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02 March 2023
United Nations agencies in Belarus jointly respond to Ukrainian refugees’ crisis
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Press Release
22 February 2023
New research suggests solutions to improve food security and support sustainable agriculture
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Story
21 February 2023
Council for Sustainable Development Focuses on Women’s Rights
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The Sustainable Development Goals 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:
Publication
28 March 2021
UNCT Belarus’ COVID-19 Socioeconomic Response Plan (SERP): Achievements and Plans
The COVID-19 Socioeconomic Response Plan (SERP) is the UN country team (UNCT) in Belarus’ comprehensive offer seeking to minimize the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic from short, medium- and long-term perspectives.
The UN response sets the goal of building-back better for socially inclusive and sustainable recovery.
The UNCT Belarus SERP addresses short-term social and economic challenges as well as the longer-term COVID-19 implications for Belarus. It builds on the UNCT strategic priorities of protecting vulnerable groups, ensuring a sustainable green and inclusive transition, and a digital future bolstered by social innovation.
It covers the five pillars of the global UN response, while adhering closely to the principles of environmental sustainability, gender equality and human rights approaches with the goal of building-better after the recovery. The SERP showcases the UNCT’s value proposition, covering deliverables that include data monitoring and evaluation, financing of equipment and supplies, other in-kind assistance, capacity building, financial aid, advocacy and training, amongst other types of intervention. Many of the activities are already being rolled out, starting with in-depth impact assessments of COVID-19 on vulnerable groups (e.g. unemployed, informal workers, migrant workers, refugees, older population, persons with disabilities, women, families with children, children with disabilities) and on small and medium enterprises (SMEs).
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Publication
09 February 2021
Universal Declaration of Human Rights in Pictures
On December 10, 1948, the General Assembly of the United Nations approved and proclaimed the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the full text of which is reproduced on these pages. Taking this decision of historic significance, the Assembly appealed to all member states of the Organization to promulgate the text of the Declaration and to do everything possible to “disseminate, promulgate and explain it, mainly in schools and other educational institutions, without distinction based on the political status of countries or territories ".
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Publication
09 February 2021
Universal Declaration of Human Rights in Belarusian
December 10, 2018 marked the 70th anniversary of the adoption of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR), which for the first time in the world affirmed the equal and inalienable rights of everyone.
In commemoration of the anniversary of the Declaration, at the initiative of the United Nations in Belarus, for the first time in many years, the Universal Declaration of Human Rights was published in the Belarusian language. The text of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights in Belarusian was clarified by the Center for the Study of Belarusian Culture, Language and Literature of the National Academy of Sciences of Belarus.
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Story
02 March 2023
United Nations agencies in Belarus jointly respond to Ukrainian refugees’ crisis
Nearly one third of the population forced to flee their homes -- about 8 million people have fled Ukraine and found refuge in neighbouring countries and 5.4 million people Ukrainians left their homes and moved to other parts of Ukraine.
According to the Government of Belarus, as of 21 February 2023 there are 20,536 Ukrainian refugees registered in the country. Among them, 66% are women.
Since the beginning of the crisis, the UN system has played an important role in providing humanitarian support to the refugees and strengthening the capacities of Belarusian institutions and organisations on the local level responsible for the first line of response.
Under the leadership and coordination of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), all entities, including the International Organization for Migration (IOM), the UN Children's Fund (UNICEF), the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) and the World Health Organization (WHO), the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) joined efforts for implementation of the regional Plan of response to the influx of refugees from Ukraine.
Working together, UN agencies developed the WeHelp online platform functioning as information portal for refugees from Ukraine, where they can conveniently and quickly get information on registration of legal status in the country, humanitarian assistance or finding work and housing. It is linked to a number of other sources including the UNHCR Help Page which is connected to a network of UNHCR Help Pages across the region for a regional approach.
On the ground, in cooperation with the Belarussian Red Cross and local authorities, each UN agency provides specialised services to the refugees.
UNFPA provides support to people, mainly women, older people (53.5% of all refugees) and people with disabilities. This includes needs assessment, medical and psychological services, counselling regarding gender-based violence, support in receiving documents and allowances. Hygiene kits, women and thermal underwear, etc. are provided as humanitarian aid.
