“Human Rights are the basis”
The educational campaign "Human Rights are the basis” seeks to address the issue of insufficient awareness and understanding of human rights among the youth in Belarus.
We relied on:
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The study "Social perception on the topic of Human Rights and Civic Activism in Belarus" by Freedom House;
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The work and findings of the Belarusian Helsinki Committee (BHC);
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Statistical data from the belarusian human rights center "Viasna".
Key excerpts from the study "Social perception on the topic of Human Rights and Civic Activism in Belarus", 12.2016, Freedom House.
63%
of the Belarusian population believe that the Constitution is the main document that stands for human rights, while only 26.2% consider the Universal Declaration of Human Rights to be such a document.
"The nature of perceptions about human rights is quite vague and contradictory. Citizens understand their rights as law abidance, with priority given to national legal documents as the source of human rights. State bodies dominate in human rights protection, and human rights activities often overlap with the activities of law enforcement agencies."
15%
of the population believe that children do not have human rights and only acquire them upon reaching the age of 16.
believe that specific groups of citizens should possess greater rights than others.
11%*
of Belarusians have not received any information about the activities of human rights organizations.
The attitude of the population towards the violation of their own rights or the rights of others indicates a low potential for active civic engagement in the protection of liberty.
62%*
Survey and focus group research:
45%
of respondents did not take any measures to defend their rights when they were violated.
62%
took no action to protect their rights because they didn't believe it would help.
of respondents were afraid to defend their rights.
12%*
of the respondents were unaware of where and how to seek assistance, (what are the appropriate forms to fill out and how to submit them).
8%*
According to the results of the focus groups, 63.8% of the respondents expressed the lack of knowledge regarding the appropriate channels to address human rights violations. Only 14.5% of the participants were aware of independent organizations dedicated to defending and protecting human rights, operating in Belarus. Surprisingly, nearly one-fifth (19.7%) of the respondents were entirely unaware of any human rights organizations. Furthermore, it is worth noting that a considerable number (29.3%) mistakenly mentioned the "International Center for Human and Citizen's Rights," an entity that does not even exist. These results highlight the need for greater public awareness and accessibility to reliable information regarding human rights organizations in Belarus.
Based on the conducted research, it is evident that a significant portion of the population lacks a clear understanding of human rights, demonstrates low awareness of human rights organizations, and exhibits limited involvement in safeguarding their own rights. Furthermore, only a small percentage of individuals are acquainted with the rights outlined in the Constitution and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. The majority of Belarusians have not been adequately informed about the activities carried out by human rights organizations.
The report on the implementation of human rights in Belarus for the year 2021, prepared by the U.S. Department of State, provides more up-to-date information. It serves as further confirmation, both directly and indirectly, of the findings presented in the 2016 report, highlighting the deteriorating human rights situation in the country as a whole.
According to the human rights center "Viasna," the situation is further complicated by political repressions. This occurs in an environment of abuse of power, violations of national and international laws, and violation of fundamental human rights by state institutions, particularly by the Ministry of Internal Affairs and the judicial system.
The Belarusian Helsinki Committee further affirms the negative trends in the field of human rights. It provides an overall assessment of the human rights situation and evaluates specific rights and their components across three categories. The National Human Rights Index in Belarus in 2021 was 2.8 out of 10.
In addition, society is confronted with an absence of information and a "taboo" on the topic of human rights, established by the political regime in Belarus.
Thus, the majority of young people lack fundamental knowledge on the subject of human rights. They have a limited understanding of its significance, how to protect themselves, and which organizations can provide assistance. In times of crisis, the lack of information can lead to a sense of helplessness, contributing to a general passivity in civic and political involvement.
Another challenging issue that our team will address within the campaign is connected to gender inequality and insufficient social inclusivity in Belarus.
We found motivation and inspiration in the film "Play Like a Girl" («Играй как девчонка») by Yahor Kalesnik. This cinematic work portrays the story of women's football in Belarus, depicting the challenges, difficulties, and discrimination faced by its heroines.
Belarusian society, particularly youngsters, regularly encounter inequality in access to education and healthcare, gender-based violence, workplace discrimination, and stereotypes that prevent the participation of all gender groups in society.
Yet, at the heart of this challenge lies the power of information—a catalyst for enlightenment, a remedy for prejudice, and a bridge of understanding. It is through empowering informational campaigns, transformative educational initiatives, and fostering open dialogues that we can cultivate a society where empathy blossoms, stereotypes wither, and a harmonious tapestry of unity and understanding flourishes.
Our campaign is dedicated to fostering positive change and improving the current situation.
Objective of the campaign:
To empower youngsters by sharing vital knowledge about human rights, inspiring their active involvement in its development. We strive to cultivate a culture of democracy, foster activism, and promote solidarity and mutual assistance.