Belarus And The United Nations: Membership Status Explored

Belarus, formerly known as the Byelorussian Soviet Socialist Republic, is a member of the United Nations and has been since the signing of the UN Charter on 26 June 1945. Belarus has had a permanent mission to the United Nations since gaining independence in 1991, and its current representative is Valentyn Rybakov. The UN has been active in Belarus, with the UN Resident Coordinator in the country requesting an urgent meeting with the Minister of Interior to discuss human rights concerns and offer support in the wake of electoral-related unrest.

Belarus's membership in the United Nations

Belarus, formerly known as the Byelorussian Soviet Socialist Republic, is a member of the United Nations and was among the first countries to sign the United Nations Charter, becoming a founding member of the United Nations in 1945. Since Belarus's independence in August 1991, membership in the United Nations has been a priority of Belarus's foreign policy. The country informed the United Nations of its name change from the Byelorussian Soviet Socialist Republic to Belarus on 19 September 1991.

The Permanent Mission of Belarus to the United Nations is led by the Permanent Representative, currently Valentyn Rybakov, who has held the position since 7 August 2017. The permanent mission also includes three counsellors (one of which is a permanent representative deputy), a military adviser, and about ten secretaries and attachés.

The United Nations has been active in Belarus, with the UN Resident Coordinator playing a role in addressing human rights concerns and offering broader UN support and assistance. The UN has also been involved in initiatives to promote sustainable development, address the COVID-19 pandemic, and respond to the refugee and migrant crisis.

The UN's response to the Belarus crisis

The United Nations (UN) has been present in Belarus since it gained independence in 1991, and Belarus has been a member of the UN since 1945. The UN has responded to the ongoing crisis in Belarus by focusing on the promotion of new tools for sustainable development budgeting, with a new component that pays particular attention to vulnerable populations. This includes addressing the impact of the crisis on families with children and reproductive health, as well as food security and agriculture. The UN has also been working towards safeguarding progress towards the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in the turbulent political and economic climate.

The UN's Joint Programme in Belarus, implemented by the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF), United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), UN Women, and the UN RC Office in Belarus, has a new component that addresses the needs of vulnerable groups. This component aims to identify the specific impact of the crisis on these groups and develop targeted responses. It focuses on food security and agriculture, as well as the impact of the crisis on families with children and reproductive health. The UNDP is working with the Ministry of Agriculture and Food of the Republic of Belarus to assess food security and agriculture, and it is also providing educational workshops for Belarusian farmers on regulatory actions when planning new entrepreneurial activities. UNICEF is analyzing the impact of various factors, including the rapid growth of global food prices, on income redistribution and child poverty, and will develop recommendations to strengthen social assistance tools and policies focused on families with children. The UNFPA is conducting a study on the potential impact of the financial crisis on the healthcare system, with a focus on reproductive health, and will make recommendations on cost-effective measures.

The UN has also been active in providing essential support in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, as well as the refugee and migrant crisis. The UN has developed a COVID-19 Socio-Economic Response Plan and, together with the World Health Organization (WHO), launched a comprehensive response to the health, humanitarian, and development challenges posed by the pandemic. The UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) provides support through humanitarian assistance, social services, and legal advice to forcibly displaced and stateless persons. The UNFPA introduced the global practice of 'Orange Safe Spaces' as a key strategy for protecting and empowering vulnerable people, especially those affected by humanitarian crises. These safe spaces offer immediate support, information, and counseling to women, girls, older people, and people with disabilities.

The UN has also been working towards safeguarding progress towards the achievement of the SDGs in Belarus, despite the challenging environment. The UN Secretary-General has encouraged member states to put forward commitments at the national and global levels to accelerate progress towards the SDGs. The UN Resident Coordinator a.i. in Belarus has expressed hope that Belarus will put forward its national commitments to achieve the SDGs at the SDG Summit. The UN is committed to supporting Belarus in this process and in the preparation of the National Strategy for Sustainable Development until 2040.

The UN's work in Belarus

The United Nations has been active in Belarus since the country gained independence in 1991. Belarus was one of the first countries to sign the United Nations Charter in 1945, becoming a founding member of the United Nations.

Green Transition for Inclusive and Sustainable Growth

The UN is helping Belarus transition to a green economy by introducing environmental solutions in entrepreneurship, agriculture, gender equality, and support for vulnerable groups. The organization is also working to reduce CO2 emissions in the country by 35% by 2030.

