A/HRC/RES/17/24 Deeply concerned at the overall human rights situation in Belarus and its severe deterioration since the presidential elections of 19 December 2010, including credible allegations of torture, arbitrary detention and increasing harassment of opposition leaders, representatives of civil society, human rights defenders, lawyers, independent media, students and those defending them, Expressing its support for regional and subregional efforts, including those of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe aimed at improving the human rights situation in Belarus, and deeply regretting the decision of Belarus not to extend the mandate of the Organization’s office in Minsk and the failure of the Government of Belarus to cooperate with the Organization’s Moscow Mechanism, 1. Condemns the human rights violations occurring before, during and in the aftermath of the presidential elections of 19 December 2010, including the use of violence against, arbitrary arrest, detention and the politically motivated conviction of opposition candidates, their supporters, journalists and human rights defenders, as well as the abuses of due process rights, including the right to a fair trial for those involved in the demonstrations of 19 December; 2. Urges the Government of Belarus: (a) To end politically motivated persecution and harassment of opposition leaders, representatives of civil society, human rights defenders, lawyers, independent media, students and those defending them; (b) To comply with international standards for due process and fair trial; (c) To release and rehabilitate all political prisoners, including those detained in connection with the demonstrations of 19 December 2010; (d) To conduct a thorough, credible, impartial and transparent investigation into the allegations of the disproportionate use of force and violations of human rights, including the use of torture and ill-treatment of detainees in connection with the events of 19 December 2010; (e) To respect freedom of expression and freedom of association and peaceful assembly, and to bring its relevant legislation into line with its international obligations under human rights law; (f) To implement its commitments made with the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe, and to allow a meaningful presence of the Organization in Belarus; (g) To allow international monitors and to cease the detention and expulsion of international monitors from the country; 3. Requests the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights to monitor the human rights situation in Belarus and to present to the Human Rights Council, in an interactive dialogue to be held at its eighteenth session, an oral report thereon, including on alleged human rights violations committed in Belarus following the presidential election of 19 December 2010; 4. Also requests the High Commissioner to present to the Human Rights Council, in an interactive dialogue to be held at its twentieth session, a comprehensive report on the human rights situation in Belarus; 5. Encourages relevant thematic special procedures mandate holders, in particular the special rapporteurs on the promotion and protection of the right to freedom of opinion and expression, on the situation of human rights defenders, on the independence of judges and lawyers, on torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment, on the rights to freedom of peaceful assembly and of association, the Working 2