GENDER PROJECTS IN BELARUS

 

In 1995, UNDP in partnership with the Ministry of Social Welfare, initiated the "Women in Development" (WID) project for the women of Belarus. This initiative lead to the establishment of the "Gender Information and Policy Centre" (GIPC), and in 1997, GIPC came under the umbrella of UNDP and has a national agenda on enhancing the position of women in Belarus in all spheres of life through various activities and initiatives. Specific objectives include analysis and distribution of information on gender equality issues, improvement in legislation in combating gender discrimination, assisting and strengthening women's NGOs, capacity building of the government in the promotion on gender equality on requirement, recruitment, legislation and policy making, and ensuring that gender is profiled in all projects implemented in Belarus, including those by international agencies.

UNDP support has a huge impact in putting gender and women's issues on the national agenda. In particular, GIPC and Family and Gender Issues Department were successful in getting 16 documents approved by the Decrees of the President and resolutions of the Council of Ministers. These documents aimed at improving equality between women and men, strengthening social protection of women, family and children, and creation of conditions for combining of professional and family duties.

GIPC forms a key and important part of the Government, and has been pivotal in promoting a gender agenda as a high profile of government objectives. Several activities culminated in a number of partnership projects such as the joint NGO's, WID and GIPC National Report "Belarusian Women as Seen Through an Era" (1997), and in partnership with GIPC and Ministry of Statistics and Analysis, lead to the integration of gender statistics system and publication of the first statistical book entitled, "Women and Men of the Republic of Belarus".

GIPC also monitors the implementation of National Plan of Action and National program "Women of the Republic of Belarus" and reports with recommendation to the Ministry of Social Welfare and later to the Council of Ministers.

GIPC acts as a mediator between the Government and NGOs. This project resulted in broadening the social partnership between them, including the involvement of NGOs representatives in various governmental legislative and reform acts. GIPC pays much attention to raising gender awareness of society in the horizontal direction (from the centre to provinces and outreach districts), vertically - - from the grassroots to decision-makers, as well as increasing awareness in society and among women themselves about gender equality and discrimination. During this project, 20 newsletters were published and widely distributed. The newsletters were informative about various changes in legislation, employment issues, and activities about women's NGO's, calendar of events for women, and issues that are of concern to women in respects of family life. The project also organized seminars, workshops, conferences, round-table discussions and training activities targeting gender issues.

GIPC recognises, that to enable women's NGO's to remain sustainable in the long term, it offers financial support within the framework of UNDP project, as well as organizational, information and consulting support.

In order to maintain a high standard of gender-based data, G1PC works closely with research centres and institutions. These include the Belarusian State University, Belarusian Commercial University of Management, Belarusian State Pedagogical University, Women's Non-governmental Institute "Envila", and Gender Studies Centre in the European Humanitarian University.

We can witness both positive and negative aspects of implementation of the project in the state structure. Some shortcomings are evident, because the employees of the Department and the Centre bear a double load. Positive aspects are that the activity of the Centre within the governmental structure increase opportunities to influence the elaboration and mainstreaming of gender policy in the country, and the improvement of the legislative base. It also facilitates contacts with other ministries of the social block, providing for interdepartmental co-ordination in the course of drafting documents and preparation of the information to the Government concerning women's and gender problems.

The centres main achievements were the join implementation of the project "Violence against women as a social problem" with the Young Women Christian Association. A part of this project was a sociological research, to analyse the extend of violence against young women students and what conditions and factors lead to abuse, as well as the young women's attitude to the abuse. This was accompanied by two public actions "A week without violence against women" (1-7 March, 1999) and week "You can stop violence by yourself (22-26 November, 1999.) Free psychological and legal advice for women subjected to violence was offered during these weeks of gender public awareness, together with training for young women students on self-defence.

In addition, G1PC supported three NGOs projects: "Development of Women's Educational and Consulting Centre" (Independent Women's Democratic Movement), "Violence against women as a social problem", and ''Legal education of women-students in the sphere of employment" (Young Women Christian Association).

UNDP's future plans are to implement two projects: one, around violence against women by supporting the development of networks for women's shelters and centres to provide a comprehensive package of support victims of violence and raising public awareness of this problem; and the other, around women and leadership, especially as elections to the parliament are forthcoming.

 

TEXT 2

Answer the questions to the text:

1. In what way was the American women’s movement splintered?

2. What was the difference between the women’s movement until the late 1960s and after?

3. What was primary concern of the NOW?

4. When was the NOW founded?

5. What women’s organizations do you know?