Future Generations Orientation: Adolescence and Youth

The UN supports national partners in measuring child-oriented government spending and improving education, healthcare, and psychological well-being. They also focus on cyber safety, creating and maintaining a safe and enabling environment, combating human trafficking, and supporting refugees and migrants.

Digital Transformation and Social Innovation

The UN's activities in the area of digitalization aim to ensure that digitalization is accessible to all, increasing people's opportunities and well-being while mitigating cybersecurity and data privacy risks. They also work to advance digital and green technologies for smart small towns' development and design digital solutions for hazardous waste management.

Gender-Equitable Society

In addition to these priorities, the UN in Belarus has also been providing essential support in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, the refugee and migrant crisis, and the conflict in Ukraine.

Belarus's Permanent Representative to the United Nations

Belarus was one of the first countries to sign the United Nations Charter in 1945, becoming a founding member of the United Nations. Since Belarus's independence in 1991, membership in the United Nations has been a priority of its foreign policy.

The Permanent Representative of Belarus to the United Nations is the head of the permanent mission of Belarus to the United Nations. The current Permanent Representative is Valentin or Valentyn Rybakov, who has held the position since 7 or 13 September 2017.

Rybakov was born in 1958 in Tomsk and graduated from the Minsk State Pedagogical Institute for Foreign Languages in 1980. He has an extensive career in diplomacy and foreign affairs, including serving as the First Secretary at the Embassy of the Republic of Belarus in the United States of America from 1994 to 1999, and as the Head of the Department for International Security and Arms Control at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Belarus from 1999 to 2001. From 2001 to 2003, he was a Counsellor at the Permanent Mission of the Republic of Belarus to the UN, and from 2003 to 2005, he served as a Counsellor and Minister-Counsellor at the Embassy of the Republic of Belarus in the United States. In 2005, he became the Head of the American Department at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Belarus, and from 2005 to 2006, he served as Ambassador-at-large at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. From 2006 to 2013, Rybakov was the Assistant to the President of the Republic of Belarus, and from January 2013 to September 2017, he served as the Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs.

Rybakov holds the diplomatic rank of Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary and speaks English. He is married and has a son.

Belarus's involvement in the UN's Sustainable Development Goals

Belarus was one of the first countries to sign the United Nations Charter in 1945, becoming a founding member of the United Nations. Since Belarus's independence in 1991, membership in the United Nations has been a priority of Belarus's foreign policy.

In September 2015, the UN Member States adopted the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development (Agenda 2030). This agenda consists of 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and 169 relevant targets that must be achieved by 2030. Belarus is actively engaged in the implementation of these SDGs at the national level under the leadership of the National SDGs Coordinator and with the support of the UN system.

The first National Coordinator for achieving the SDGs in Belarus was Marianna Shchetkina, who held this post from 2017 to 2020. The current National Coordinator is Valery Belsky, who assumed the position on March 9, 2023. The National Coordinator is responsible for steering the work of the Council for Sustainable Development, which includes representatives of national ministries, agencies, and other organizations, as well as members of parliament and international organizations.

The Council for Sustainable Development holds meetings at least twice a year to discuss progress and initiatives related to the SDGs. In 2023, six meetings of the Council were held, including three thematic events on "Chernobyl" issues, education, and the protection of the rights of people with disabilities. Belarus has also participated in various international events and forums related to sustainable development, showcasing its positive dynamics and progress in implementing the 2030 Agenda.

According to international experts, Belarus has made significant progress in achieving the SDGs, with its level of progress close to 80%. The areas where Belarus has made the greatest progress include SDG 1 "Eradication of Poverty", SDG 5 "Gender Equality", SDG 6 "Clean Water and Sanitation", SDG 7 "Affordable and Clean Energy", and SDG 10 "Reduced Inequality". Belarus has also made strides in SDG 4 "Quality Education", SDG 15 "Conserve Terrestrial Ecosystems", and SDG 17 "Partnerships for Sustainable Development".

At the regional level, Belarus is working to formulate local development documents that align with the SDGs and relevant social-economic development programs. Additionally, the country has developed information systems, such as the "Module for monitoring and disseminating information on the progress of regions in achieving the SDGs" and "Geostatistics", to track and disseminate SDG indicators at the regional level.

Overall, Belarus is actively engaged in the implementation of the UN's Sustainable Development Goals and is making progress towards achieving the targets set out in Agenda 2030. The country's efforts are coordinated by the National Coordinator for the achievement of the SDGs and supported by the Council for Sustainable Development, with participation in international forums and initiatives further demonstrating their commitment to sustainable development.

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