United Nations in Belarus

The Sustainable Development Goals are a global call to action to end poverty, protect the earth’s environment and climate, and ensure that people everywhere can enjoy peace and prosperity. These are the goals the UN is working on in Belarus:

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Publication

20 May 2022

UN Belarus Results Report 2021

UN Belarus Results Report for 2021 provides details of the development assistance provided by the UN system, which contributed to long-term development, implementation of the global Sustainable Development Goals and Agenda 2030 in Belarus. In line with the vision of sustainable development outlined in agency Country Programmes and in the draft Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework 2021-2025, the UN provided support to development in four strategic priorities (green transition for inclusive and sustainable growth, future generations orientation: adolescence and youth, digital transformation and social innovation, gender equitable society), responded to COVID-19, and a refugee and migration crisis in Belarus.

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Speech

07 March 2021

A Crisis with a Woman's Face

The pandemic is worsening already deep inequalities facing women and girls, erasing years of progress towards gender equality. Women are more likely to work in sectors hardest hit by the pandemic. Most essential frontline workers are women — many from racially and ethnically marginalized groups and at the bottom of the economic ladder. Women are 24 per cent more vulnerable to losing their jobs and suffering steeper falls in income. The gender pay gap, already high, has widened, including in the health sector. Unpaid care has increased dramatically owing to stay-at-home orders and school and childcare closures. Millions of girls may never return to school. Mothers – especially single mothers – have faced acute adversity and anxiety. The pandemic has also sparked a parallel epidemic of violence against women worldwide, with skyrocketing domestic abuse, trafficking, sexual exploitation and child marriage. Meanwhile, even though women represent the majority of health care workers, a recent study found that only 3.5 per cent of COVID-19 task forces had equal numbers of men and women. In global news coverage of the pandemic, just one of every five expert sources were women. All of this exclusion is itself an emergency. The world needs a new push to advance women’s leadership and equal participation. And it’s clear that such action will benefit for all. The COVID-19 response has highlighted the power and effectiveness of women’s leadership. Over the past year, countries with women leaders have had lower transmission rates and are often better positioned for recovery. Women’s organizations have filled crucial gaps in providing critical services and information, especially at the community level. Across the board, when women lead in government, we see bigger investments in social protection and greater inroads against poverty. When women are in parliament, countries adopt more stringent policies on climate change. When women are at the peace table, agreements are more enduring. Yet, women make up a mere quarter of national legislators worldwide, a third of local government members, and just one fifth of cabinet ministers. On the current trajectory, gender parity will not be reached in national legislatures before 2063. Parity among Heads of Government would take well over a century. A better future depends on addressing this power imbalance. Women have an equal right to speak with authority on the decisions that affect their lives. I am proud to have achieved gender parity among the leadership of the United Nations. Pandemic recovery is our chance to chart a new and equal path. Support and stimulus packages must target women and girls specifically, including through scaled up investment in care infrastructure. The formal economy only functions because it is subsidized by women’s unpaid care work. As we recover from this crisis, we must chart a path to an inclusive, green and resilient future. I call on all leaders to put in place six key building blocks: First, ensure equal representation– from company boards to parliaments, from higher education to public institutions -- through special measures and quotas. Second, invest significantly in the care economy and social protection, and redefine Gross Domestic Product to make work in the home visible and counted. Third, remove barriers to women’s full inclusion in the economy, including through access to the labour market, property rights and targeted credit and investments. Fourth, repeal all discriminatory laws in all spheres – from labor and land rights to personal status and protections against violence. Fifth, each country should enact an emergency response plan to address violence against women and girls, and follow through with funding, policies, and political will to end this scourge. Sixth, shift mindsets, raise public awareness and call out systemic bias. The world has an opportunity to leave behind generations of entrenched and systemic discrimination. It is time to build an equal future.