UNFPA Orange Safe Spaces support self-help groups for older people, where they can access important information on available services and digital resources and take care of their physical and mental health. Psychological support, technical knowledge and skills on planning and delivering gender-sensitive services and preventing gender-based violence to was provided by UNFPA to social workers and volunteers working with refugees in Gomel, Brest and Grodno regions.
IOM delivered food and sanitary products, clothes and household goods, healthcare and psychological assistance services, transporting and housing support to more than 2,000 people. IOM also assists refugees from Ukraine to find employment, namely pays for professional training and retraining courses, helps with necessary documents.
UNICEF and UNHCR, with the Belarusian Red Cross, assist with psychological support and the provision of targeted cash assistance to refugees from Ukraine, as well as voucher assistance to purchase basic necessities, especially important during the cold winter months.
Near the border in Brest, at a bus station, UNICEF and UNHCR, operate an information point where families arriving in Belarus access information and legal assistance, protection services, psychological support, and other services and assistance. This project is undertaken in cooperation with the city of Brest, Belarus Red Cross and the Refugee Counselling Services.
WHO in Belarus is implementing a number of measures aimed at strengthening the capacity of the Belarusian Red Cross such as training for BRC team and volunteers in crisis intervention counselling, psychosocial support and first aid; purchasing goods for distance counselling for refugees, including healthcare, mental health and psychosocial counselling; purchasing rehabilitation equipment, diagnostic equipment and hygiene items for the refugees.
UNDP works to strengthen capacity of national partners in delivering refugee response i.a. via volunteer management and capacity building. More than 160 national volunteers improved their knowledge and skills in responding to people in need. UNVs were engaged to increase the efficiency of information management and conduct a continuous assessment of multi-dimensional vulnerabilities of refugees. UNDP contributes to humanitarian efforts of partners by offering long-term development solutions, helps advance social cohesion and expands the involvement of local communities in refugee response. More than 200 refugees received livelihoods support in the framework of UNDP’s partnership with the Belarusian Red Cross.
By staying engaged, impartial and neutral in provision of humanitarian assistance in Belarus for the Ukrainian refugees, the UN system takes part in implementation of the Global Compact for Refugees and the Regional Refugee Response Plan adopted internationally. Although the share of the Belarus response is relatively small, the work provides essential support to the families and individuals fleeing the war and destruction in Ukraine.
As UN, we believe the conflict must end. We hope that comprehensive, just and lasting peace solution is possible so that all Ukrainians wishing to go back home will be able to do so soon.
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Story
22 February 2023
Council for Sustainable Development Focuses on Women’s Rights
The Government representatives and the UN agencies in Belarus participated today in the meeting of the Council for Sustainable Development in Minsk to discuss the draft version of the ninth periodic report of the Republic of Belarus on the implementation at the national level of the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women.
Yury Ambrazevich, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Belarus and Joanna Kazana-Wisniowiecki, the UN Resident Coordinator addressed the Council with welcoming remarks.
Elimination of discrimination against women is one of the United Nations’ strategic priorities. Growing gender inequalities as the result of COVID-19 consequences, economic and security crises and nature disasters are aggravating the women’s rights worldwide.
Speaking at the meeting, the UN Resident Coordinator in Belarus emphasized that Gender Equitable Society is one of the four pillars of the agreed UN-Belarus Cooperation Framework for 2021-2025.
Joanna Kazana-Wisniowiecki underlined that Belarus ranks 36th among 146 countries in the Global Gender Gap Index and achieved good progress on gender equality.
The UN country team welcomes initiatives undertaken by Belarus to address domestic violence and human trafficking, promote gender equality and other rights of women enshrined in the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women, along with improvements made related to the increased availability of the gender-disaggregated data.
To achieve a fully gender-equitable society, UN calls for focusing on four strategic areas of priority. Expanding further women’s economic opportunities, balancing home and care responsibilities, strengthening the system to address gender-based violence and combating gender stereotypes -- such change will accelerate the process towards equality in Belarus.
