Year of the Belarusian Woman: what Belarusians expect from 2026
26.02.2026
MINSK (
BelTA) – How do Belarusian women feel about 2026 being declared the Year of the Belarusian Woman? Invited representatives from Belarusian ministries, organizations, and associations shared their thoughts in a new episode of BelTA’s Nation Speaks project.
Irina Kireyeva, who heads the Medical Activity Control Department at the Healthcare Ministry and chairs the ministry’s primary branch of the Belarusian Women’s Union, said she was thrilled by the announcement of the Year of the Belarusian Woman. “It was so unexpected. The first thing that came to my mind was that this is a great chance for many women to advance their projects or careers. The first appointment has already been made in the healthcare system: the president agreed to the appointment of Irina Nazarenko as Rector of Gomel Medical University. This is only the beginning. I am grateful to the president for declaring 2026 the Year of the Belarusian Woman,” she noted.
Deputy Minister of Labor and Social Protection Yulia Berdnikova emphasized that for the first time in the history of modern Belarus, the country had chosen not merely a theme for the year, but a symbol – the Belarusian woman.
“For the Ministry of Labor and Social Protection, which deals with promoting family policy and implementing measures to support motherhood and childhood, this year is especially significant. We will closely monitor support measures for families and mothers, develop them, and adapt them to real needs. It is gratifying that women are in the spotlight: they are our leaders, professionals with high social and civic responsibility. This year, we will highlight their role in the development of society and sovereign Belarus in many ways,” she said.
Inna Soldatenko, Deputy Chairwoman of the Belarusian Women’s Union and Chairwoman of the joint organization of scientific and practical centers of Belarus’ healthcare system within the Belarusian Women’s Union, said that this year we would see many interesting projects and their implementation. “Belarusian women are rational; their initiatives are always useful and in demand. By the end of the year, we will have many interesting projects and will see them realized,” she said.
Yelena Prokhorova, Chairwoman of the joint organization of business entities within the Belarusian Women’s Union and Director of Intelligent Business Technologies company, added that for women in business, this represents another step toward recognition of the female entrepreneurial community. “We have no difficulties dealing with authorities, industry, or partners. A woman entrepreneur is organized, precise, and straightforward. The Year of the Belarusian Woman presents us with new challenges. We see this as a positive development and understand that we need to contribute even more to the country’s economy and GDP,” she pointed out. “The president has entrusted us with a whole year, and we will support his vision, which has been coordinated with all government bodies, to do our utmost to showcase our contribution to the country.”
Tatyana Kravchenko, Chairwoman of the Belarusian Association of Large Families, also shared her thoughts: “I was also surprised and delighted. We have repeatedly proposed declaring the Year of the Family, and now it has happened. After all, a family does not exist without a woman, the head of the family. We all know how much attention the president pays to mothers with many children. I hope that this year, declared the Year of the Belarusian Woman, there will be many interesting events and changes in support of large families. Our society and large families are very glad and are looking forward to interesting results.”
Irina Kireyeva, who heads the Medical Activity Control Department at the Healthcare Ministry and chairs the ministry’s primary branch of the Belarusian Women’s Union, said she was thrilled by the announcement of the Year of the Belarusian Woman. “It was so unexpected. The first thing that came to my mind was that this is a great chance for many women to advance their projects or careers. The first appointment has already been made in the healthcare system: the president agreed to the appointment of Irina Nazarenko as Rector of Gomel Medical University. This is only the beginning. I am grateful to the president for declaring 2026 the Year of the Belarusian Woman,” she noted.
Deputy Minister of Labor and Social Protection Yulia Berdnikova emphasized that for the first time in the history of modern Belarus, the country had chosen not merely a theme for the year, but a symbol – the Belarusian woman.
“For the Ministry of Labor and Social Protection, which deals with promoting family policy and implementing measures to support motherhood and childhood, this year is especially significant. We will closely monitor support measures for families and mothers, develop them, and adapt them to real needs. It is gratifying that women are in the spotlight: they are our leaders, professionals with high social and civic responsibility. This year, we will highlight their role in the development of society and sovereign Belarus in many ways,” she said.
Inna Soldatenko, Deputy Chairwoman of the Belarusian Women’s Union and Chairwoman of the joint organization of scientific and practical centers of Belarus’ healthcare system within the Belarusian Women’s Union, said that this year we would see many interesting projects and their implementation. “Belarusian women are rational; their initiatives are always useful and in demand. By the end of the year, we will have many interesting projects and will see them realized,” she said.
Yelena Prokhorova, Chairwoman of the joint organization of business entities within the Belarusian Women’s Union and Director of Intelligent Business Technologies company, added that for women in business, this represents another step toward recognition of the female entrepreneurial community. “We have no difficulties dealing with authorities, industry, or partners. A woman entrepreneur is organized, precise, and straightforward. The Year of the Belarusian Woman presents us with new challenges. We see this as a positive development and understand that we need to contribute even more to the country’s economy and GDP,” she pointed out. “The president has entrusted us with a whole year, and we will support his vision, which has been coordinated with all government bodies, to do our utmost to showcase our contribution to the country.”
Tatyana Kravchenko, Chairwoman of the Belarusian Association of Large Families, also shared her thoughts: “I was also surprised and delighted. We have repeatedly proposed declaring the Year of the Family, and now it has happened. After all, a family does not exist without a woman, the head of the family. We all know how much attention the president pays to mothers with many children. I hope that this year, declared the Year of the Belarusian Woman, there will be many interesting events and changes in support of large families. Our society and large families are very glad and are looking forward to interesting results.”