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15 November 2021

IOM and UNHCR visits migrants at the Belarus-Poland boarder

IOM Belarus and UNHCR Belarus were granted access to the temporary refugee camp on the Belarusian side of the borderline near Bruzgi border crossing, where nearly 2,000 asylum seekers, refugees and migrants have been staying since 8 November. There are many children and women, including pregnant ones, among them. As part of their visit, UNHCR and IOM delivered certain emergency aid: personal hygiene products for children and women as well as food products. In the nearest possible time, more vital assistance will be provided, namely, blankets, warm clothes, gloves, hats and shoes for children, which will be delivered by the Belarusian Red Cross, the organizations' partner. This is the emergency aid indeed, as the major priority now is to prevent deaths and to work with the authorities to convince them of the need to move people to safe places where they can get necessary help and consultation services and where solutions can be found for each specific situation and people's needs. The spontaneous camp at the border lacking appropriate housing, food, water and medical assistance as well as the temperatures below zero are rather dangerous for people and may lead to their subsequent deaths. When visiting the camp IOM and UNHCR representatives were able to talk to the migrants and provide the trustworthy information on possible options available to them. Subject to people's personal circumstances and needs, the option for those in need of international protection is to claim asylum in Belarus. Besides, some asylum seekers and refugees may have valid reasons for moving, including for the purposes of family reunification in the EU. Another option is provided by the IOM assisted voluntary return and reintegration (AVRR) programme, which enables a dignified, safe and legal return and is based on a person's free choice. IOM and UNHCR stand ready to cooperate with the authorities of the countries to ensure the observance of human rights and safety of asylum seekers, refugees and migrants.

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IOM and UNHCR stand ready to cooperate with the authorities of the countries to ensure the observance of human rights and safety of asylum seekers, refugees and migrants.

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18 June 2022

June 18 marks the first International Day for Countering Hate Speech

Today, for the first time, we mark International Day for Countering Hate Speech, which was introduced in July 2021 through resolution A/75/L.115 on “Promoting interreligious and intercultural dialogue and tolerance in countering hate speech” adopted by General Assembly. The focus on hate speech as a global problem comes amid alarming trends of growing xenophobia, racism and intolerance, anti-Semitism and anti-Muslim hatred around the world. In 2019, the UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres highlighted these phenomena and launched the United Nations Strategy and Plan of Action on Hate Speech. The world observes that these concerns remain and grow today. The strategy recognizes that over the past 75 years, hate speech has been a precursor to atrocity crimes, including genocide, from Rwanda to Bosnia to Cambodia. This first UN system-wide policy initiative to tackle hate speech is aimed at complementing the efficient legal framework for addressing hate speech, xenophobia and discrimination and building on fight with discrimination and inequality. One of the main human rights instruments in this area is the UN International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination that understands racist hate speech as ‘a form of other-directed speech which rejects the core human rights principles of human dignity and equality and seeks to degrade the standing of individuals and groups in the estimation of society.” It was adopted in 1965 but, more than half a century after, hate speech remains a significant social phenomenon that has devastating long term effect on global peace, security and human rights. The devastating effect of hate speech and hatred is being observed by the whole world today. Its scale and impact are amplified by new technologies of communication, global crises like pandemic and instability. The point is getting clearer that hate speech, including online, has become one of the most frequent methods for spreading divisive rhetoric and ideologies on a global scale and threatening peace. Dangerous, hateful propaganda and cyberbullying, as well as fake news that creates the image of an enemy, can provoke the worst of crimes. Here the special role is on the side of the private sector, the media, internet corporations, faith leaders, educators, in preventing bullying, cyberbullying and verbal violence on the Internet. The United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) in Belarus and MTS mobile network operator have been cooperating since 2018 to protect the rights of children and adolescents on the Internet and to fight cyberbullying. According to a UNICEF study (2018), which involved more than one million young people in 160 countries around the world, up to 70.6% of Internet users aged 15-24 may be exposed to cyberbullying, harassment, and other threats. In Belarus, 92.4% of children aged 6-17 use the Internet. 18.2% of high school students experienced cyberbullying and were affected by it. Thanks to jointly implemented UNICEF projects aimed at raising digital literacy, more than 12,000 children, adolescents, parents and teachers benefited from educational and interactive events. The world must not trample on freedom of speech and expression. When that speech is weaponized to violate the rights of others, including inciting atrocity crimes and acts of terrorism, it must not be met with deafening silence that implies apathy or acceptance. Even if hate speech is allowed under law—when it does not rise to the level of incitement of violence prohibited by international law—its consequences cannot be underestimated. To observe the Day, the United Nations invites its partners, governments, civil society groups, and individuals to mobilize efforts and resources to implement strategies to identify, address and counter hate speech. *** Anti-bullying workbook for children and teenagers "How to protect yourself from bullying on the Internet and not become haters yourself" can be downloaded from the MTS website.

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Холокост начался не с газовых камер. Он начался задолго до этого с разжигания ненависти.

