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MINSK, 6 February (BelTA) – Belarus has achieved meaningful results in improving life for women, Head of the Belarusian delegation, Belarus’ Permanent Representative to the United Nations Office and other International Organizations in Geneva Larisa Belskaya said at the meeting of the UN Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women, BelTA reports citing the press service of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Larisa Belskaya presented the ninth report on Belarus’ progress to implement the provisions of the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women. The diplomat emphasized that Belarus is committed to the principles of the Convention and strives to fully ensure equal rights and opportunities for women and men in all areas. “Belarus has long-standing traditions and significant achievements in this field. A testimony to that is Belarus’ consistently high positions in the Global Gender Gap Index: over the past 10 years, it decreased almost twofold - from 0.152 in 2014 to 0.096 in 2024. In the Global Gender Gap Report 2024 Belarus ranks 29th among 166 countries,” the diplomat said.
“Despite an extremely difficult geopolitical situation, Belarus has preserved its statehood, peace and calm, and is consistently building an egalitarian society where every person - a woman or a man of any age - can fulfill themselves, live in decent living conditions and be useful to the society,” said Larisa Belskaya. She believes that the smear campaign unleashed against Belarus can hamper constructive and substantive interaction on this matter. She expressed hope that the dialogue on the convention would be professional and meaningful.
The diplomat noted that over the nine years since the previous report was discussed, Belarus has made great strides in fulfilling the general principles and obligations of this document. “We have achieved appreciable results in improving life for women,” she emphasized.
In her speech, Larisa Belskaya touched upon the changes that took place in Belarus from 2022 to 2024. They include more opportunities for women to participate in political and public life, more opportunities to get education, healthcare, jobs, and start a business. Progress has also been achieved in protecting vulnerable women and domestic violence victims. For example, Belarus is one of the few countries that offer a three-year maternity leave and maternity benefits for this entire period. These benefits increase when a woman gives birth to a second child or a disabled child. The maternity leave is included in the general period of work needed to get pension benefits. The labor legislation provides for a number of measures to balance work and family. More than 60% of employed women aged 20-49 have minor children.
Larisa Belskaya presented the ninth report on Belarus’ progress to implement the provisions of the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women. The diplomat emphasized that Belarus is committed to the principles of the Convention and strives to fully ensure equal rights and opportunities for women and men in all areas. “Belarus has long-standing traditions and significant achievements in this field. A testimony to that is Belarus’ consistently high positions in the Global Gender Gap Index: over the past 10 years, it decreased almost twofold - from 0.152 in 2014 to 0.096 in 2024. In the Global Gender Gap Report 2024 Belarus ranks 29th among 166 countries,” the diplomat said.
“Despite an extremely difficult geopolitical situation, Belarus has preserved its statehood, peace and calm, and is consistently building an egalitarian society where every person - a woman or a man of any age - can fulfill themselves, live in decent living conditions and be useful to the society,” said Larisa Belskaya. She believes that the smear campaign unleashed against Belarus can hamper constructive and substantive interaction on this matter. She expressed hope that the dialogue on the convention would be professional and meaningful.
The diplomat noted that over the nine years since the previous report was discussed, Belarus has made great strides in fulfilling the general principles and obligations of this document. “We have achieved appreciable results in improving life for women,” she emphasized.
In her speech, Larisa Belskaya touched upon the changes that took place in Belarus from 2022 to 2024. They include more opportunities for women to participate in political and public life, more opportunities to get education, healthcare, jobs, and start a business. Progress has also been achieved in protecting vulnerable women and domestic violence victims. For example, Belarus is one of the few countries that offer a three-year maternity leave and maternity benefits for this entire period. These benefits increase when a woman gives birth to a second child or a disabled child. The maternity leave is included in the general period of work needed to get pension benefits. The labor legislation provides for a number of measures to balance work and family. More than 60% of employed women aged 20-49 have minor children.
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