From May 1 to May 31, 2024, the Contest of Pilot Initiatives on the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) is being held in Belarus.
Organizations registered and operating in the Republic of Belarus are eligible to take part in the Contest. To participate, an organization must submit the application through the platform https://sdgidea.by before May 31, 2024 (until 18:00).
More details on the procedure and conditions for conducting the Contest of Pilot Initiatives on the SDGs can be found in the Regulations.
The Contest is held within the Joint Project “Support to the Efforts of the Republic of Belarus in Nationalization and Localization of SDGs”, funded by the Government of the Russian Federation. The project was registered in the database of international technical assistance programs and projects on December 28, 2022 № 2/22/001160.
More information about the Contest is in information seminars that were held in all regions of the country. Video recordings of the seminars are available via the links:
Mogilev – March 19, 2024Vitebsk – March 28, 2024Minsk – April 2, 2024Grodno – April 11, 2024Gomel – April 16, 2024 Brest – April 18, 2024
On April 25-26, 2024, the training seminar «Integration of the Climate Box into the Project» was held at the Grodno State Regional Ecological and Biological Center for Children and Youth. The training seminar was held within the framework of the project «Climate Education to Promote the SDGs and Advance the Climate Agenda (Climate Box)».
During the event, participants got acquainted with the project «Climate Box» and training materials for further implementation in the educational process of educational institutions, and also discussed climate change issues and the role of environmental education in raising awareness of teachers and students about the consequences of climate change.
Increasing knowledge about climate and the consequences of its change contributes to the achievement by the Republic of Belarus of Sustainable Development Goals 4, 13 and other SDGs.
More detailed information about the seminar can be found at the link.
On April 26, 2024, the meeting of the permanent interdepartmental commission was held in Minsk on the results of the implementation of the state programs «Scientific and Innovation Activities of the National Academy of Sciences of Belarus», «Knowledge-Intensive Technologies and Engineering», «Environmental Protection and Sustainable Use of Natural Resources».
In 2024, the accent in using resources from government programs will be on research and development work, the result of which will be innovative projects in mechanical engineering, construction, agriculture, healthcare, and other industries. Scaling such promising solutions and developments will help strengthen the country’s technological security and sustainable economic growth, including in the regions.
The effective implementation of government program activities makes an important contribution to the implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.
More detailed information about the meeting can be found at the link.
A new interactive resource – the digital map of specially protected natural areas created in Belarus.
The map contains systematic information about national parks, reserves, wildlife sanctuaries and natural monuments. The map also provides information about ecotourism services, contact information and links to online resources that will help you study information about accommodation, food, historical and cultural attractions. In addition, the online map can be further used to develop new ecotourism routes and products.
The creation of a digital map of specially protected natural areas will contribute to the development of eco-tourism and the achievement by the Republic of Belarus of Sustainable Development Goals 9, 12, 15 and other SDGs.
More detailed information about the online map can be found at the link.
On April 29–30, 2024, the VII Festival of Schoolchildren and Students «Mediation of the Future» will be held at the Minsk City Educational and Health Center «Leader». The theme for 2024 is «We are Ours Today and Tomorrow». The organizer of the event is the educational and practical institution «Center «Mediation and Law».
The annual holding of the Festival is aimed at popularizing and enhancing the development of school mediation, as well as involving students in a single educational space to exchange experience in the work of School Mediation Services in the Republic of Belarus.
The festival program includes sections on dispute resolution, as well as master classes, interactive platforms, creative workshops, and the international scientific and practical conference.
Holding the Festival of Schoolchildren and Students «Mediation of the Future» contributes to the achievement by the Republic of Belarus of Sustainable Development Goals 4, 16 and other SDGs.
More detailed information about the Festival can be found at the link.
On April 23, 2024, the thematic meeting of the Council for Sustainable Development dedicated to the International Chernobyl Disaster Remembrance Day was held in Minsk.