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26 May 2022

UN Belarus Results Report 2021 Presented in Minsk

The UN Belarus Results Report 2021 was presented in Minsk as part of the meeting of the Council for Sustainable Development with representatives of ministries, the Parliament, regional executive committees, educational institutions and nongovernmental organizations as well as UN agencies. Belarusian Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Yury Ambrazevich and UN Resident Coordinator in Belarus Joanna Kazana-Wisniowiecki welcomed the meeting participants. Speaking about the priorities of the United Nations in Belarus in the area of sustainable development UN Resident Coordinator highlighted the agreed long-term areas for cooperation such as green transition, opportunities for young people and future generations, supporting digital transformation and social innovations and gender equitable society with equal opportunities for women and men. She also emphasized the importance of partnerships and the role of civil society organizations, many of whom had been liquidated earlier in 2021, for sustainable development in Belarus. The theme of the presentation by Alexandra Solovieva, UNDP Resident Representative in Belarus, was green transition for inclusive and sustainable growth. As she noted, the UN country team (UNCT) was working hard to support public authorities and administration in climate actions planning and implementation, which allowed Belarus to set a new goal to reduce CO2 emission by 35%. As a result of UN agencies’ activities at the local level, in rural areas and small towns, dozens of initiatives were launched producing income and jobs, including creation of social enterprises for people with disabilities. The innovative Chernobyl Investment Platform was created to support green and inclusive innovation-driven growth in the districts affected by the Chernobyl catastrophe. In 2022, UNCT priorities in the area of climate resilience will be disaster risk reduction in the agricultural sector, treatment of persistent organic pollutants and sustainable management of chemicals and ozone-depleting substances; in the area of innovations UNCT will focus on cleaner and resource-efficient production technologies, integrated application of eco-industrial park strategies and use of the Fourth Industrial Revolution for smart manufacturing development. In a joint presentation dedicated to the topic of Future generations orientation: adolescence and youth Vyacheslav Grankov, acting WHO Regional Director to Belarus, and Gabrielle Akimova, UNICEF Deputy Representative, pointed out that in 2021 the UN agencies focused on providing large-scale assistance to public health care and, first of all, COVID-19 pandemic mitigation measures. A signification contribution to the development of the national program on public health and demographic security for 2021-2025 was made as well as facilitation of assessment of COVID-19 socio-economic impact on families with children. Beside that, support was provided to develop the national system of early childhood intervention and to strengthen systems for child protection, inclusive education and encouragement of positive parenting. In the area of digital transformation and social innovations UNCT contributed to the development of a wide range of policy-level documents on smart cities, green urban development plans and the national program of digital development for 2021-2025 as Ralph Heinrich, Economic Affairs Officer, Economic Cooperation and Trade Division, UNECE, informed in his speech. Also, among the UNCT focus areas in 2022 there are digital trade facilitation, public-private partnership related to sustainable infrastructure, green urban development in small and medium-sized cities, online safety and information security in educational cyberspace for children and teachers and reduction of digital gender gap. Head of UNFPA Office in Belarus Olga Atroshchanka presented the results of UN activities in Belarus aimed at the achievement of gender equitable society. In particular, the following activities were implemented: engagement in the development of the National Action Plan for Ensuring Gender Equality; launch of the Gender Data Web Portal; presentation of the concept of favourable corporate environment for employees-parents and gender equality; development of the draft national information strategy on active longevity for the elderly people aged 65 and over; carrying out a survey of the role of fathers in Belarusian families and development of the concept of involved fatherhood promotion in Belarus, including social and economic benefits of men’s engagement into childcare. Mahym Orazmuhammedova, Chief of Mission, IOM Belarus, and Timofei Solodkov, Associate Protection Officer, UNHCR Office in Belarus, highlighted the measures taken in response to the refugee and migration crisis in Belarus. In 2021, UNCT provided immediate humanitarian aid for the total of 1,500,000 US dollars to people in the border area through enabling voluntary return of those migrants, who decided to return home, and also, providing support to those who wanted to apply for asylum in Belarus. At present, UN provides assistance in response to the situation of refugees from Ukraine teaming up with the state bodies and other involved organizations (such as Belarusian Red Cross). The strategic priorities of the UN Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework for 2021-2025 will guide the United Nations Organization in its activities in 2022. This work will be continued in the context of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic and implications of the war in Ukraine and will aim to help Belarus address their diverse after-effects. Therefore the top priorities of the UN in Belarus will be: achieving the global goals and helping partners address the triple planetary crisis; focusing on Belarus-specific SDG accelerators; and pursuing the leaving no one behind principle.