“These goals can be achieved by removing a number of systemic bottlenecks preventing the further promotion of gender equality in Belarus.The lack of specific legislation on domestic violence, the lack of legal definition of discrimination; challenges with enforcement of laws and by-laws; relatively weak capacity of existing institutions dealing with gender equality issues are some of the priority concerns”, the UN Resident Coordinator in Belarus said.
The UN Representative added also that the continuing absence of CSOs and women activists specialising in the area of women’s rights creates a serious capacity gap to address the needs of vulnerable women and families. United Nations agencies act as key partners supporting implementation of the National Action Plan to Ensure Gender Equality in the Republic of Belarus for 2021-2025.
The UN system in Belarus implements a range of programmes on introduction of gender responsive budgeting and helps collect disaggregated data on gender impact of domestic policies and programmes. The programmes give particular attention to the needs of elderly women and men of 65+. Policy advice and capacity support is offered to institutions working with gender-based violence.
Head of UNFPA Office in Belarus Olga Atroshchanka in her speech broached the subject of gender stereotypes in the society that prevent men from being fully involved in taking care for their families and children.
She also noted that the importance of crisis centres for people experiencing hardship, however in the last two years a range of services of family violence prevention and victim assistance has decreased as a result of significantly reduced number of non-governmental organizations acting in this field. Unfortunately, the national helpline that had been providing free counselling services over the years for people suffering from any types of violence, no longer works.
The head of UNFPA Office also pointed out the articles in the Criminal Code that criminalize HIV transmission; and women are the ones who suffer most from these articles. Application of these articles involves criminal prosecution of HIV transmission and often entails manipulations, intimidation and violence against HIV-positive women from their male partners. According to Olga Atroshchanka, a system approach is needed to address this problem using the expertise of governmental, non-governmental and international organizations.
Deputy Resident Representative of UNDP in Belarus Armen Martirosyan informed the Council members on the progress of implementation of the project aimed at supporting the National Strategy for Sustainable Development of the Republic of Belarus for the period up to 2035 and 2030 Agenda.
The project, funded by the Russian Federation, with a total budget of three million US dollars is being jointly implemented by the UN Development Program, United Nations Children's Fund, UN Population Fund, World Health Organization.
In partnership with the Belarusian Ministry of Economy, the project will support regional executive committees and local communities to develop local sustainable development strategies.
Educational programs for sustainable development will also be developed and implemented as well as an awareness campaign to promote sustainable development principles and ideas on both national and regional levels.
The Council for Sustainable Development headed by the National Coordinator for Achievement of Sustainable Development Goals is an advisory body that unites the representatives of 38 governmental organizations, parliamentary group, non-governmental associations and SDG Youth Ambassadors as well as the UN Country Team in Belarus.
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Story
02 December 2022
World AIDS Day marked in Minsk
Every year, on 1 December, the world commemorates World AIDS Day. People around the world unite to show support for people living with and affected by HIV and to remember those who lost their lives to AIDS.
The inequalities which perpetuate the AIDS pandemic are not inevitable; we can tackle them.The “Equalize” slogan is a call to action. It is a prompt for all of us to work for the proven practical actions needed to address inequalities and help end AIDS.
To mark the Day the two-day conference "Health and well-being of people living with HIV and people vulnerable to HIV in today's challenges" organized jointly by UNAIDS and UNDP in Belarus opened in Minsk.
Speaking at the opening of the conference the UN Resident Coordinator in Belarus Joanna Kazana-Wisniowiecki noted that for many years, Belarus has been one of the champions in the region in implementing evidence-based WHO recommendations, including “Treat all” policy, HIV self-testing, harm reduction programmes (including opioid-substitution therapy and needle exchange programme).
“In Belarus, the Joint UN team on HIV/AIDS and all its members – UNAIDS, WHO, UNICEF, UNFPA, UNODC, UNDP, UNHCR and others - have always been and will remain reliable partners for both governmental and non-governmental institutions in Belarus, in order to maximize the impact of national efforts on the HIV epidemic”, said Joanna Kazana-Wisniowiecki
Just during the last year, the UN agencies have supported the implementation of the Global Fund grant in Belarus, including the procurement of ARV medicines and tests and presented the Assessment of the National Drug Policy of Belarus with concrete recommendations and the HIV legal environment assessment.
