The Republic of Belarus presented the second Voluntary National Review on the implementation of the 2030 Agenda
On July 12, 2022, at the meeting of the High-Level Political Forum on Sustainable Development, the Republic of Belarus presented the second Voluntary National Review on the implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.
The presentation of Belarus was focused on five Sustainable Development Goals that affect education (SDG 4), gender (SDG 5), marine ecosystems (SDG 14), terrestrial ecosystems (SDG 15), partnerships (SDG 17) and identified as priorities for consideration at the meeting of the High-Level Political Forum on Sustainable Development of the Republic of Belarus in 2022.
In the speech of the Republic of Belarus, it was noted that in 2017 Belarus created and effectively operates a multi-stage national architecture to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals. Most of the goals and objectives of sustainable development are included in the main strategic and program documents of Belarus. The sustainable development goals are a cross-cutting theme in the National Strategy for Sustainable Development for the period up to 2035. The key tasks identified in the NSSD 2035 include: achieving high standards of living standards for the population; qualitative growth of the economy on a new digital basis; formation of a competitive environment; creation of comfortable conditions for life and development of personal potential; conservation of natural systems.
Since the end of 2020, the Republic of Belarus has been fulfilling the 2030 Agenda in the face of unprecedented sanctions pressure from Western countries. Illegal unilateral coercive measures unnecessarily hinder Belarus’s ability to exercise its right to development and jeopardize Belarus’ achievements.
SDG 4 «Quality Education»
In Belarus, education is a priority area of state policy, so Belarus predictably demonstrates consistently high achievements in the field of education. The principle of inclusiveness plays an important role in ensuring equal access to education for all students. Citizens of Belarus have the right to receive free general secondary education; there are more than 7.3 thousand educational institutions in the country, in which about 2 million children, pupils and students study. The export of educational services is growing: more than 30 thousand foreign citizens from 107 countries study in Belarus. “Digital education” is being developed both to improve skills in the IT field and to adapt the population to digital transformations. Work is underway to develop and improve integrated education and upbringing, to include children with developmental disabilities in joint education and leisure with healthy peers. The educational process pays special attention to socialization, personality education and the formation of the worldview of young people.
SDG 5 «Gender Equality»
The implementation of the gender policy in Belarus is based on the observance of national interests, the principles of international law and human rights, the support of traditional values and foundations of the Belarusian society. An integral part of the state policy of Belarus in the implementation of international obligations in the field of gender is the promotion of issues of equal rights and obligations of men and women. High positions in international rankings are due to the high level of women’s participation in decision-making. Women, including those in rural areas, are assisted in the development of entrepreneurship, including through the allocation of gratuitous subsidies by the state. The current National Plan for Gender Equality aims to develop social conditions for the full realization of the potential of women and men. The National Model of Reproductive Health and Family Planning has been developed and is being implemented in Belarus, which includes the organization of a men’s health service. Belarus is making efforts to combat gender-based violence. There is practically no gender gap in the level of pension provision in the country.
SDG 14 «Conservation of marine ecosystems»
Being landlocked, Belarus contributes to the conservation of marine ecosystems through the protection of transboundary rivers, contributing to the conservation of the Baltic and Black Seas. In Belarus, the principle of basin management of water resources has been developed, which involves the management of river basins and the improvement of the ecological status of surface water bodies. The result of the work should be the assignment in 2025 of the ecological status of «good and above» to 75% of water resources.
SDG 15 «Conservation of terrestrial ecosystems»
Belarus is one of the ten forest states in Europe; forest management without a forest management project is prohibited at the legislative level. The country has a system of specially protected natural areas, including those of a transboundary nature. In connection with the construction of protective barriers by Poland on the Belarusian-Polish border, some of which will affect the territory of the UNESCO World Heritage Site «Belovezhskaya Pushcha», Belarus is concerned about the safety of this relict forest, its biological diversity and the existing ecosystem. Particular attention is paid to the protection and use of peatlands, the achievement of a neutral balance of land degradation. The area of land subject to various types of soil degradation is decreasing every year. Purposeful work is underway to restore agricultural land on the territory affected by the Chernobyl accident: almost 20,000 hectares have been returned to circulation.
SDG 17 «Partnerships for sustainable development»
Achieving the Sustainable Development Goals is an ambitious task for each state, which is not feasible on its own. Therefore, SDG 17 remains a unifying theme for Belarus. Belarus hopes that the pursuit of this goal will unite all the actors of international relations in the implementation of a positive international agenda.
Belarus intends to continue targeted steps to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals, adhering to the principle that they should be out of politics.
More information about the Voluntary National Review can be found at the link: https://sdgs.by/voluntary/.