UN committee to examine Belarusian pro-democracy activist's complaint

The UN Committee of the Elimination of Discrimination against Women has registered an appeal by Inha Abramava, a Brest-based pro-democracy activist. Abramava send the appeal to the committee a year ago, BelaPAN reported.

 
She complained about alleged discrimination against her during a five-day jail sentence that she served in Brest in 2007 for allegedly using obscene language in public.

 

In particular, she complained about the lack of privacy as male guards could watch her as she was using the toilet. Human rights defenders say that this is the first complaint about discrimination against women in Belarus registered by the UN committee.