During the meeting, participants discussed promising areas of state policy in the field of regional development, including territories exposed to radioactive contamination as a result of the Chernobyl disaster, transformation of approaches to ensuring nuclear and radiation safety, medical consequences of the disaster at the nuclear power plant at Chernobyl, restoration and development of the affected areas of the Gomel region, excursion and educational solutions on the basis of the Polesie State Radiation-Ecological Reserve and other issues.
Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Belarus Ambrazevich Yu.G. addressed the participants of the meeting on behalf of the National Coordinator for Achieving the Sustainable Development Goals. He noted that Belarus suffered the heaviest blows of the disaster that occurred as a result of the accident at the nuclear power plant in the city of Chernobyl in 1986: the zone of radioactive contamination affected almost a quarter of the territory where a fifth of the country’s population lives. Despite a number of successes towards the revival of the affected areas, as well as the special contribution of the international community, including the UN system, in the long term, part of the territory will never be habitable. That is why, «in 2016, Belarus took the initiative to keep the Chernobyl issue on the international agenda and initiated a General Assembly resolution – the need to continue Chernobyl cooperation under the auspices of the United Nations in order to achieve sustainable development of the affected areas in Belarus and in other countries». Also, Ambrazevich Yu.G. noted that the main objective of this meeting is to exchange experience on the topic of minimizing the consequences of the Chernobyl disaster between the government, the United Nations Country Team, the non-governmental sector, and the business community.
The United Nations Resident Coordinator in the Republic of Belarus, Rasul Baghirov noted in his welcoming speech that international organizations, donors, the private sector, and public organizations have supported the recovery of the affected areas of Belarus since 1986. During this time more than 80 large-scale projects and programs with budget about 70 million US dollars were implemented in Belarus. Systemic, comprehensive government support and international assistance from UN agencies and donors contributed to the transition of Chernobyl areas from the status of recovery to the status of sustainable development. Today, these areas represent opportunities to demonstrate sustainable territorial development using a circular economy, ecosystem management and the conservation of unique natural habitats. Rasul Bagirov emphasized that «the UN will remain a faithful partner of Belarus with an impartial and universal mandate, experience, coordination mechanisms and commitment to the principle of «Leaving no one behind».
«The fundamental changes that have occurred in the external circuit have formed a new reality that affects the sustainability of the economic development of Belarus. However, the national economy is proving its wealth», – notes the Deputy Minister of Economy of the Republic of Belarus, the Head of the Intersectoral Economic Group of the Council for Sustainable Development Brantsevich T.V. Compared to 1995, real cash incomes of the population increased by 9.2 times, real wages by 12.4 times. In the structure of household consumer spending, the emphasis shifted from essential goods to services. In 1995, about 62% was spent on food, in 2023 – 35.4%. Belarus provides citizens with 100% access to medical services, very high indicators in the field of education, the highest levels of housing provision for the population, measures are being taken to reduce the gap in the level and quality of life in the regions, etc.
Also, there are positive trends in the socio-economic development of the regions affected by the disaster at the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant. according to data as of January 2024, growth in production volumes in agriculture ensured in 28 of 47 such regions, in industry – in 30 regions, 43 regions operate profitably, 34 – with a net profit.
The key problem in the development of the affected areas is the reduction in demographic and labor potential. Compared to 2011, the population of these areas decreased by 9.8%. The country average is 3.4%. One of the decisive factors for improving the situation is the ratio of wages to the national average, as well as the comfort and safety of living in the regions. State policy in the field of regional development is aimed at their increase. These provisions are also reflected in strategic documents – the National Sustainable Development Strategy until 2030, regional socio-economic development programs and government programs.
«Today the country has entered a new forecast cycle, and further development of promising areas of regional development will be carried out as part of the preparation of two fundamental documents: the National Sustainable Development Strategy until 2040 and the country’s socio-economic development program for 2026-2030», – reported Brantsevich T.V.
