Attacks on Human Rights Defenders Cast Wide Shadow

U.N. Special Rapporteur Margaret Sekaggaya underscored the importance of implementing the Declaration for Human Rights Defenders. Credit:UN Photo/Jean-Marc Ferré

UNITED NATIONS, Oct 26, 2011 (IPS) - A chair stood empty at the launch here Monday of a report on the repression of human rights defenders, a physical reminder that its would-be occupant - Ales Bialiatski, president of Human Rights Centre Viasna in Belarus – has been languishing in prison since August.

A three-time nominee for the Nobel Peace Prize, Bialiatski is charged with tax evasion, but supporters say it is clear that the charges are in retaliation for his long and distinguished career of human rights activism in the country.