Natalia Petkevich: Belarus takes all measures to protect children’s rights

Belarus takes comprehensive measures to protect interests and rights of children, especially through measures taken in line with the presidential programme “Belarus Children”, Natalia Petkevich, Deputy Head of the Administration of the President of the Republic of Belarus, pointed out at a solemn plenary session of the UN General Assembly. The session was dedicated to surveying results of fulfilling resolutions taken by a special UN GA session on children’s status. According to the press service of the Belarusian Foreign Ministry, Natalia Petkevich’s speech focused on the state taking care of all children without exceptions. Over the last ten year childhood mortality halved in Belarus and became the CIS lowest. Virtually 100% of Belarusian children are vaccinated. Since 2004 birth rate has been on the rise in Belarus as well as the number of families with three and more children. Natalia Petkevich informed the General Assembly about actions Belarus takes to protect the health of children, who were born and live in territories affected by the Chernobyl catastrophe. It was stressed that the Belarusian government does its best to encourage child adoption and other forms of family upbringing for orphans. Natalia Petkevich also remarked, Belarus does its utmost to enable barrier-free living environment for children with special needs. Attention of the General Assembly was drawn to trade in children, especially, the spread of child porn. Belarus has called upon the international community to discuss the problem in detail and to arrange special hearings of the UN General Assembly dedicated to the problem. Apart from that, Natalia Petkevich met with Srgjan Kerim, President of the 62nd session of the UN General Assembly. During the meeting the sides discussed issues relating to stepping up efforts of the General Assembly in the fight against human trafficking, including the organisation of topical debates as part of the General Assembly. Srgjan Kerim backed the Belarusian proposal to hold such debates.