The main aspect in the sustainable development of territories affected by the Chernobyl disaster is the radiation factor. «2023 was very radical year in terms of making a large number of important decisions for the field of nuclear and radiation safety. Significant changes happened in the regulatory framework: The Law «On Safety Regulation in the Use of Nuclear Energy» was adopted, strategy for managing radioactive waste, including those of Chernobyl origin, the main directions for implementing a unified state policy in the field of ensuring nuclear and radiation safety were approved», – informed the Head of the Department for Nuclear and Radiation Safety of the Ministry of Emergency Situations of the Republic of Belarus Lugovskaya O.M.
Today, 40% of the Gomel region and 23% of the Mogilev region remain contaminated. This amounts to 12.8% of the total territory of the country, which contains 2022 settlements, 49 objects and 938 thousand people live, including 185 thousand children. 248.8 thousand hectares of this area remain radiation hazardous, 201.6 thousand hectares of which are in the Gomel region. More than 70% of radionuclides are concentrated in the Polesie State Radiation-Ecological Reserve. Among the measures to ensure security in these areas is the organization of a checkpoint regime.
The object of constant control in Belarus is the provision of medical care to residents of areas affected by the consequences of the disaster at the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant. Today, the affected population of the republic includes more than 1 million 300 thousand people, every seventh is under the age of 18. The most problematic issues are the aging of the population and the increase in overall morbidity.
«The Ministry of Health of the Republic of Belarus pays special attention to the availability of medical care for rural residents, the quality and completeness of dispensary examinations, early diagnosis of non-communicable diseases, as well as conducting practice-oriented research and development in the field of health protection and provision of medical care to affected residents», – noted Deputy Minister of Health, Chief State Sanitary Doctor of the Republic of Belarus Tarasenko A.A.
The priorities for further activities to minimize the consequences of the disaster are improving the system of medical care and dispensary observation of the population, developing and implementing methods for the prevention of early diagnosis and treatment of diseases, improving the filling and development of the state register of people affected by the disaster.
As for the recovery and development of the economy, infrastructure and agriculture of the areas affected by the disaster at the Chernobyl nuclear power plant, it is worth noting the achievements of the Gomel region.
As a result of the disaster at the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant, 20 out of 21 districts of the Gomel region were damaged, 357 settlements ceased to exist, about 40 farms and 216 thousand hectares of agricultural land were taken out of operation, 1127 settlements were contaminated, the number of affected population was 749 thousand people. During the period from 1986 to 2023, 33.9 thousand apartments, 134 schools, 101 kindergartens, 35 hospitals, 104 first aid stations were restored and functioning, 3.4 thousand km of roads and 1.3 thousand km of water supply networks were laid, 135 settlements were supplied with gas. Much attention is paid to strengthening the potential of agricultural organizations, creating jobs, the social sphere, and implementing special projects to develop the regional economy.
The largest amount of radionuclides in the Gomel region occurred in the territory of the Polesie State Radiation-Ecological Reserve. The public organization «Belarusian Green Cross» cooperates with the reserve in such thematic areas as mythical, natural, historical, cultural, man-made.
At the moment, there are two excursion routes around the Chernobyl region, and an informational and educational manual «Dnieper-Sozhsky Reserve» has also been developed. In addition, work is underway to develop an excursion and information manual «Chernobyl-40», which will include excursion routes around the reserve, Braginsky, Loevsky, Narovlyansky and Khoiniki districts, maps, board games, online information resources with QR codes, etc.
In research of the consequences of the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant disaster on human health, the World Health Organization (WHO) plays a major role.
«Among the tasks of WHO, together with government and international partners, is to support the health sector in preparing to respond to radiation and nuclear emergencies, helping patients with radiation conditions», – noted WHO representative in Belarus Sergei Diorditsa.
In addition, WHO regularly updates guidance on preparing for and responding to radiation accidents. In 2023, the list of medicines that need was stocked in case of radiation and nuclear emergencies was updated, and recommendations for their use were developed.
