International Observation Mission in Belarus will appoint Representative on Human Rights Defenders

The International Observation Mission of the Committee on International Control over the Human Rights Situation in Belarus accepts applications for the post of the Representative on Human Rights Defenders.

The situation of human rights defenders in Belarus is a continuing concern of international organizations that the Committee on International Control has repeatedly noted in its documents.

"The problems with human rights defenders in Belarus are systemic in nature. And the question is not only in having multiple cases of direct persecution, the most famous of which is imprisonment of Ales Bialiatski, but in general – conditions of the work of human rights organizations which are very poor", - stressed Andrey Yurov, head of the International Observation Mission. "We decided to set up an office and appoint a particular person who will be responsible for coordinating and developing and promoting guidelines on this topic."

The special Representative of the International Observation Mission will coordinate the work of the monitoring group on this topic and be responsible for recommendations to the authorities of the Republic of Belarus and international intergovernmental organizations, as well as other actors.

The requirements to be met by applicants: knowledge of Russian, English and preferably Belarusian language, knowledge of the situation in Belarus and the region as a whole, the experience of work in the Republic of Belarus or outside on the Belarusian issues; experience in the field of protection and promotion of human rights in general and in particular, protection of defenders.

For the potential Representative legal integrity and political impartiality are very important - the mandate of the Representative cannot be used to express and promote the interests of any kind of political structures.

The candidates can be nominated by international non-governmental organizations or their branches and subsidiaries that operate in the field of human rights, regional non-governmental organizations working in the field of human rights, intergovernemental and national structures that have promotion of human rights as as their objectives (including councils, coalitions, platforms, etc.). Individual nominations are also possible.

Applications will be accepted until July 27, 2013. It is assumed that a particular person will be appointed to the post on August 4, 2013 on the International Day of Solidarity with Civil Society of Belarus.

Full text of the call for applications can be found on the web-site of the Committee.