Women's rights in Belarus are guaranteed in law but we need to develop mechanisms to combat stereotypes in society that hinder full realization of these rights, Vice Speaker of the Council of the Republic of the National Assembly of Belarus, National Coordinator for SDGs Marianna Shchetkina told the media on the sidelines of the forum “Topical areas of gender policy in the context of sustainable development” in Minsk, BelTA has learned.
“Women have all the rights de jure. These rights are secured in legislation but the mechanisms of realization of these opportunities stumble on the obstacles - stereotypes which we must destroy together. Women can support each other in these matters,” Marianna Shchetkina said.
As an example she cited a project implemented since last September by the Belarusian Union of Women in collaboration with the BelBrand Association. “Successful businesswomen served as mentors for women who wanted to start business. This project resulted in 17 start-ups in different areas. Their authors received free consulting and tips. “In addition to the conditions for the promotion of female entrepreneurship we need mutual support. The fledgling women's contact network for sharing experiences and consulting is a necessary condition for the achievement of the gender equality goal,” Marianna Shchetkina said.
Wage increases in the public sector (where more women work than men), the possibility of reconciling professional self-fulfillment and family happiness, creating jobs friendly to families, strengthening families through mediation institution, more preschool and nurseries, more distance work opportunities, flexible working hours… These are the suggestions of women themselves. We must discuss them and, if necessary, introduce the necessary amendments to the legal framework. We need to assist the increasing role of women in the society,” Marianna Shchetkina said.
Attending the forum are representatives of the Labor and Social Security Ministry, Economy Ministry, the National Academy of Sciences and international organizations. The agenda of the forum features the increasing role of women in the society, gender equality proposals that will be used to develop the country's National Sustainable Development Strategy through 2035 and the new National Gender Equality Action Plan for 2021-2025.
The forum is divided into three themed sessions. Each of them highlights global challenges in the gender policy implementation: Balance of Work and Family Life: Is it Possible in the Present-Day World?, Counteraction to Domestic Violence, Female Employment and Business as a Driver Behind the Achievement of Sustainable Development Goal No.5 Gender Equality.
The forum also includes a presentation of the results of the research “Application of behavioral Methods for the Expansion of Economic Rights and Opportunities of Women in Belarus”. The study was conducted as part of the Women and the Labor Market initiative. The study was financed by the UK Embassy in Minsk and implemented by the UNDP in Belarus. The group of experts will speak about the barriers that influence women's success at work and present the appropriate behavioral solutions.
The forum is held by the UNFPA in Belarus and the UNDP in Belarus in partnership with National Coordinator for SDGs Marianna Shchetkina and the financial support of the UK Embassy in Minsk.