The recording of the meeting of the Sustainable Development Council in video format
Presentations:
«Transformation of approaches to ensuring the safety of Chernobyl regions in the context of the implementation of a unified state policy in the field of nuclear and radiation safety»
«Transition from recovery to development of the Gomel regions affected by the disaster at the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant»
«Excursion and educational solutions on the basis of the official environmental research institution «Polesie State Radiation-Ecological Reserve» (PGREZ)»
All photos
On April 22–26, 2024, specialists from the Ministry of Labor and Social Protection of the Republic of Belarus and the experts visited Bishkek in order to get acquainted with the experience of Kyrgyzstan in conducting gender expertise of normative legal acts and the mechanisms for its integration into the legislative process.
Gender expertise of regulatory legal acts is one of the tools that governments use to ensure equal rights and opportunities for men and women in all spheres of life. It helps ensure that legislation, government programs and budgets take into account the needs of men and women, do not contain elements of discrimination, do not lead to greater inequality, and will promote equal opportunities, rights, duties and responsibilities for women and men.
Kyrgyzstan is one of the first countries in the post-Soviet space where gender expertise is a mandatory element of legislative activity. In development of the gender equality policy, already in 2007, the country approved the Regulations on the procedure for conducting gender expertise of draft normative legal acts and preparing relevant conclusions.
The visit to Bishkek was organized by the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) in Belarus within the framework of the Joint Project “Support to the Efforts of the Republic of Belarus in Nationalization and Localization of SDGs”, funded by the Government of the Russian Federation.
Compliance of regulatory legal acts with the principles of ensuring equal rights and opportunities for women and men promotes sustainable development and contributes to the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals 5, 10 and the other SDGs by the Republic of Belarus.
Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Belarus Ambrazevich Yu.G. addressed the participants of the meeting on behalf of the National Coordinator for Achieving the Sustainable Development Goals. He noted that Belarus suffered the heaviest blows of the disaster that occurred as a result of the accident at the nuclear power plant in the city of Chernobyl in 1986: the zone of radioactive contamination affected almost a quarter of the territory where a fifth of the country’s population lives. Despite a number of successes towards the revival of the affected areas, as well as the special contribution of the international community, including the UN system, in the long term, part of the territory will never be habitable. That is why, “in 2016, Belarus took the initiative to keep the Chernobyl issue on the international agenda and initiated a General Assembly resolution – the need to continue Chernobyl cooperation under the auspices of the United Nations in order to achieve sustainable development of the affected areas in Belarus and in other countries”. Also, Ambrazevich Yu.G. noted that the main objective of this meeting is to exchange experience on the topic of minimizing the consequences of the Chernobyl disaster between the government, the United Nations Country Team, the non-governmental sector, and the business community.
The United Nations Resident Coordinator in the Republic of Belarus, Rasul Baghirov noted in his welcoming speech that international organizations, donors, the private sector, and public organizations have supported the recovery of the affected areas of Belarus since 1986. During this time more than 80 large-scale projects and programs with budget about 70 million US dollars were implemented in Belarus. Systemic, comprehensive government support and international assistance from UN agencies and donors contributed to the transition of Chernobyl areas from the status of recovery to the status of sustainable development. Today, these areas represent opportunities to demonstrate sustainable territorial development using a circular economy, ecosystem management and the conservation of unique natural habitats. Rasul Bagirov emphasized that “the UN will remain a faithful partner of Belarus with an impartial and universal mandate, experience, coordination mechanisms and commitment to the principle of “Leaving no one behind”.
“The fundamental changes that have occurred in the external circuit have formed a new reality that affects the sustainability of the economic development of Belarus. However, the national economy is proving its wealth” – notes the Deputy Minister of Economy of the Republic of Belarus, the Head of the Intersectoral Economic Group of the Council for Sustainable Development Brantsevich T.V. Compared to 1995, real cash incomes of the population increased by 9.2 times, real wages by 12.4 times. In the structure of household consumer spending, the emphasis shifted from essential goods to services. In 1995, about 62% was spent on food, in 2023 – 35.4%. Belarus provides citizens with 100% access to medical services, very high indicators in the field of education, the highest levels of housing provision for the population, measures are being taken to reduce the gap in the level and quality of life in the regions, etc.
