United Nations Children’s Fund

Belarus has participated in the activities of the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) since 1953.

In 1997, the UNICEF country office was established in Minsk. Since September 2022, Rustam Haydarov (Uzbekistan) is the UNICEF Representative in Belarus.

Belarus has become a member of the Executive Board of UNICEF (governing body) four times. UNICEF has a reputation of reliable and responsible partner of Belarus. Cooperation with the Fund contributes to the implementation of national plans and programs in the field of improving the situation of children in Belarus with emphasis on the most vulnerable categories, preventing bad habits as well as the HIV/AIDS among children and youth, and promoting and protecting rights of the child.

Current cooperation with the Fund is based on the country program for Belarus for 2021-2025 with a total budget of almost 15 million US dollars. Moreover, the UNICEF supports Belarus efforts to combat trafficking in persons, especially children. The Fund is a member of the Inter-Agency Coordination Group against Trafficking in Persons (ICAT).

During the period of the active spread of coronavirus, the UNICEF Office in Belarus provided to the Belarusian healthcare institutions, schools and institutions the effective and timely support. Country team launched a large-scale campaign involving numerous Belarusian partners and raised 1.58 million US dollars in a short period of time to purchase the necessary materials and equipment. 

Every year, starting from June 1, 2017 (Children's Day), Minsk hosts a joint event of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the UNICEF Office "Partnership for Children". The event is attended by the national partners of the foundation, the diplomatic corps, representatives of international and public organizations, the media, children of schools sponsored by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, etc. Its a fa,mily oriented event.

On June 1, 2022 on the occasion of the International Children's Day the Belarusian Theatre for Young Audience hosted a charity event organized by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs together with UNICEF and a performance of the play «The Canterville Ghost» for children from Belarusian orphanages, including institutions with children with special needs.

Information campaign of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the UNICEF Representative Office in Belarus "For Every Child" (June 1, 2017), the Ministry of Foreign Affairs #Разамздзецьмі campaign (June 1, 2020)