MINSK, 26 March (BelTA) – Belarus strives to ensure that refugees and displaced persons have proper access to social services, Belarus’ representative said at the 95th meeting of the Standing Committee of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees in Geneva, BelTA learned from the Permanent Mission of Belarus to the United Nations Office and other international organizations in Geneva.
“With the support of UNHCR, Belarus has established a comprehensive system for the protection of asylum seekers. Over the past 30 years, more than 18,700 people from 83 countries have applied for refugee status or protection in Belarus. Two-thirds of them were granted subsidiary protection and refugee status (10,130 and 1,032 respectively). Many of them have subsequently been granted Belarusian citizenship. There are currently around 5,000 refugees and persons granted subsidiary protection in Belarus (572 and 4,243 respectively),” the Belarusian diplomat said.
In 2025 alone, 2,284 people from 20 countries applied for protection. Around 97% of them are citizens of Ukraine.
“In accordance with a decision by the President of Belarus, with a view to integrating Ukrainian citizens into Belarusian society and ensuring the efficient regulation of matters relating to their employment and social support, they are now able to access the relevant services on an equal footing with Belarusian citizens,” the Belarusian delegation noted.
We are also grateful to UNHCR for its constructive support for the efforts of the Belarusian state and for the assistance UNHCR provides to displaced persons from Ukraine.
“Guided by the Global Compact on Refugees, Belarus, with State support, strives to ensure that refugees and displaced persons have adequate access to social services,” Belarus’ representative said.
“We support UNHCR’s focus on shifting from humanitarian aid to sustainable responses centered on inclusion, protection and ‘the realization of rights in a safe environment’. We are also keen to improve policies and strengthen national capacity in this area. We would be grateful to UNHCR for supporting our efforts, particularly in ensuring that refugees and displaced persons have access to healthcare services,” the Belarusian diplomat said.
Belarus looks forward to working together in this area with UNHCR and its multi-country office in Moscow accredited to Belarus.
“Over the past 10 years, the number of stateless persons in Belarus has almost halved (to 5,300). Virtually everyone who wished to do so has already been able to acquire Belarusian citizenship or is in the process of doing so. We are taking measures to safeguard the socio-economic rights of stateless persons and to minimize the negative consequences associated with their legal status,” the Belarusian representative noted.
“We are effectively addressing the issue of stateless children. All children born in Belarus to stateless parents become Belarusian citizens by virtue of their birth. We are continuing our work with a view to Belarus’s accession to key UN conventions on statelessness,” he said.
In conclusion, the Belarusian representative expressed full support for UNHCR in protecting the rights and dignity of people forced to leave their homes in search of safety and a better life.
“With the support of UNHCR, Belarus has established a comprehensive system for the protection of asylum seekers. Over the past 30 years, more than 18,700 people from 83 countries have applied for refugee status or protection in Belarus. Two-thirds of them were granted subsidiary protection and refugee status (10,130 and 1,032 respectively). Many of them have subsequently been granted Belarusian citizenship. There are currently around 5,000 refugees and persons granted subsidiary protection in Belarus (572 and 4,243 respectively),” the Belarusian diplomat said.
In 2025 alone, 2,284 people from 20 countries applied for protection. Around 97% of them are citizens of Ukraine.
“In accordance with a decision by the President of Belarus, with a view to integrating Ukrainian citizens into Belarusian society and ensuring the efficient regulation of matters relating to their employment and social support, they are now able to access the relevant services on an equal footing with Belarusian citizens,” the Belarusian delegation noted.
We are also grateful to UNHCR for its constructive support for the efforts of the Belarusian state and for the assistance UNHCR provides to displaced persons from Ukraine.
“Guided by the Global Compact on Refugees, Belarus, with State support, strives to ensure that refugees and displaced persons have adequate access to social services,” Belarus’ representative said.
“We support UNHCR’s focus on shifting from humanitarian aid to sustainable responses centered on inclusion, protection and ‘the realization of rights in a safe environment’. We are also keen to improve policies and strengthen national capacity in this area. We would be grateful to UNHCR for supporting our efforts, particularly in ensuring that refugees and displaced persons have access to healthcare services,” the Belarusian diplomat said.
Belarus looks forward to working together in this area with UNHCR and its multi-country office in Moscow accredited to Belarus.
“Over the past 10 years, the number of stateless persons in Belarus has almost halved (to 5,300). Virtually everyone who wished to do so has already been able to acquire Belarusian citizenship or is in the process of doing so. We are taking measures to safeguard the socio-economic rights of stateless persons and to minimize the negative consequences associated with their legal status,” the Belarusian representative noted.
“We are effectively addressing the issue of stateless children. All children born in Belarus to stateless parents become Belarusian citizens by virtue of their birth. We are continuing our work with a view to Belarus’s accession to key UN conventions on statelessness,” he said.
In conclusion, the Belarusian representative expressed full support for UNHCR in protecting the rights and dignity of people forced to leave their homes in search of safety and a better life.
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