“Today the country has entered a new forecast cycle, and further development of promising areas of regional development will be carried out as part of the preparation of two fundamental documents: the National Sustainable Development Strategy until 2040 and the country’s socio-economic development program for 2026-2030” – reported Brantsevich T.V.
The main aspect in the sustainable development of territories affected by the Chernobyl disaster is the radiation factor. “2023 was very radical year in terms of making a large number of important decisions for the field of nuclear and radiation safety. Significant changes happened in the regulatory framework: The Law «On Safety Regulation in the Use of Nuclear Energy» was adopted, strategy for managing radioactive waste, including those of Chernobyl origin, the main directions for implementing a unified state policy in the field of ensuring nuclear and radiation safety were approved” – informed the Head of the Department for Nuclear and Radiation Safety of the Ministry of Emergency Situations of the Republic of Belarus Lugovskaya O.M.
“The Ministry of Health of the Republic of Belarus pays special attention to the availability of medical care for rural residents, the quality and completeness of dispensary examinations, early diagnosis of non-communicable diseases, as well as conducting practice-oriented research and development in the field of health protection and provision of medical care to affected residents” – noted Deputy Minister of Health, Chief State Sanitary Doctor of the Republic of Belarus Tarasenko A.A.
The largest amount of radionuclides in the Gomel region occurred in the territory of the Polesie State Radiation-Ecological Reserve. The public organization “Belarusian Green Cross” cooperates with the reserve in such thematic areas as mythical, natural, historical, cultural, man-made.
At the moment, there are two excursion routes around the Chernobyl region, and an informational and educational manual “Dnieper-Sozhsky Reserve” has also been developed. In addition, work is underway to develop an excursion and information manual “Chernobyl-40”, which will include excursion routes around the reserve, Braginsky, Loevsky, Narovlyansky and Khoiniki districts, maps, board games, online information resources with QR codes, etc.
“Among the tasks of WHO, together with government and international partners, is to support the health sector in preparing to respond to radiation and nuclear emergencies, helping patients with radiation conditions” – noted WHO representative in Belarus Sergei Diorditsa.
“Transformation of approaches to ensuring the safety of Chernobyl regions in the context of the implementation of a unified state policy in the field of nuclear and radiation safety”“Transition from recovery to development of the Gomel regions affected by the disaster at the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant”“Excursion and educational solutions on the basis of the official environmental research institution “Polesie State Radiation-Ecological Reserve (PGREZ)”
“Today the country has entered a new forecast cycle, and further development of promising areas of regional development will be carried out as part of the preparation of two fundamental documents: the National Sustainable Development Strategy until 2040 and the country’s socio-economic development program for 2026-2030″ – reported Brantsevich T.V.
The main aspect in the sustainable development of territories affected by the Chernobyl disaster is the radiation factor. “2023 was very radical year in terms of making a large number of important decisions for the field of nuclear and radiation safety. Significant changes happened in the regulatory framework: The Law “On Safety Regulation in the Use of Nuclear Energy” was adopted, strategy for managing radioactive waste, including those of Chernobyl origin, the main directions for implementing a unified state policy in the field of ensuring nuclear and radiation safety were approved” – informed the Head of the Department for Nuclear and Radiation Safety of the Ministry of Emergency Situations of the Republic of Belarus Lugovskaya O.M.
Transformation of approaches to ensuring the safety of Chernobyl regions in the context of the implementation of a unified state policy in the field of nuclear and radiation safetyTransition from recovery to development of the Gomel regions affected by the disaster at the Chernobyl Nuclear Power PlantExcursion and educational solutions on the basis of the official environmental research institution “Polesie State Radiation-Ecological Reserve (PGREZ)”
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