A/HRC/41/52 implemented to support persons with disability to exercise their legal capacity be safeguarded from abuse, conflict of interest and undue influence (art. 12). The Special Rapporteur encourages the Government to take advantage of the development of the new bill to address this issue. Gender 64. In Belarus, women enjoy a high rate of education and are an important part of the labour market. However, gender stereotypes remain very entrenched in society and women continue to be paid 25 per cent less than men. 70 Furthermore, Belarus legislation still has a list of professions that women are prohibited from entering, allegedly for health-related reasons. Although the number of professions was reduced from 252 to 182 in 2014, the list still contains a significant number of professions.71 In its review in 2016, the Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women recommended that Belarus restrict the list of professions to those absolutely necessary for the protection of maternity in the strict sense (CEDAW/C/BLR/CO/8, para. 33 (a)). That recommendation has still not been implemented and denotes a persistent bias against women. Sexual orientation 65. The systematic restrictions on freedom of expression, assembly and association mentioned above also lead to discrimination against the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex community. Public display of symbols or public statements in support of the community are usually repressed and followed by homophobic reactions and statements by the population and by State officials. For example, on 20 May 2018 the Ministry of Internal Affairs published an article entitled “We are for true things” containing homophobic content and calling same-sex relationships “fake”.72 The article was published in reaction to the rainbow flag hoisted above the British Embassy building in Minsk on 17 May 2018. In an interview on national television, the Minister of the Interior then reiterated homophobic statements.73 Human rights activists urged that the Minister be held accountable for inciting discrimination against the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex community but all appeals were rejected.74 66. That event resulted in a chain reaction of activists protesting and further repression by the police. On 28 June 2018, activists placed rainbow-coloured flower pots near the statue of a policeman before being interrupted and detained by the police. 75 On 21 July, the police raided a night club in which members of the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex community were gathered, requested people’s documents, took note of their passport details and asked about their employers. 76 One of the visitors to the club asked why his details were being taken but received no answer. Police officers subsequently twisted his arm almost breaking it and took him to the police station.77 The police justified this as a regular inspection of places of mass gathering in order to identify any possible offences. 78 Later in 2018, three members of the Belarus Free Theatre were arrested and fined for dancing dressed as police officers with rainbow-coloured epaulettes in a public performance.79 70 71 72 73 74 75 76 77 78 79 See www.kp.by/daily/26897.5/3942577/ (in Russian). See https://mshp.gov.by/ohrana/ff7555d0abe25acf.html (in Russian). See https://news.tut.by/society/593442.html (in Russian). See https://belsat.eu/ru/news/shunevich-utochnil-kogo-on-schitaet-i-nazyvaet-dyryavymi/ (in Russian). See https://belsat.eu/en/news/human-rights-defenders-set-to-bring-belarus-interior-minister-to-bookfor-homophobia/. See www.svaboda.org/a/29325607.html (in Belarusian). See http://spring96.org/en/news/90400. See www.svaboda.org/a/29385334.html (in Belarusian). See https://euroradio.fm/ru/v-populyarnyy-v-minske-gey-klub-prihodila-miliciya-s-sobakami (in Russian). See https://freemuse.org/news/belarus-theatre-students-arrested-fined-for-lgbt-artistic-stunt/. 15