Moscow Mechanism rapporteur reports to OSCE Permanent Council on situation in Belarus

VIENNA, 16 June 2011 – Emmanuel Decaux, OSCE Moscow Mechanism rapporteur, presented to the OSCE Permanent Council today his report about the human rights situation and implementation of OSCE commitments in Belarus since the December 2010 presidential election.

"It is urgent for Belarus to respect its international commitments in the framework of the OSCE and the UN, and to accept a full and permanent monitoring of human rights by independent organs and bodies" is one of the recommendations presented in the report to Belarusian authorities on how to improve the situation with respect to human rights and fundamental freedoms in the country.

The report and recommendations contained therein were discussed by all OSCE delegations. Lithuanian Ambassador Renatas Norkus, the Chairperson of the Permanent Council, expressed his appreciation for Decaux's efforts in putting together the report and said: “In spite of the very different reactions, views and assessments that were expressed by participating States in the lengthy debate today, the Chairmanship is convinced of the need for dialogue and engagement with Belarus on the implementation of OSCE commitments. The OSCE continues to provide the best platform for such engagement and we have to utilize it in the most appropriate, co-operative and constructive way.”

Decaux, a professor of international law at Panthéon-Assas Paris II University, was appointed rapporteur by the 14 OSCE participating States that invoked the Organization’s so-called Moscow Mechanism in April.

The Mechanism, agreed by consensus by all 56 OSCE States, allows for an investigation to be launched without consensus and independently of the OSCE Chairmanship, institutions and decision-making bodies if one State, supported by at least nine others, "considers that a particularly serious threat to the fulfilment of the provisions of the [OSCE] human dimension has arisen in another participating State". The Mechanism also stipulates that the rapporteur(s) report to the Permanent Council.

The Permanent Council, one of the main regular decision-making bodies of the Organization, convenes weekly in Vienna to discuss developments in the OSCE area and to make appropriate decisions. The report can be found here: //www.osce.org/node/78705