«We provided capacity building and trainings for healthcare workers, representatives of civil society and communities, Ministry of Interior, and social workers. An example of evidence- and scientific-based approach to “knowing your epidemic” principle of UNAIDS, is the IOM nation-wide quantitative and qualitative research on migrant health, including risks and vulnerabilities to HIV.
One of the most important achievements of Belarus in terms of HIV response was receiving in 2016 a prestigious WHO certificate confirming the validation of elimination of mother-to-child transmission of HIV and syphilis. Belarus has become one of the first, and still few countries, to receive this certificate”, the UN Resident Coordinator in Belarus said.
The UN Resident Coordinator underlined that in order to maintain the status confirmed by WHO, Belarus has to implement one of Global Validation Committee’s recommendations, which is to remove disease-specific articles 157 and 158 of the criminal code regarding HIV and STIs exposure and transmission. To date, 87% of people living with HIV in Belarus are receiving antiretroviral therapy. Thanks to the availability of effective antiretroviral therapy, HIV is now a chronic disease, not a fatal one. Attracting attention to the problem, reliably informing the population about the main prevention measures and diagnostic methods, as well as creating a social environment that excludes stigma and discrimination in relation to the topic of HIV/AIDS, help to reverse the HIV epidemic. The full text of the speech is available here.
The UN Resident Coordinator underlined that in order to maintain the status confirmed by WHO, Belarus has to implement one of Global Validation Committee’s recommendations, which is to remove disease-specific articles 157 and 158 of the criminal code regarding HIV and STIs exposure and transmission. To date, 87% of people living with HIV in Belarus are receiving antiretroviral therapy. Thanks to the availability of effective antiretroviral therapy, HIV is now a chronic disease, not a fatal one. Attracting attention to the problem, reliably informing the population about the main prevention measures and diagnostic methods, as well as creating a social environment that excludes stigma and discrimination in relation to the topic of HIV/AIDS, help to reverse the HIV epidemic. The full text of the speech is available here.
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Story
25 November 2022
Responsible Business Forum Held in Minsk, Belarus
Top managers of the Belarusian business and HR, PR, ESG and CSR experts focused on the issues of corporate sustainability and social responsibility of businesses.
Speakers at the Forum once again highlighted the importance and timeliness of the agenda. The United Nations Resident Coordinator in Belarus, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, Deputy Minister of Finance, Chairman of the BSB Bank Management Board and Chairman of the Coordination Board of the UN Global Compact Network Belarus addressed the Forum participants with welcoming remarks.
As part of the Forum, businesses shared their best practices in development of sustainable products and services and experience in ESG-transformation: over 20 Belarusian companies made case-study presentations.
Current UN system partnerships with private sector include, for example, a joint initiative implemented by the UN Children's Fund (UNICEF) in Belarus and Mobile TeleSystems (MTS) company aimed at preventing online bullying among children and teenagers and promoting free tools that provide help: a 24-hour hotline and online psychological counseling.
SoftTeco company joined the initiative of the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) aimed at creating enabling environment for parent employees and launched a web application for Red Cross volunteers called “Volunteers in Action.”
"The United Nations in Belarus always join forces with private sector to support initiatives and partnerships aimed at achieving the Sustainable Development Goals, and to support international platforms and national events for exchange of experience and best practices in the area of corporate social responsibility," Joanna Kazana-Wisniowecki, UN Resident Coordinator in Belarus said, noting that business can and should act as the driving force in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals at both global and national levels, because it provides economic sustainability and generates positive changes in social, economic and environmental areas.
The UN Resident Coordinator congratulated the UN Global Compact Network Belarus participants on its 15th anniversary and highlighted its great potential for further development of cooperation and partnership with responsible businesses in Belarus. The United Nations in Belarus was the originator of the Global Compact National Network in 2007.
