Pour obtenir de l'information générale sur les conditions dans lesquelles les autorités de protection de l'enfant peuvent séparer un enfant de ses parents, veuillez consulter l'extrait en annexe sur la séparation des enfants de leurs parents et la réunification des familles, tiré du deuxième rapport périodique du gouvernement du Bélarus présenté en mai 1999 au Comité des droits de l'enfant des Nations Unies. Aucune information plus récente n'a pu être trouvée parmi les sources consultées par la Direction des recherches dans les délais prescrits.

Aucune information indiquant si l'homosexualité de la mère célibataire constitue une condition justifiant le retrait de son enfant, ni aucune information sur les documents nécessaires pour prouver que les conditions justifiant le retrait de l'enfant sont réelles n'ont pu être trouvées parmi les sources consultées par la Direction des recherches.

D'après une source internationale anonyme citée dans un rapport publié en 2001 par le Service de l'immigration du Danemark, les attitudes de la société à l'égard de l'homosexualité au Bélarus sont [traduction] « conservatrices » et les homosexuels sont [traduction] « habituellement stigmatisés » (Danemark 1er mars 2001).

Le rapport d'enquête danois sur le Bélarus indique également que l'homosexualité a été décriminalisée en 1994, bien que [traduction] « l'activité homosexuelle avec des jeunes hommes âgés de moins de 18 ans demeure un acte punissable » (ibid.). Le rapport cite le président de la Ligue pour la liberté des minorités sexuelles « Lambda », organisation non gouvernementale du Bélarus qui défend les droits des homosexuels, selon lequel

[traduction]

[L]'homosexualité est mal vue dans la société bélarussienne [...] et [est] condamnée par l'Église. [...]

[...] Les parents ont habituellement une attitude très défavorable à l'égard de l'homosexualité de leurs enfants et il y a eu des cas de parents qui ont dû déménager [...] parce qu'ils étaient harcelés par les voisins. Si l'on sait qu'un homosexuel habite dans un immeuble à appartements, tous les problèmes qui surviennent dans l'édifice lui sont attribués. Si des gays et des lesbiennes se présentent dans des boîtes de nuit ordinaires, etc., [...] les gays risquent d'être attaqués et les lesbiennes d'être violées. L'homosexualité est toujours considérée comme une maladie et jusqu'en 1994, les homosexuels recevaient des traitements médicaux en conséquence (ibid.)

Cette réponse a été préparée par la Direction des recherches à l'aide de renseignements puisés dans les sources qui sont à la disposition du public, et auxquelles la Direction des recherches a pu avoir accès dans les délais prescrits. Cette réponse n'apporte pas, ni ne prétend apporter, de preuves concluantes quant au fondement d'une demande d'asile ou de statut de réfugié. Veuillez trouver ci-dessous la liste des autres sources consultées pour la réponse à cette demande d'information.

Référence

Danemark. 1er mars 2001. Service de l'immigration du Danemark. « Fact-Finding Mission to Belarus, 30/1-7/2 2001 ». http://www.udlst.dk [Date de consultation : 22 oct. 2003]

Autres sources consultées

L'ambassade de la République du Bélarus à Ottawa n'a pu répondre à une demande d'information dans les délais prescrits sans consulter son gouvernement au Bélarus.

L'Association lesbienne et gay internationale (ILGA) à Bruxelles, en Belgique, n'a pas répondu à une demande d'information dans les délais prescrits.

Bases de données de la CISR

Le Comité Helsinki bélarussien à Minsk, au Bélarus, n'a pas répondu à une demande d'information dans les délais prescrits.

Dialog/WNC

La Ligue pour la liberté des minorités sexuelles « Lambda » à Minsk, au Bélarus, n'a pas répondu à une demande d'information dans les délais prescrits.

