50th Session of the Human Rights Council Working Group | November 2025
7 April 2025
The International Centre for Civil Initiatives “Our House” (Belarus &Lithuania), International Peace Bureau (IPB), and coalitions of international peace and human rights organizations, have submitted a comprehensive report to the United Nations Human Rights Council for the 50th session of the Universal Periodic Review (UPR) on Belarus last 7 April 2025.
This submission documents serious and systematic human rights violations in Belarus, with a particular focus on the militarisation of children and youth, the suppression of conscientious objection, and the criminalisation of peaceful dissent and anti-war activism.
Key concerns raised in the report include:
- Militarisation of Children and Education: The Belarusian government systematically integrates military ideology into early childhood education, starting from preschool age. Activities include war-themed games, visits to military bases, and state-sponsored “patriotic” programming designed to glorify military service and instill militarised values in young children.
- Compulsory Military Training in Schools and Universities: Military-patriotic education continues throughout primary, secondary, and tertiary institutions, including mandatory weapons training, military drills, and ideological instruction under the supervision of active-duty officers.
- Suppression of the Right to Conscientious Objection: The right to refuse military service on grounds of conscience is severely restricted. Alternative civilian service is punitive and only available to members of a narrow group of recognized religious communities. Applications are handled by military authorities, and those denied face criminal penalties.
- Criminalisation of Anti-War and Human Rights Activism: Individuals and organizations that support conscientious objectors or criticize Belarusian military policy face prosecution under vague and repressive laws. Peaceful expression and humanitarian support are often labeled as “extremism” or even “treason”.
- Legislative and Administrative Repression: New laws limit freedom of movement, deny passport renewals to Belarusians abroad, and enforce military registration as a condition for employment and education. These measures effectively trap conscription-age individuals and expose them to forced service or legal penalties.
In light of these findings, the IPB and its partners call on the international community to urge Belarus to:
- End all forms of military involvement in education and youth activities;
- Guarantee the right to conscientious objection for all individuals, regardless of belief system or stage of service;
- Repeal laws that criminalize peaceful dissent and legitimate human rights work;
- Remove legal and administrative barriers that prevent Belarusians from freely traveling, studying, or working without military interference;
- Abolish the death penalty, including for cases related to military offenses;
- Reinstate its commitment to international human rights treaties by reversing its withdrawal from the First Optional Protocol to the ICCPR.
For more detailed information on these human rights concerns and the full set of recommendations, please refer to the document below.