Belarus attends 51st session of UN Commission for Social Development

MINSK, 12 February (BelTA) - Belarus presented the information on the priority areas of its youth policy at a meeting of the 51st session of the UN Commission for Social Development. It is held in New York from 6 to 15 February The priority theme of the session is "Promoting empowerment of people in achieving poverty eradication, social integration and full employment and decent work for all". In addition to the priority theme, the session includes review of relevant United Nations plans and programs of action pertaining to the situation of social groups such as: disabled persons, youth, ageing, and the family, BelTA learnt from the Foreign Ministry's press service.

The Belarusian delegation is led by the head of the main department of international diplomacy of the Foreign Ministry of Belarus Yuri Ambrazevich. In his speech he talked about the Belarusian youth policy, including raising the educational level of young people, employment and combating youth unemployment, patriotic upbringing of young citizens, the formation of their legal and political culture, responsible and active participation in the life of the country, support for positive youth initiatives, developing healthy lifestyles, improving the health of young people, upgrading the system of social protection and support for young families.

The Belarusian delegation included the head of the Belarusian Association of UNESCO clubs Dmitry Subtselny, who presented the information on the activities of the Belarusian youth public associations. Dmitry Subtselny noted that with the support of the state and in cooperation with foreign partner organizations, the Belarusian youth organizations implement joint projects that play an important role in strengthening international contacts and social development of the youth of Belarus. Youth organizations of Belarus act as partners of government institutions of education, health, and social security and as specialized agencies and funds of the United Nations within the framework of targeted youth projects in a wide range of areas: reproductive health of young people, informed parenthood, gender culture, prevention of HIV and drug addiction, prevention of child injury and disability, overcoming the Chernobyl legacy, socialization of the children in conflict with the law.

The head of the Belarusian Association of UNESCO clubs noted the need to raise awareness about the work of the UN in youth matters and to step up cooperation of the United Nations with the states and and national youth organizations.