Globally, the UN Global Compact is currently the largest corporate social responsibility initiative in the world with over 20,000 participating companies from 179 countries. There are 28 participants in the Global Compact Network Belarus.
The activities of the UN Global Compact participants are based on the concept of sustainable development, which combines three major areas: economic, social and environmental. In their daily work, participating organizations implement projects aimed at achieving the Sustainable Development Goals and 10 principles of the UN Global Compact.
Ten principles of the UN Global Compact in the area of human rights, labour relations, environmental protection and anti-corruption efforts are based on Universal Declaration of Human Rights (1948), ILO Declaration on Fundamental Principles and Rights at Work (1998), Rio Declaration on Environment and Development (1992) and UN Convention against Corruption (2003).
Video "UN Global Compact Network in Belarus: Business to Achieve the Sustainable Development Goals"
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Story
31 August 2022
How to transform the education system to meet the needs of a changing world? National Consultations for UN Transforming Education Summit Took Place in Minsk
The UN in Belarus supported the process of national consultations in preparation for the Summit. Under the leadership of the Office of the UN Resident Coordinator and UNICEF in Belarus, focus group discussions and national round table were held in August in preparation for the Transforming Education Summit.
As a result of engagement with the children, students, teachers, parents and government officials, the following priorities for transforming education in Belarus were agreed:
To ensure an Inclusive, Equitable, Safe and Healthy Schools:
ensuring an adequate security of educational institutions,
upgrading the existing PE and sports facilities,
combating juvenile crime,
implementing comprehensively the principle of inclusion in education that ensures equal access to education for all regardless of their individual potential and needs,
enhancing capacity in the field of vocational education for people with special needs,
creating a barrier-free environment,
ensuring effective socialization of young people in difficult straits.
Under the thematic area of action Learning and Skills for Life, Work and Sustainable Development:
building students' competencies and skills needed for inventive and business activities,
creating innovative products,
developing brand new educational standards in line with economic and social development trends,
developing innovative infrastructure of university science,
improving efficiency of research activities in higher education institutions,
providing career guidance counseling based on the introduction of new professions most relevant in the context of sustainable development and green economy,
developing youth business activities including via support of youth start-ups and volunteer activities and intensifying efforts to identify and support gifted children and youth.
To foster Digital Training and Transformation the following efforts are needed:
integrating comprehensively information and communication technologies in the educational process and activities of all types of educational institutions,
developing subject-specific interactive laboratories,
using actively the elements of gamification for the educational process intensification,
improving teachers and educators’ digital competencies;
developing innovative educational digital products,
upgrading computer equipment in educational institutions,
establishing innovative learning classes and robotic centres in general secondary education institutions.
Transforming education requires also reform of Teachers, Teaching and Teaching Profession, and namely:
mainstreaming digital, psycho-pedagogical and socio-emotional skills of teachers,
improving teachers’ professional training and advanced studies,
building universities’ workforce capacity,
rejuvenating and improving professional development of the faculty members,
increasing wages for the teaching staff.
On the Education Funding issue, the following priorities were identified:
promoting economic independence of educational institutions,
enhancing independence of educational institutions both in planning and managing budget funds,
developing innovative financing and expanding fiscal space.
The above outcomes of national consultations were discussed at a roundtable on Transforming Education which took place on 15 August 2022 in Minsk.
The meeting brought together Belarusian Minister of Education Andrei Ivanets, UN Resident Coordinator in Belarus Joanna Kazana-Wisniowiecki, Representative of the UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF) in Belarus Tanja Radocaj, other UN agencies, representatives of the Ministry of Education, Maxim Tank Belarusian State Pedagogical University (BSPU), BSPU Coordination Centre of Education for Sustainable Development, Institute of Inclusive Education and NGOs and other educational institutions, as well as students and teachers.
The roundtable participants discussed the report on “The National education system: achievements, challenges, future development.” They also reviewed the proposals and comments on the following thematic clusters: Inclusive, Equitable, Safe and Healthy Schools; Learning and Skills for Life, Work and Sustainable Development; Digital Training and Transformation; Teachers, Teaching and Teaching Profession; and Education Funding.