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27 January 2022

Memory, Dignity and Justice: the theme of the International Holocaust Remembrance Day

Seventy seven years ago, on 27 January 1945, the prisoners of the Nazi death camp Auschwitz were released by the Red Army. To prevent similar crimes against humanity in future the United Nations Organization (UN) designated the date as the International Day of Commemoration in memory of the victims of the Holocaust. This year the central theme of the International Holocaust Remembrance Day is “Memory, Dignity and Justice.” Today we commemorate six million Jewish men, women and children, who died in the Holocaust between 1933 and 1945, including 800 thousand Jews murdered in Belarus by the Nazi and their accomplices. In his speech dedicated to the International Holocaust Remembrance Day the UN Secretary-General António Guterres said: “Remembering the past is crucial to safeguarding the future. Today, let us commit to never be indifferent to the suffering of others, and never forget what happened or let it be forgotten by others. Let us pledge to always be vigilant and uphold human rights and dignity for all.” The UN rejects and condemns without reservation any denial of the Holocaust as a historical event and considers such denial a manifestation of extreme religious intolerance, anti-Semitism and act of genocide. The UN considers hate speech a direct attack on the ideals of tolerance, inclusion, and diversity. Hate and hostile speech influences social cohesion, sets the stage for the manifestation of violence and undermines peace and sustainable development principles. The UN Resident Coordinator in Belarus Joanna Kazana-Wisniowiecki took part in the ceremony of a memorial ketubah signing in the Beit Simcha Centre in the presence of the Plenipotentiary for religions and nationalities, representatives of the embassies of Israel, Germany, Austria, Sweden, Great Britain, Romania, Poland and other countries and the Orthodox, Catholic, and Muslim communities of Belarus. The text of the ketubah says: “In 2005, the UN General Assembly unanimously adopted its Resolution 60/7, in which resolved to designate the day of liberation of Auschwitz by the Red Army as the International Holocaust Remembrance Day. May the memory of the Holocaust victims help prevent any acts of genocide in future as well as any attempts to deny the tragedy of six million Jews, the victims of the Catastrophe. May their memory remain eternal.” Together with the representatives of the Belarusian Foreign Ministry, the diplomatic corps and religious communities the UNDP Resident Representative in Belarus Alexandra Solovieva took part in the memorial ceremony in the Yama Memorial Complex. “Belarus is working on perpetuation of the memory and passing it on to future generations. Memorials and memorial boards are being opened and educational activities conducted, - Alexandra Solovieva said addressing the ceremony participants. - We cannot allow these crimes to happen again. The tragedy of the Holocaust is an eternal and fearful memory for all of us about the consequences of anti-Semitism, discrimination, hatred and prejudices.”

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14 December 2021

Climate change and green economic growth - the issues raised at the meeting of the National Council for Sustainable Development

Speaking at the meeting of the National Council for Sustainable Development Resident Coordinator of the United Nations in Belarus Joanna Kazana-Wisniowiecki emphasized the importance of discussing in Belarus the implications of climate change and how to combat them, which is one of the top priorities on the UN’s agenda. The National Council for Sustainable Development plays an important role in coordinating the cross-sectoral aspects of greening transition in Belarus. “Green economic growth is reflected in the National Development Strategy and multiple sectoral five-year national plans and programmes. Green transition for inclusive and sustainable growth is the first accelerator and one of four pillars of the UN’s Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework for Belarus for 2021-2025,” said Joanna Kazana-Wisniowiecki. UN Country Team is ready to complement these efforts under the climate agenda of Belarus and has already started working on implementation of green urban development plans at the district level, smart sustainable city profiles, technical cooperation and trainings to improve energy efficiency standards for buildings and the piloting of public private partnerships. UN agencies started a new joint UN SDG Fund project in cooperation with the Ministry of Finance. As part of this initiative, a development finance assessment of environmental expenditures will be undertaken by the UN Development Program (UNDP). Also, UN will soon be launching the big new SDG project funded by the Russian Federation, which will open new opportunities to further engage experts amongst all relevant stakeholders, including civil society, academia and the private sector. Green transitions require financing. The external resources are very important and UN Belarus is ready to leverage such resources.

