GRODNO, 23 October (BelTA) - The UN initiative UN70 Belarus Express for Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) sets off on a journey around the country on 23 October. The train will bring more than 250 events to the regions, BelTA has learned.
The morning program includes the signing of the United Nations Development Assistance Framework (UNDAF) and a ceremony to plant a tree of peace in Loshitsa Park in Minsk. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs will host the exhibition to mark the 70th anniversary of the United Nations. An official train departure ceremony will take place at the Minsk railway station at 16:20.
The first of the regional centers to welcome the UN Express will be Grodno. However, even on its way the participants of the initiative will hold workshops, lectures, discussions, and creative events. Upon arrival at the Grodno train station the parties will sign the Declaration of Grodno Oblast Commitment to the Sustainable Development Goals. The ceremony will be attended by Chairman of the Grodno Oblast Executive Committee Vladimir Kravtsov and the UN representatives in Belarus.
On Saturday, 24 October, the UN70 Belarus Express participants and the Governor will plant a tree of peace in the Kolozha Park. This ceremony will be followed by a string of events dedicated to the UN anniversary. It is expected that they will be attended by UN Secretary General's Envoy on Youth Affairs Ahmad Alhendawi, WHO Regional Director for Europe Zsuzsanna Jakab, Director of the UNDP Regional Bureau for Europe and CIS Cihan Sultanoglu.
The daytime program of activities includes a lecture on European health policy, educational interactive sessions, seminars on HIV, healthy lifestyle, support for persons with disabilities, and many other initiatives. A large-scale event dedicated to a healthy lifestyle will be held at noon near the Youth Center of Grodno. It will feature UNAIDS Goodwill Ambassador Svetlana Borovskaya, famous musician Alexei Khlestov, Di Bronx and Natali band, movie actress Olesya Gribok, Belarus' famous athletes.
In the afternoon, Ahmad Alhendawi will host a roundtable on youth participation in the city governance and youth policy. It will be attended by representatives of the Grodno city administration and the youth parliament.
Saturday's events will be held in the youth center of Grodno and also schools and gymnasiums, the Department of Internal Affairs, regional hospital, other institutions, and open-air venues. A concert in the Grodno concert hall will feature Belarusian and foreign singers. Part of the UN delegation will also visit the town of Mosty where they will get familiar with the biowaste processing project.
The UN train will depart for further journey around Belarus in the morning of 25 October.
The events to mark the anniversary of the UN will be attended by representatives of the government, parliament, regional authorities, more than 100 civil organizations, 25 partners from the private sector, representatives of more than 40 embassies, students, journalists, religious leaders of all faiths, and representatives of vulnerable groups of the society.