In his speech Minister of Education Andrei Ivanets said, citing the National Strategy for Sustainable Socio-Economic Development for the period until 2030 (NSDS-2030), that the Belarusian educational system is characterized by such traits as accessibility, high standards and inclusion.
"Today we see that wherever our young people live, be it a village, a small district, or a regional district centre, they should be provided with equal access to quality education. As of today, our country ranks 17th out of 163 countries by access to basic knowledge indicator in the Social Progress Global Index.
The Minister of Education also emphasized the importance of inclusive education as an aspect of the Belarusian educational system.
"Today, 43 thousand children with special needs will receive education in our institutions, primarily on terms of integration. This is to say that today we are nurturing a culture of inclusive society. We say that our society, teachers and youth in general are ready to accept children with special needs in their communities," said Andrei Ivanets.
Speaking during the national consultations, the UN Resident Coordinator in Belarus Joanna Kazana-Wisniowiecki stressed that by convening the Summit, the UN and its member states are collectively recognizing that education is key as foundation for peace, tolerance, human rights and sustainable development.
"The UN in Belarus is glad to contribute to the process of national consultations which have been advanced in over 100 countries. We hope that building on the high level of education in Belarus and on the strong focus on education in the national priorities, this national consultation will help strengthen the shared vision, commitment and alignment of action across constituencies to transform education," said the UN Resident Coordinator in Belarus.
Joanna Kazana-Wisniowiecki also added that public engagement and mobilization efforts around the Summit have sought to democratize dialogue around education and to grow a global movement for education transformation.
"As UN, we will continue to do our part to make sure that, in addition to education sector officials, the voice of parents, children and teachers as well as independent education experts is heard on the national and global level," she said.
Speaking at the roundtable meeting, UNICEF Representative in Belarus Tanja Radocaj stressed that educational systems worldwide are in crisis because they are behind the times and change very slowly, while the reality changes much faster.
"Children, who go to school today, don't know the world without the Internet, artificial intelligence and social networks," UNICEF Representative in Belarus noted.
As Tanja Radocaj said, children, who have been born this year, will live in the 22nd century.
"Although biologically children remain children, their perception of the world is significantly different, and they learn better and not like their parents and grandparents. Belarusian children have told us that they want and can contribute to improvement of educational process and outcomes, they can tell us what skills they need and what makes learning interesting for them. They also see gaps in teachers' education and skills," the UNICEF Representative in Belarus said.
Preparations of the Republic of Belarus for the Transforming Education Summit consisted of several stages. In particular, in summer 2022 Belarus held a scientific and practical conference "Education for the Future", two online conferences with participation of parents and public discussion of education development involving adolescents and young people.
The roundtable meeting at the Belarusian State University of Informatics and Radioelectronics was the final event of the national consultations in the lead up to the UN Summit that gathered together many stakeholders, including representatives of ministries, scientists, educators, the private sector, and teenagers.
The UN Country Team representatives became the official partners of the National Consultations. Organization of the National Consultation process was supported by the UN Children's Fund (UNICEF) in Belarus.
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Press Release
22 February 2023
New research suggests solutions to improve food security and support sustainable agriculture
Creating a world free of hunger by 2030 is at the core of the Global Agenda 2030. The SDG’s Goal 17 "End hunger, achieve food security and improved nutrition and promote sustainable agriculture" is one of the world's most pressing targets to meet.
In 2021, the UN Secretary-General António Guterres convened a global Food Systems Summit and launched bold new actions to deliver progress on all 17 SDGs, each of which touches upon on healthier, more sustainable and equitable food systems.
With the onset of the war in Ukraine, the situation continues to deteriorate, and the 2022 State of Food Security and Nutrition in the World report warned that “the world is moving in the wrong direction” on the SDG targets to end hunger, food insecurity, and all forms of malnutrition”.
Belarus occupies 55th place on the 2022 Global Food Security Index, indicating the country’s high level of food security.
To sustain the level of food security, the country needs to anticipate risks and build resilience to external economic pressures by continuously improving the sector of agriculture and food production.