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Иоанна Казана-Вишневецкий подчеркнула важность обсуждения в Беларуси последствий изменения климата

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12 December 2021

IOM and Partners Scaling Up Aid for Migrants and Refugees Stranded in Belarus

In response to the situation at the Belarusian-EU border, the International Organization for Migration (IOM) and its partners have scaled up their assistance for migrants and refugees, providing humanitarian aid at the border and expanding voluntary return opportunities and other forms of assistance. It is estimated that there are up to 2,000 migrants and refugees at the border with Poland, predominantly Kurds from Iraq, but also Syrians, Iranians, Afghans, Yemenis, Cameroonians and others. There are grave concerns for their welfare in the freezing conditions, as several deaths from hypothermia have already been registered on the EU’s border with Belarus, and because there are large numbers of women and children among the group. IOM, UNHCR and the Belarus Red Cross have been granted access to the migrants and refugees at the border by the Belarusian authorities on several occasions in recent weeks to assess their conditions and needs, distribute humanitarian aid and elaborate options for those wishing to return home. IOM was able to provide aid in late October via the Belarus Red Cross. Following the first visit to the Bruzgi border crossing on 11 November, IOM secured food items, clothing and hygiene kits which were promptly delivered by the Red Cross to migrants relocated to a logistics facility near the border. On 24 November the same group received water, food and infant food. The total number of migrants and refugees currently in Belarus is estimated at 7,000, with only a limited number so far expressing a desire to return home voluntarily. However, in recent days the Government of Iraq has organized the repatriation of over 1,000 of its citizens and discussions with IOM to facilitate more voluntary returns are ongoing. It is envisaged that IOM will be able to provide a charter flight for all those remaining who wish to return to Iraq in the next two weeks. This is longer than the usual process due to the need for COVID-19 protocols to be observed. At least 44 people have so far been assisted by IOM to return home voluntarily, with another 38 in the pipeline. “Together with UNHCR and partners, our priority is the safety of these stranded migrants, upholding their human rights and preventing more deaths as temperatures remain well below freezing,” said António Vitorino, Director General of IOM. “We are committed to providing humanitarian assistance and working with authorities on both sides of the border, and those who wish to return voluntarily will be helped by IOM to do so in a safe and dignified way.” For further information, please contact: In Vienna: Joe Lowry, Spokesperson, Senior Regional Media and Communications Officer at jlowry@iom.int, tel: +43660 3776404 In Geneva: Safa Msehli, Spokesperson, Crisis Communications and Advocacy at smsehli@iom.int, tel: + 4179 4035526
In Minsk: Hanna Kalichava, Public Information Specialist at hkalichava@iom.int, tel: +375 29 568 44 94

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There are large numbers of women and children among the group of migrants

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Press Release

31 May 2022

Carcinogenic waste and disappearing forests: tobacco is contaminating life on our planet

