Maryja Tarasenka: Struggle Against ‘Parasitic’ Decree Is Supported At International Level

Today, a report on the situation of human rights in Belarus will be presented before the UN Council.

Today, the 41st session of the UN Human Rights Council begins, at which Anais Maren, the Special Rapporteur on Belarus, will present a report on the human rights situation in our country, Homel Spring writes.

Homel resident Maryja Tarasenka, famous for her struggle against the decree on “parasites”, notes that her story of litigation with the state will be heard from the high tribune of the UN.

In particular, the section of the Report entitled “The Right to Social Security and the Right to Labor” states: “On March 18, 2019, a claim for compensation for non-pecuniary damage filed by the housewife who was included in this database was rejected by the local court. She will appeal this decision.”

The Report contains recommendations to the Belarusian authorities, including on revising the “parasite” decree in order to bring it in line with Belarus’s obligations in the sphere of human rights.

Maryja Tarasenka declares that she will continue the work begun, especially since already in the autumn for those who are on the so-called “lists of citizens not engaged in the economy”, the utility bills for gas and heating will be 5.5 times bigger.

“We have begun a strategic litigation that includes both legal and informational actions aimed at abolishing the decree on “parasites”. Today, for example, in the court of the Central District of Homel, I appeal four bans to hold street processions, which were planned to be conducted in the form of protest actions in all districts of the regional center. This week I have court hearings in Zhlobin, Lelchytsy, Kalinkavichy, Chachersk and Karma,” the activist shared her plans.

Originally developed to “facilitate employment and self-employment,” updated Decree #3 still contains controversial aspects, in particular, the creation of a database of able-bodied citizens “not employed in the economy.” The Minister of Labor and Social Protection announced in December 2018 that 500,000 people were registered in it.

The decision to include a person in the database is made by local authorities, which raises concerns about their independence and impartiality. Persons included in this base must pay for state-subsidized services (gas, heating, hot water) at their full cost and will have to accept any job offered to them, even if it does not match their qualifications or wishes, the report notes.

“The work started by Maryja Tarasenka has been noticed at such a high international level and this is the evidence of the correct strategy chosen by us to combat the “parasitic”decree,” added human rights activist Leanid Sudalenka, called by the authorities as “a lawyer of the parasites”.