The new study undertaken by UNDP in cooperation with Ministry of Agriculture and Food looks at the risks to food security and sustainable agriculture and identifies key areas for the food and agriculture industries’ enhancement. The experts come up with practical recommendations in the areas of state support, taxes, food distribution, supply chains and logistics.
On state support, the study recommends optimizing the state support and regulation in the field of agro-industrial complex, establishing clear rules for subsidizing agricultural production and applying actively the so-called green box measures for food production.
Regarding taxes, experts advocate for a tax burden reduction in agriculture.
On support to agricultural producers and SMEs the report recommends using budgetary funds on a competitive basis for partial reimbursement of the costs of agricultural organizations; financial support for SMEs; and diversify implementation of investment projects.
Experts make also recommendations on food distribution, arguing to ensure wage growth in the sector and prioritize the food needs of the vulnerable groups.
All findings of the research can contribute to improvement of the national programs of sustainable rural development for 2011–2015, agricultural business development for 2016–2020 and the Agricultural Business program for 2021–2025 - bit.ly/3xJxNDX.
The study is part of the joint UN analytical effort by United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF), the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), the United Nations Development Program (UNDP), UN Women and the Office of the UN Resident Coordinator in Belarus with funding by the Joint Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) Fund.
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Press Release
17 December 2022
Head of Belarusian Helsinki Committee Aleh Hulak dies
Oleg was one of the leading human rights experts in Belarus, specializing in the UN human rights system, treaty bodies and special procedures. For many years he cooperated closely with this Office, helping to integrate HR principles in various aspects of development cooperation. He played an active role in preparation of the national HR Action Plan, also worked with us in promoting human rights-based programming. Under his leadership, in 2022 the Belarus Helsinki Committee was granted observer status at the UN Economic and Social Council.
One could always count on his wisdom, knowledge, openness, and humor. Not everything we discussed was possible, much has changed. His life was cut way too short, but his gentle legacy will last and inspire us for long. Rest in peace, Oleg.
One could always count on his wisdom, knowledge, openness, and humor. Not everything we discussed was possible, much has changed. His life was cut way too short, but his gentle legacy will last and inspire us for long. Rest in peace, Oleg.
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Press Release
20 November 2022
UN Resident Coordinator in Belarus took part in the National Council for Sustainable Development meeting
On 18 November the UN Resident Coordinator in Belarus addressed the meeting of the National Council for Sustainable Development. “We see that the situation in the region continues to worsen,” Joanna Kazana-Wisniowiecki said.
“This has a negative impact on the sustainable development of Belarus and creates new threats to its economy, environment, and people. It also reverses progress in many areas and affects the country’s position in terms of achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals.”
She added that last year Belarus ranked 24th in the global expert index rank of countries’ progress towards achieving the SDGs but now ranks 34th.
“In the context of this completely new reality, it is necessary to protect financing for SDGs, especially funding healthcare, education, social services as well as development of the private sector of the economy”, Joanna Kazana-Wisniowiecki emphasised.
She added that the UN Country Team is ready to complement these efforts not only through UN agencies, funds and programmes represented in Belarus, but also through its 13 non-resident agencies such as UN Women, UNODC, ITU, FAO and others that are implementing the important initiatives in the country for sustainable development.
The UN Resident Coordinator in Belarus highlighted the work of the Joint Programme on SDG Financing, implemented by UNDP, UNICEF, UNFPA and UN-Women and financed by the global Joint SDG Fund, the first results of which were presented during the meeting. According to UNDP research, Belarus continues to closely align its national programmes with the SDG targets. Monitoring and reporting of national programs’ implementation can be further enhanced, for example by systematic use of national SDG indicators developed by Belstat.
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Press Release
05 December 2022
The UN agencies in Belarus join forces for crisis response
The Joint Programme of UN agencies in Belarus, focusing on promotion of new tools for sustainable development budgeting, has got a new component with particular attention to vulnerable populations.
The new component aims at identifying the specific impact that the current crisis in the region has on vulnerable groups and will contribute the development of recommendations for targeted responses.