Tobacco threatens the health of every living being on Earth. The full cycle of tobacco cultivation, growth, production, consumption and waste poisons the air, the water, and the entire ecosystem. On World No Tobacco Day 2022, WHO highlights the latest facts on the environmental harm of tobacco life cycle and exposes the tobacco industry’s effort to greenwash its reputation by marketing its products as environmentally friendly. Overall tobacco cycle: 25 million metric tons of waste every year Globally, tobacco kills over 8 million people every year and fuels the prevalence of dangerous noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) such as cardiovascular disease, chronic respiratory diseases, cancer, diabetes, and more. “We know that tobacco kills its users, but the harm goes far beyond the smoke of a cigarette. Every year, 4.5 trillion cigarette butts are discarded in the environment releasing over 7,000 chemicals – 70 of which are known carcinogens that pollute pavements, parks, and eventually waterways where they poison marine life”, said Dr Hans Henri P. Kluge, WHO Regional Director for Europe. The environmental impact of tobacco use moves it from an individual issue to a global problem. Tobacco not only harms the individuals who use it and those around them but is a threat to sustainabledevelopment. Therefore, tobacco control requires a holistic approach and a whole of government and society engagement. “In Belarus, 42% men and 11% women are active smokers. In accordance with STEPS survey almost one third of people using tobacco tried to quit smoking in the past 12 months and could benefit from professional advise from health care worker on how better to stop smoking. In the framework of EU funded BELMED project Ministry of health of Belarus with support from WHO adopted new clinical guidelines for primary health workers on patient’s motivational counselling on smoking cessation. The good news is that by reducing the rates of tobacco consumption, the country can create a healthier environment for all, giving a positive effect on the economy as well” says Valiantsin Rusovich, Public Health Officer, WHO Country Office in Belarus. Beyond the smoke of a cigarette: how tobacco industry harms the environment The harm tobacco production and waste causes is a hidden environmental hazard: Tobacco production contributes almost 84 million tons of CO2 emissions annually. That is equivalent to 280,000 rockets launching into outer space. The entire life cycle of a single cigarette requires approximately 3.7 liters of water. The average smoker could save up to 74 liters of water per day if they quit smoking. Approximately 200,000 hectares of land is cleared annually for tobacco growing and curing. It takes one entire tree to make 300 cigarettes. Farmers who plant, cultivate, and harvest tobacco may absorb as much nicotine per day as found in 50 cigarettes and expose themselves to poisonous pesticides. As a result, they and members of their families may get tumors, genetic changes, blood disorders, neurological disorders, and endocrine disruption. Talking trash: behind the tobacco industry's 'green' public relations To greenwash its reputation and portray itself as eco-friendly, the tobacco industry uses deceitful tactics. The industry’s self-reported data and marketing activities tend to mislead the public into minimizing the effects of tobacco growing on the environment and believing that tobacco production is not harmful. “The truth is that from start to finish, the tobacco life cycle is an overwhelmingly polluting and damaging process, which puts already fragile ecosystems at risk and threatens the development of current and future generations around the world. It is our moral imperative to enable children to grow up free from the dangers of tobacco exposure and provide them with clean, safe and secure environments”, said Dr Nino Berdzuli, Director of the Division of Country Health Programmes at WHO/Europe. On this WNTD WHO calls on general public, policy-makes, civil society, academia and other partners to: Give tobacco users an extra reason to quit. Quitting tobacco benefits your health and the environment. Support bans on single use plastics which include cigarette butts, plastic pouches used for nicotine products and smokeless tobacco and electronic waste Impose an environmental tax levy on the tobacco manufacturers, distributors and the consumer, across the supply chain for carbon emissions, air pollution and other environmental costs. Raise awareness of the tobacco industry’s greenwashing tactics Support tobacco farmers to switch to alternative, sustainable crops Support the implementation of comprehensive tobacco control policies It’s time to say NO to tobacco for a healthier planet and healthier people. Links: World No Tobacco Day 2022: Tobacco’s threat to our environment WHO factsheets on Tobacco Control in the WHO European Region WHO webinar - Talking trash: Behind the tobacco industry's 'green' public relations For further information, please contact: Valiantsin Rusovich, Public Health Officer, WHO Country office in Belarus, rusovichv@who.int

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Press Release

06 May 2022

New WHO report: Europe can reverse its obesity “epidemic”

