A/HRC/29/43 United Nations General Assembly Distr.: General 29 April 2015 Original: English Human Rights Council Twenty-ninth session Agenda item 4 Human rights situations that require the Council’s attention Report of the Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Belarus, Miklós Haraszti* Summary In the report, the Special Rapporteur sets forth the developments in human rights since his previous report (A/HRC/26/44). The Special Rapporteur outlines major current concerns in detail and describes the general situation, which for the past two decades has been characterized by a systemic denial of human rights to citizens by means of an intentional combination of restrictive laws and abusive practices. The findings of the Special Rapporteur during the period under review indicated that, while no substantial reform was discernible and violations continued, the legal and administrative environment for the enjoyment of human rights had further deteriorated, in particular with regard to the rights to free expression, association and assembly, to just and favourable conditions for work and to the freedom to choose one’s workplace. The Special Rapporteur concludes the report with recommendations on improving the situation, both step-by-step and in a comprehensive manner. * Late submission. GE.15-08562 (E) 