Аddress by Joanna Kazana-Wisniowiecki, UN Resident Coordinator in Belarus, on occasion of the United Nations in Belarus 30th Anniversary

Yesterday we wrapped up celebration of the United Nations Day. On this occasion we acknowledged the 30 years of UN Office's presence in Belarus. 



30 years ago, the UN Secretary-General Mr. Boutros Boutros-Ghali signed a decision on the creation of UN Offices in number of the Newly Independent States which emerged after the collapse of the Soviet Union. The mission and mandate of the new UN presence was to assist the countries in the field of development in transition.

Throughout the years, the values of the UN Charter and principles of sustainable development and human rights have been guiding our work. 

UN agencies implemented hundreds of development projects, held thousands of meetings, and hosted strategic senior level discussions. And we have always focused on the needs of people, in particular those most vulnerable, including children and adolescents, persons with disabilities, women, rural communities affected by Chernobyl, refugees and migrants, people living with HIV, and those addicted to drugs.

This work would not have been possible without close collaboration of all our partners: Government, civil society organizations, academia, private sector, and all international development partners and donors. We would also not be able to deliver without our wonderful staff.

To all of you, I extend my most sincere appreciation and thanks.

We have achieved a lot, but the work is not done yet.

Complex challenges all over the world and in Belarus require urgent solutions.  

We need solidarity to address the climate crisis, the food and energy crisis, the growing poverty and inequality issues, as well as the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. we need also to redoubble our efforts to expand civic space and foster people's participation in decision making.



For this to happen, we need everyone to come together and focus on what we have in common.

No one actor can address global challenges on their own.

Not the UN, not the government, not the private sector, and certainly not the international community,.

As we have in the past, the United Nations will continue to support solutions for people in Belarus. We have an ambitious agenda in the agreed Cooperation Framework, focusing on green economic growth, the needs of future generations, also promoting digital transformation for development and innovation in social service delivery. We also continue to promote equal opportunities for women as one of accelerators of development.

We look forward to engaging with all of you as Belarus strives to sustain the impressive level of human development and equality achieved over the last 30 years of independence.