The social and economic status of women is growing in Belarus, Deputy Labor and Social Security Minister Alexander Rumak told a press conference on 6 March.
"The social and economic status of women, their contribution to the country's social and political life are growing from year to year. Surely, it has been due to an accelerated technical progress, emancipation, globalization, and augmenting life expectancy," Alexander Rumak said. “Changes in perception of gender issues is another driving force. It is not a spontaneous process but a result of the state policy targeted at gender equality in rights and opportunities.”
According to the 2015 Human Development Report, Belarus ranks among 15 countries with the value of female Human Development Index (HDI) equal or exceeding that of the male HDI. “It has become possible because of a balanced gender equality policy in Belarus,” Alexander Rumak stressed.
Feminist movement has a great impact on the growth of a female social status. “At the same time, there should be a harmonious balance between social and professional activities of women and their family life,” Alexander Rumak believes.
The fifth National Action Plan on Gender Equality for 2017-2020 has been adopted in Belarus. The Action Plan is designed to build up the capacity of gender mainstreaming in the development of state policies in various areas of activity. Recently, the membership of Belarus' National Council on Gender Policy has been renewed. The Council was founded under Belarus' Council of Ministers in 2001.
Successes and challenges on the way to gender equality in Belarus were presented by the Belarusian delegation at the 65th session of the United Nations Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women in Geneva in October 2016. Final recommendations of the Committee have been published on the website of Belarus' Labor and Social Security Ministry. They will be considered at the nearest meeting of the National Council on Gender Policy in late March.