Opinions & Interviews

MINSK, 13 April (BelTA) – The sustainable development goals can be achieved only with the public policies aimed at strengthening and supporting families, Belarusian Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Valentin Rybakov said as he spoke at the 49th session of the UN Commission on Population and Development in New York, BelTA learnt from the press service of the Belarusian Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

“The representative of Belarus emphasized the role of the family as a basic social institution in the upbringing and education of children and youth, care of the elderly and people with disabilities,” the press service said.

Valentin Rybakov made a statement at the general debate on national experience in population matters. The Deputy Minister drew attention of the participants to the inadmissibility of a generalized approach for the use of demographic data in view of the non-homogeneous demographic processes in various countries. The Belarusian diplomat emphasized that countries with aging populations need other approaches and policies aimed to increase the birth rate.

The 49th session of the UN Commission on Population and Development running on 11-15 April 2016 is devoted to strengthening the demographic evidence base for the post-2015 development agenda.