Sites Internet, y compris :

Amnesty International

Association lesbienne et gay internationale (ILGA)

BBC

Belarus Today

Bureau du Haut Commissaire des Nations Unies aux droits de l'homme

Bureau du Haut Commissariat des Nations Unies pour les réfugiés

Comité Helsinki bélarussien

Country Reports on Human Rights Practices for 2002

European Country of Origin Information Network

Fédération internationale Helsinki pour les droits de l'homme

Human Rights Watch

Nations Unies, Division de la promotion de la femme

Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty

Moteur de recherche :

Google

Document annexé

Nations Unies. 26 septembre 2001. Comité des droits de l'enfant. « Consideration of Reports Submitted by States Parties Under Article 44 of the Convention. Periodic Reports of States Parties Due in 1997: Belarus ». (CRC/C/65/Add.15). http://www.unhchr.ch/ [Date de consultation : 20 oct. 2003] Document électronique annexé

Nations Unies. 26 septembre 2001. Comité des droits de l'enfant. " Consideration of Reports Submitted by States Parties Under Article 44 of the Convention. Periodic Reports of States Parties Due in 1997: Belarus ". (CRC/C/65/Add.15). http://www.unhchr.ch/ [Date de consultation : 20 oct. 2003]

C. Separation from parents

104. Paragraph 4 of article 32 of the Constitution of Belarus states that children may only be separated from their families against the will of parents and those in loco parentis on the basis of a court decision, in the event that such parents or those in loco parentis have failed in their duties. Basic laws and regulations governing the separation of children from their parents are laid down in the Belarusian Marriage and Family Code. Thus, article 66 of the Code stipulates that if, after the dissolution of their marriage or for any other reason, parents live separately, decisions as to the place of residence of any minor children shall be subject to their consent. Should a dispute arise, the matter will be resolved by a court on the basis of the interests of the child and taking into consideration the child's own wishes. In accordance with article 67, parents living apart from their children have the right to maintain contact with them and are obliged to take part in their upbringing. No obstacles shall be placed in their way in this regard.

105. The tutelage and guardianship authorities may, for a specified period, deprive a parent living apart from his or her child of the right to have contact with the child, if such contact is causing harm to the child. In cases where parents fail to comply with the decision of the tutelage and guardianship authorities, these latter, and also either one of the parents, shall be entitled to apply to the courts for resolution of the dispute. In the event of willful refusal to comply with the decision of the court, the parent living apart from the child shall be entitled, in the child's best interests, to apply to the court for custody of the child.

106. In accordance with decision No. 10 of 16 December 1994 of the Plenum of the Supreme Court of the Republic of Belarus, regarding the manner in which the courts are to apply the legislation in settling disputes relating to the upbringing of children, parents may be deprived of their parental rights on grounds provided for by article 70 of the Marriage and Family Code, in the event of their culpable conduct.

107. Article 70 of the Marriage and Family Code stipulates that one or both parents may be deprived of their parental rights if it is established that they have failed to comply with their duties relating to the upbringing of their children, have refused, without compelling reason, to collect a child from a maternity hospital or ward or from other establishments for the medical care and treatment or the education and upbringing of children, are abusing their parental rights, are behaving cruelly towards their children, are exerting a harmful influence on their children through their own immoral behaviour or are chronic alcoholics or drug addicts.

108. Parents shall be considered to be failing in their duties when they neglect the moral upbringing of their children, their physical development, education, and preparation for socially useful work. Abuse of parental rights is to be understood as the use of these rights to the detriment of the child's own interests, such as, for example, by preventing their education, inciting them to beg or involving them in activities of an immoral or antisocial nature. Cruel treatment of children may take the form of physical or mental violence, the use of unacceptable child-raising methods, or treatment that degrades their human dignity. The chronic alcoholism or drug addiction of parents must be confirmed by a corresponding medical finding. Treatment for alcoholism or drug addiction is not in itself sufficient reason for an application for the deprivation of parental rights to be refused.

109. If a parent is found guilty of the commission of a crime against minor children, involving such acts as incitement to criminal activity, drunkenness, lewd conduct, etc., this may provide grounds for the privation of parental rights. If the parent is convicted for the commission of any other crimes or if no culpable conduct vis-à-vis his or her children is established, there shall be no privation of his or her parental rights.

