslav Grib (former parliamentary speaker)

Members of the Central Council: Vladimir Gudeyev (chairman of the National Club of Voters); Tatyana Protko (head of the Belarusian Helsinki Committee); and others

National Human Rights League

Pro-Lukashenka organization that is paraded in front of international organizations to demonstrate that "human rights" organizations support the current regime ruling Belarus. (The only "human rights" organization that does support him and his regime. Almost all internationally recognized human rights organizations are harassed--or worse--by the Lukashenka regime.)

[ The typical Soviet-style dis-information organization created to detract from legitimate human rights organizations. ]

ProMedia

US Agency for International Development (AID) funded Professional Media Program (ProMedia) operates in eight countries of Central and Eastern Europe where fledgling commercial press and broadcast information services are struggling to fulfill the obligations of professional journalists in democracy building. (Also refer to the US AID Web site.)

Administered by IREX, USA     Also, see Web site   IREX, Russia   IREX implements the program, together with its partner, the National Forum Foundation. Under ProMedia, a resident adviser recruited from the print or broadcast media is placed in each participating ProMedia host country. The resident adviser, working closely with the local USAID Mission, then designs and implements a training program that addresses the most critical problems facing independent media today.

In Belarus, ProMedia provides seminars and workshops with journalists from outside the region.

Director, IREX ProMedia, Mensk: Taisa Bandarenka

Resident Adviser: Viola Gienger

ProMedia
Mailing Address: POB 90, Mensk 220005 Belarus (BY)

Tel: 375 17 229 29 67

Tel: 375 17 227 15 72

Fax: 375 17 229 29 87

E-mail: Taisa Bandarenka     (taisa@irex.minsk.by)

Web site: http://www.irex.minsk.by/     (mostly Russian-language; some Belarusian; very interesting photography section for/by journalists)

See: Viasna Human Rights Center (Mensk)