In addition to the fields of education, healthcare and climate change that are already covered by the Joint Programme, the new component will focus on the food security and agriculture which are especially important today in the region. Moreover, the component will cover the impact of the crisis on families with children and reproductive health.
Participating UN agencies will contribute to the implementation of the Joint Programme across various thematic areas.
UNDP, in partnership with the Ministry of Agriculture and Food of the Republic of Belarus and with expert support from FAO, will conduct a complex assessment in the areas of food security and agriculture. The results of it will allow to suggest new opportunities for supply chains between farmers and major retailers. The assessment will contribute to the identification of the ways to advance certification of organic products. UNDP, in cooperation with the financial sector organizations, will organize educational workshops for Belarusian farmers to familiarize them with regulatory actions when planning new types of entrepreneurial activities.
UNDP will also contribute to the development of recommendations for individual farmers and local business communities, line ministries, focused on the aspects of support to the agricultural production, including processing and supply to the retail chains. All these measures will contribute to the improvement of national food security programmes and practices.
UNICEF activities within the new Joint Programme component will analyze the impact of various evolving internal and external factors and challenges, including the rapid growth of global food prices, on income redistribution and child poverty. Based on the research study findings, UNICEF and national partners will develop recommendations to strengthen social assistance tools, statistics methodology, and tax and budgetary policy focused on families with children.
UNFPA, in partnership with the Ministry of Health of the Republic of Belarus, will conduct a study on the potential impact of the financial crisis on the healthcare system, with particular focus on reproductive health, including further forecast of demographic data, with recommendations on cost effective measures addressing reproductive health and infertility. It is planned to identify and describe ways to reform in-patient care, as well as to analyze the possibilities of some elements of digitalization to maintain the financial sustainability of the healthcare system in a crisis context and to achieve SDGs in public health. These studies will also include an investment case – a special tool that can be used to demonstrate the cost/value ratio of the health programmes and identify financial gaps – as well as the necessary resources and commitments required.
UN Women will partner with the participating UN agencies to ensure the needs of women and men are addressed in the analyses and recommendations for targeted measures in response to the crisis in the region in food security and agriculture sector, as well as social protection (with focus on families with children). It will work with national stakeholders to identify entry points for integrating gender analysis and the perspective of equality of women and men in the policy/programme planning and budgeting.
After the Joint Programme is finalized, Belarus will be equipped with technical capacity and tools to continue its transition to performance-based budgeting in the context of the ongoing crisis in the region. These tools will be applied in the areas of healthcare, social services, natural resources, as well as food security and agriculture.
The new component is part of the Joint Programme implemented since 2021 by the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF), United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), UN Women and UN RC Office in Belarus and funded by the Joint SGD Fund.
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Press Release
02 October 2022
Republican Association of Wheelchair Users" ("RAIK") marks its 25th anniversary
The UN Resident Coordinator in Belarus, on behalf of all UN agencies, funds and programs working in Belarus, congratulated activists, instructors, volunteers and leadership of regional organisations of the public association "Republican Association of Wheelchair Users" ("RAIK") on the occasion of its 25th anniversary.
In her welcoming speech, Joanna Kazana-Wisniowiecki noted the importance of joint efforts with government institutions and all partners in providing assistance to people with disabilities with a focus on the issues of inclusion, barrier-free environment, access to services, the specifics of the issues of women with disabilities and integration of children on wheelchairs in schools. She highlighted the commitment of the country to the implementation of the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, ratified by the Republic of Belarus in 2016, and confirmed readiness of the UN to work on new joint innovative and ambitious projects.
The contribution of RAIK to the system of social support and rehabilitation of people with disabilities in Belarus was highly appreciated by the leadership of the Ministry of Labor and Social Protection, the Minsk City Executive Committee, the Paralympic Committee, the Republican Olympic Training Center for Paralympic and Deaflympic sports, the public association "Belarusian Society of the Disabled", the Republican Unitary Enterprise "Belarusian Prosthetic and Orthopedic Rehabilitation Center" and other partners. It is noteworthy that all members of RAIK, according to its Charter, are the wheelchair users.
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