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Belarus attending UNFPA demographic discussions in New York

MINSK, 7 June (BelTA) – A Belarusian delegation is taking part in the United Nations Fund for Population Activities (UNFPA) Segment at the UNDP/UNFPA/UNOPS Executive Board Annual Session in New York on 4-8 June, BelTA learned from the press service of the Belarusian Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Belarus Deputy Permanent Representative to the United Nations Irina Velichko welcomed the rise in the total number of UNFPA donors in 2017, and also the increase in total revenue by 30% compared to 2016. The Belarusian diplomat expressed hope that these trends will continue through the current program period.

According to Irina Velichko, Belarus attaches great attention to demographic issues, including as part of a large-scale study held in the country in 2017 under the Generations and Gender program. She also informed the participants about Belarus’ forthcoming co-chairmanship at the Regional Conference on International Conference on Population and Development (ICPD) under the auspices of UNFPA and UNECE scheduled for 1-2 October 2018 in Geneva.

On the sidelines of the UNDP/UNFPA/UNOPS Executive Board Annual Session, Belarus’ Permanent Representative to the United Nations Valentin Rybakov took part in a thematic side-event on Population Dynamics and Sustainable Development in Europe and Central Asia co-hosted by the Permanent Mission of Albania and UNFPA. During his presentation “Impact of Evidence-based Family Policy on Population Dynamics” Valentin Rybakov briefed the participants of the event on modern demographic trends in Belarus and the main directions of the national demographic policy.

The Belarusian permanent representative presented the main outcomes of a large-scale survey “Belarus: family structure, family relations and birthrate in the changing social and economic context” conducted in Belarus in 2017 with the use of the Generations and Gender program methodology.

The Belarusian diplomat noted that Belarus is interested in continuing cooperation with UNFPA, UNECE and UNICEF, Russia and other international partners to strengthen demographic potential and develop an effective family policy for implementation of national priorities in this area and for achieving the Sustainable Development Goals.

Albania represents the Eastern European Group at the Bureau of the UNDP/UNFPA/UNOPS Executive Board in 2018. Belarus is a member of the Executive Board until the end of 2018.

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