E/C.12/BLR/CO/7

Belarus (CECRS 24 March 2022)

The Committee considered the seventh periodic report of Belarus1 at its third, fifth
and seventh meetings, held on 15, 16 and 17 February 2022, and adopted the present
concluding observations at its thirtieth meeting, held on 4 March 2022.

Concluding observations on the seventh periodic report of Belarus

C. Principal subjects of concern and recommendations

Non-discrimination

9. While noting that there are several sector-specific pieces of legislation in the State
party that prohibit discrimination, the Committee is concerned that the sectoral approach of
the State party does not provide full protection against discrimination on all the grounds
prohibited by the Covenant. The Committee notes reports of discrimination against groups
in socially vulnerable situations, in particular women; lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and
intersex persons; persons with disabilities; persons living with HIV; and linguistic and
religious minorities. The Committee is also concerned about the lack of effective remedies
for victims of discrimination (art. 2).

10. The Committee recommends that the State party:

(a) Ensure that its laws effectively prohibit, and provide appropriate sanctions for, direct and indirect discrimination in all fields of economic, social and
cultural rights;

(b) Develop, in close consultation with civil society organizations, and adopt a
comprehensive anti-discrimination law that addresses discrimination, including in the private sphere, defines and prohibits direct and indirect discrimination, and provides for effective remedies, including psychological support, in cases of discrimination for all victims;

(c) Improve its data-collection system to collect data on discrimination on the
basis of prohibited grounds, allowing for development of targeted policies and
programmes;

(d) Take into account the Committee’s general comment No. 20 (2009) on
non-discrimination in economic, social and cultural rights.