The new WHO European Regional Obesity Report 2022, published on 3 May by the WHO Regional Office for Europe, reveals that overweight and obesity rates have reached epidemic proportions across the Region and are still escalating, with none of the 53 Member States of the Region currently on track to meet the WHO Global Noncommunicable Disease (NCD) target of halting the rise of obesity by 2025. New data on obesity and overweight The report, launched at a press event on 3 May and presented at the European Congress on Obesity, reveals that in the European Region, 59% of adults and almost 1 in 3 children (29% of boys and 27% of girls) are overweight or living with obesity. Obesity prevalence for adults in the European Region is higher than in any other WHO region except for the Americas. Overweight and obesity are among the leading causes of death and disability in the European Region, with recent estimates suggesting they cause more than 1.2 million deaths annually, corresponding to more than 13% of total mortality in the Region. Obesity increases the risk for many NCDs, including cancers, cardiovascular diseases, type 2 diabetes mellitus and chronic respiratory diseases. For example, obesity is considered a cause of at least 13 different types of cancer, and is likely to be directly responsible for at least 200 000 new cancer cases annually across the Region, with this figure set to rise further in the coming years. Overweight and obesity are also the leading risk factor for disability, causing 7% of total years lived with disability in the Region. Overweight people and those living with obesity have been disproportionately affected by the consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic. There have been unfavourable shifts in food consumption and physical activity patterns during the pandemic that will have effects on population health in the years ahead, and will need significant effort to reverse. Obesity in Europe: an ongoing “epidemic” To address the growing epidemic, the report recommends a suite of interventions and policy options that Member States can consider to prevent and tackle obesity in the Region, with an emphasis on building back better after the COVID-19 pandemic. “Obesity knows no borders. In the Europe and Central Asia, no single country is going to meet the WHO Global NCD target of halting the rise of obesity,” said Dr Hans Henri P. Kluge, WHO Regional Director for Europe. “The countries in our Region are incredibly diverse, but every one is challenged to some degree. By creating environments that are more enabling, promoting investment and innovation in health, and developing strong and resilient health systems, we can change the trajectory of obesity in the Region.” Obesity is a disease – not only a risk factor Obesity is a complex disease that presents a risk to health. Its causes are much more complex than the mere combination of unhealthy diet and physical inactivity. This report presents the latest evidence, highlighting how vulnerability to unhealthy body weight in early life can affect a person’s tendency to develop obesity. Environmental factors unique to living in modern Europe’s highly digitalized societies are also drivers of obesity. The report explores, for example, how the digital marketing of unhealthy food products to children, and the proliferation of sedentary online gaming, contribute to the rising tide of overweight and obesity in the European Region. However, it also looks at how digital platforms might also provide opportunities for the promotion and discussion of health and well-being. Policy measures: what can countries do? Addressing obesity is critical to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals and is a priority echoed in WHO’s European Programme of Work 2020–2025. The new WHO report outlines how policy interventions that target environmental and commercial determinants of poor diet at the entire population level are likely to be most effective at reversing the obesity epidemic, addressing dietary inequalities and achieving environmentally sustainable food systems. Obesity is complex, with multifaceted determinants and health consequences, which means that no single intervention can halt the rise of the growing epidemic. Any national policies aiming to address the issues of overweight and obesity must have high-level political commitment behind them. They should also be comprehensive, reaching individuals across the life course and targeting inequalities. Efforts to prevent obesity need to consider the wider determinants of the disease, and policy options should move away from approaches that focus on individuals and address the structural drivers of obesity. The WHO report highlights a few specific policies that show promise in reducing levels of obesity and overweight: the implementation of fiscal interventions (such as taxation on sugar-sweetened beverages or subsidies for healthy foods); restrictions on the marketing of unhealthy foods to children; improvement of access to obesity and overweight management services in primary health care, as part of universal health coverage; efforts to improve diet and physical activity across the life course, including preconception and pregnancy care, promotion of breastfeeding, school-based interventions, and interventions to create environments that improve the accessibility and affordability of healthy foods and opportunities for physical activity. Link to report on WHO/Europe website: WHO Regional European Obesity Report 2022

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Press Release

22 April 2022

ILO Director-General calls for the release of Belarusian trade union leaders

ILO Director-General Guy Ryder has expressed deep concern over reports of the arrests of trade union leaders in Belarus and has called for a halt to the intimidation of those peacefully exercising their freedom of association rights in the country.

The arrests are reported to have been made as officials of the State Security Committee of the Republic of Belarus searched trade union offices and their leaders’ homes, seizing computers, personal documents, passports, union flags, leaflets and other items.

Those arrested include Alexander Yaroshuk, President of the Belarusian Congress of Democratic Trade Unions (BKDP), who is also vice-president of the International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC) and a member of the ILO Governing Body; Siarhei Antusevich, BKDP Vice-President; Oleg Podolinski, BKDP International Secretary, and Elena Yeskova the Unions’ lawyer. Mikola Sharakh, Chairperson of the Belarusian Free Trade Union, was also arrested on his way to a court hearing. There are reports that more than a dozen other trade union leaders have also been arrested.

The arrest, even briefly, of trade union leaders for exercising their legitimate right to freedom of association constitutes a grave violation of the principles of freedom of association. Trade union rights lose all meaning in the absence of full and meaningful respect for those civil liberties enunciated in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and in the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, in particular the right to freedom and security of the individual, freedom from arbitrary arrest and detention, freedom of opinion and expression, freedom of assembly, the right to a fair trial and the right to protection of trade union property.

The Director-General calls on the responsible Belarusian authorities to immediately release the trade union leaders and any others still detained, and to take all necessary measures to ensure that they can carry out their trade union activities in a climate free from violence, intimidation, or threat of any kind.

Belarus has ratified all eight ILO Fundamental Conventions, including the Freedom of Association and Protection of the Right to Organise Convention, 1948 (No. 87) , and Right to Organise and Collective Bargaining Convention, 1949 (No. 98) .

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