110. Persons may only be deprived of their parental rights in court proceedings, held with the participation of the procurator. Proceedings shall be initiated on the application of State or voluntary organizations, or of either of the parents or the guardian (tutor) of the child and also on the application of the procurator (art. 71 of the Marriage and Family Code). If, when considering proceedings for the deprivation of parental rights, the court should detect the indicia of a crime in the actions of one or of both parents, it shall inform the procurator accordingly or shall institute criminal proceedings.

111. In the event of both parents being deprived or their parental rights, the child shall be placed in care (art. 47 of the Marriage and Family Code). Provision is also made for the possibility that a court orders the removal of a child and the child's placement in care, regardless of any deprivation of parental rights, if it is dangerous for the child to be left with the persons concerned (art. 77 of the Marriage and Family Code).

112. In exceptional cases, where there is a direct threat to the life or health of a child, the tutelage and guardianship authorities shall be entitled to take a decision ordering the immediate removal of the child from parents or from other persons by whom the child is effectively being raised. In such cases, the tutelage and guardianship authorities shall be obliged to inform the procurator without delay and, within a period of seven days of the decision, to apply to the court for the deprivation of the parental rights or one or both parents or for the removal of the child. If the grounds for the removal of the child cease to apply, the court may, on an application from the parents and acting in the child's own interests, order the child to be returned to the parents. In this case, the wishes of minor children over the age of 10 shall be taken into account.

113. Article 78 of the Marriage and Family Code stipulates that the tutelage and guardianship authorities must be in attendance when disputes relating to the upbringing of children are being considered by a court. Court orders on the transfer of custody or removal of children from parents or other persons are carried out by court officers, in the obligatory presence of the tutelage and guardianship authorities. The procuratorial authorities oversee compliance with these regulations.

114. Since the deprivation of parental rights is an extreme measure, a court shall be entitled, in exceptional cases where the culpable conduct of the parent has been proved, taking into account the nature of such conduct, the parent's character and other specific circumstances, to refuse an application for the deprivation of parental rights, and instead to warn the respondent about the need to change his or her approach to the upbringing of the child or children concerned. At the same time, responsibility for monitoring the proper performance by such persons of their parental duties rests with the tutelage and guardianship authorities.

115. Persons whose failure to perform their parental duties is due to mental illness, mental deficiency or any other chronic illness or to other circumstances beyond their control, may not be deprived of their parental rights.

D. Family reunification

116. In accordance with article 76 of the Marriage and Family Code, parental rights shall be restored if this is in the children's best interests and if the children are not adopted. Restoration of parental rights may only be effected by judicial procedure on application by the person deprived of parental rights or by the procurator. When considering applications for the restoration of parental rights, courts must establish whether or not the lifestyle of the parents has changed and whether they are able to give the child a proper upbringing.

117. In accordance with decision No. 10 of 16 December 1994 of the Plenum of the Supreme Court of the Republic of Belarus regarding the manner in which courts are to apply the legislation in settling disputes relating to the upbringing of children, the rights of parents to raise their own child shall prevail over those of other persons and they are therefore entitled to demand the return of their children from any person who is not holding such children on the basis of the law or pursuant to a court order (art. 69 of the Marriage and Family Code). An application by parents for the return of their children may only be refused if a court determines that such return will not be in the best interests of the child. When considering applications by parents for the handover to them of children by persons holding those children on the basis of the law or pursuant to a court order (guardians, tutors, children's homes), courts shall be required to determine whether the circumstances which gave grounds for the placement of the children with the person or children's home concerned have changed since the time of the original dispute and whether returning the children to their parents will be in their best interests.

118. Applications for the restoration of parental rights may be filed against the other parent, or against a guardian (tutor) or a children's home, depending on in whose care the child has been placed. These applications shall be considered by courts in the presence of the tutelage and guardianship authorities.