belarus executive summary - US Department of State

National/Racial/Ethnic Minorities
BELARUS 48
Governmental and societal discrimination against the ethnic Polish population and
Roma persisted. There were also expressions of societal hostility toward
proponents of Belarusian national culture, which the government often identified
with actors of the democratic opposition.
During the year authorities continued to harass the independent and unregistered
Union of Poles of Belarus (UPB). However, in contrast with previous years,
authorities did not openly persecute UPB members.
Official and societal discrimination continued against the country’s 10,000 to
20,000 Roma. The Romani community continued to experience high
unemployment and low levels of education. Authorities estimated the
unemployment rate among Roma to be as high as 80 percent, according to the
latest available information. Roma often were denied access to higher education in
state-run universities. In 2009, however, the Office of the Plenipotentiary
Representative for Religious and Nationality Affairs stated that the country’s
Romani community had no problems that required the government’s attention.
While the Russian and Belarusian languages have equal legal status, in practice
Russian was the primary language used by the government. According to
independent polling, the overwhelming majority of the population spoke Russian
as its mother tongue. Because the government viewed proponents of the
Belarusian language as political opponents of the regime, authorities continued to
harass and intimidate academic and cultural groups that sought to promote use of
the Belarusian language. Proposals to widen use of the language were rejected
routinely.
Societal Abuses, Discrimination, and Acts of Violence Based on Sexual
Orientation and Gender Identity
Homosexuality is not illegal, but discrimination against members of the LGBT
community was widespread, and harassment occurred.
Authorities routinely denied LGBT groups permission to hold public events,
including a pride parade. In early May authorities denied the LGBT community
100 applications to hold scores of events to mark the International Day against
Homophobia and Transphobia. In spite of the denial, members of the local LGBT
rights NGO Gay Belarus planned to pass out leaflets in downtown Minsk on May
Country Reports on Human Rights Practices for 2011
United States Department of State • Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights and Labor