During the preparation of the document, 143 women who suffered from torture and other actions of the security forces (OMON, the Ministry of Internal Affairs, employees of penitentiary institutions, etc.) were interviewed.The report is also based on information from open sources, data obtained from partners, witnesses of human rights violations, as well as during the monitoring of peaceful assemblies.
Key findings:
- The main escalation of torture, cruel, inhuman and degrading treatment by law enforcement agencies took place on August 9-13, 2020 throughout Belarus. Violence against peaceful demonstrators continued by the authorities until the end of 2020 and in January 2021.
- Physical torture against women on August 9-13 was less widespread than against men, but the percentage of women detained at the rallies on these days was significantly lower.
- Women were subjected to direct violence, various forms of inhuman and degrading treatment.
- Medical care for women was not provided or was provided in isolated cases.
Detention in penitentiary institutions and conditions of detention in them do not comply with international standards and national legislation and constitute torture, cruel, inhuman and degrading treatment.
- The State does not respond to complaints filed with the prosecutor's office about the conditions of detention and continues the deliberate practice of creating cruel, inhuman and degrading conditions of detention of women in places of incarceration.
- No criminal proceedings were ever initiated on the allegations of torture.
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