It is held on 4 August 2014 to express solidarity with Belarusian activists and human rights defenders who live and work under difficult conditions imposed by the regime.
The website of the campaign, launched in 2012, suggest a list of solidary actions anyone can join in their countries and regions. They include information and awareness-raising campaigns, street actions, meetings and many more.
Last year thousands of people from 15 countries of the world joined the International Day of Solidarity with Belarusian civil society.
The International Day of Solidarity with Civil Society and Human Rights Movement in Belarus was launched to mark an anniversary of the arrest of Ales Bialiatski, a well-known Belarusian human rights activist, in 2011. Ales was released from prison on 21 June 2014 after more than 1000 days in jail.
But the overall situation in Belarus has not changed during those past years. Belarusian authorities continue to regard their international obligations as purely declarative: the country still has death penalty, people continue to be thrown into prison on political motives, freedom of expression, association and assembly remain restricted.
“We realize that there are countries with more complicated and more dramatic situations, than the one we have in Belarus. Yet, it is obvious that inertness of international institutions and states, their reluctance to raise issues of human rights in regards to Belarus leaves an impact on other countries.
In terms of this Solidarity with Civil Society of Belarus becomes even more important,” the campaign’s organisers say.
Actions of solidarity with the Belarusian civil activists allow expressing support for their work and showing them they are not alone in their struggle. Solidarity is stronger than repressions!
You can learn more about the Solidarity day on its website, on Twitter and official Facebook and Vkontakte pages.
