Welcoming remarks by the UN Resident Coordinator in Belarus Joanna Kazana-Wisniowiecki

The theme for this year’s World AIDS day campaign is EQUALIZE! This slogan is a call for all of us, all across the world, to take practical actions needed to address inequalities and help end AIDS by 2030.

In our region, the issue of inequality remains especially relevant for the key populations in the context of HIV/AIDS, including men who have sex with men, transgender people, people who use drugs, sex workers, and prisoners, i.e. those who are disproportionally affected by HIV.  

Only a third of people among key populations have regular prevention access and many of them face major legal barriers including criminalization, discrimination and stigma.

Without effectively working with these key populations, we cannot succeed in our fight against HIV epidemic.

Adding to the complexities of the situation with HIV epidemic within the country, external factors such as political, economic and health crises in the region and worldwide, have a major impact on the all-government and all-society response to HIV and overall HIV policy in Belarus. 

The migration developments on the borders of Belarus and within the country pose a challenge to timely and effective migration management.  This challenge needs to be quickly and thoroughly addressed, given that migration is a recognized and significant social determinant of health.  

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 the past year, Belarus has successfully started a project on PrEP (Pre-exposure prophylaxis). It is crucially important not only to continue these interventions, but increase their coverage, so they have a more substantial effect on HIV epidemic in the country.

The emerging challenges posed by HIV need to be addressed by using the potential and resources of the UN agencies.

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.

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. 

At the same time, further efforts are needed to maintain the achievements of the past 30 years of development.  



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. 

I think we all agree that it is time to bring the legal environment in line with the current state of the problem of HIV infection and the achievements of modern science and medicine, reflecting the evolution of HIV infection, from a once fatal to a chronic controlled disease. 

The repeal of articles 157 and 158 of the Criminal Code will strengthen the country’s commitment to a non-discriminatory approach and respect for the rights of every patient.

On this day, I call on all our partners to continue to work for the welfare of Belarus, where people living with HIV will not be left behind. 

We all can play our role to EQUALIZE access to end AIDS!