A/HRC/4/16 page 16 57. During 2006, the situation of human rights in Belarus constantly deteriorated. Over the last 1½ years, two negative developments worth mentioning were added to the Special Rapporteur’s assessment: (a) an official State ideology essentially based on the former Soviet concepts was imposed to the citizens; (b) the ethnocultural diversity of the society, in fact unproblematic, was used as a means of dividing the people and thus diminished their capacity to resist State oppression. Although resistance against the political regime is steadily increasing (the intensity of protest rallies is developing very fast for the generally very calm character of the Belarusian society), important parts of the population appear politically passive and limit themselves to silent opposition. One could very well say that a large number of citizens patiently accept the current economic, social and political realities. An important explanation is the social safety net which is provided by the State to the obedient citizens. Since the unreformed economy of the country could not possibly produce enough financial resources to fund such a protectionist-paternalist social policy, the appropriate international institutions should investigate to determine if the funds thus used are the result of illicit international activities. 58. The Government of Belarus did not consider any of the recommendations made by the Special Rapporteur (E/CN.4/2006/36, para. 95). It continued to ignore the recommendations made by other special procedures, such as the Working Group on Arbitrary Detention (see E/CN.4/2005/6/Add.3), or by treaty bodies such as the Human Rights Committee. In fact, the political system of Belarus seems to be incompatible with the concept of human rights as enshrined in the Charter of the United Nations and in the international human rights instruments to which Belarus remains a party. Consequently, the Human Rights Council should either call for the democratization of the political regime and a change in the political behaviour of the Government or admit that Belarus’ human rights record cannot be improved because the human rights violations are consistent with the political nature of the regime. 59. The present report demonstrates that Belarus does not respect its obligations under the international human rights instruments to which it has adhered. Therefore, based on Chapter II of the Charter, the Special Rapporteur reiterates his recommendation that the Security Council should adopt appropriate measures to ensure the respect by the Republic of Belarus of its legal obligations. The Republic of Belarus has also not complied with reporting obligations under the treaties it has ratified. Thus, outstanding reports were not forwarded respectively to the Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (due in 1999 and 2004); to the Human Rights Committee (due in 2001); to the Committee against Torture (due in 2000 and 2004); to the Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women (due in September 2006); and to the Committee on the Rights of the Child under the Optional Protocol on the sale of children, child prostitution and child pornography (due in 2004). 60. As mentioned in his previous report, the Belarusian political opposition and civil society cooperated actively with the Special Rapporteur. The recommendations addressed to the Belarusian civil society and democratic forces were largely followed: democratic forces managed to unite themselves, not only with the objective of participating in the elections, but also to develop human rights and a democratic culture in Belarus and