Belarus Deputy Foreign Minister Holds Discussions with UN Human Rights Chief and ILO Official in Geneva

Belarusian Diplomat Engages with UN Human Rights Commissioner

On November 3, 2025, Igor Sekreta, the Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Belarus, held a meeting with Volker Türk, the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, in Geneva. The meeting took place during Mr. Sekreta's visit to participate in the Fourth Universal Periodic Review (UPR). The officials exchanged views on global trends concerning the realization of human rights and explored avenues for cooperation between Belarus and the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR), including the implementation of recommendations from Belarus's fourth UPR cycle.

During the discussion, the Belarusian diplomat drew attention to what he described as a 'deteriorating situation in certain EU countries' and 'blatant violations related to the closure of borders by Poland, Lithuania and Latvia'. He underscored the importance of the UN adopting a 'critical and objective approach to assessing human rights violations in Western countries'. Mr. Sekreta affirmed Belarus's readiness for 'non-politicized cooperation' with OHCHR and extended an invitation for the High Commissioner to visit Belarus.

Discussions with International Labour Organization Representative

Concurrently, Deputy Minister Sekreta also met with Beate Andrees, the Assistant Director General of the International Labour Organization (ILO) and Regional Director for Europe and Central Asia. Their talks centered on the current state and future prospects of Belarus's relations with the ILO.

Mr. Sekreta outlined the Belarusian government's priorities for developing the country's social and labor sphere, aligning them with international standards and ILO conventions. The interlocutors discussed issues related to 'politically biased approaches promoted by Western countries and some international trade union organizations towards Belarus'. The Deputy Minister stressed the necessity of 'restoring full-fledged cooperation between all ILO institutions and Belarusian partners on a pragmatic and non-politicized basis'.

Context of Belarus's International Engagements

Belarus has been a member of the ILO since 1954 and has ratified 51 ILO conventions, including 9 fundamental ones. However, technical cooperation between Belarus and the ILO is currently suspended. The ILO has previously expressed concerns and increased pressure on Belarus regarding workers' rights violations, citing a failure to adhere to findings from a 2004 ILO Commission of Inquiry and ongoing persecution of trade unionists.

The UN Human Rights Council has also maintained a focus on Belarus, with the High Commissioner mandated to monitor and report on the human rights situation in the country since May 2020, following a disputed presidential election. Reports have indicated widespread violations and a significant curtailment of civic space. These meetings underscore Belarus's ongoing engagement with international bodies amidst scrutiny over its human rights and labor practices.