Vitebsk joined the UN regional campaign «Inclusive Belarus»

There are 17 goals in total. In our regional center, they were presented last year as part of the large-scale expedition "UN-70 Express: Towards Partnership for Development".

This year, the focus is on one of them – reducing inequality, meaning an equal approach for everyone, regardless of age, gender, health status, ethnicity, religion, etc. Engaging people with disabilities in socially active life, understanding and accepting them is the task of modern society.

Events dedicated to the theme of building an inclusive society and reducing inequality were held in all regional centers, with only Minsk ahead. The main venue for the campaign in the northern capital was the Vitebsk Concert Hall. Exhibitions and presentations of UN agencies, public organizations, and local initiatives were located here.

Everyone could attend a round table, film screenings, an inclusive concert, a table tennis tournament for visually impaired people, a presentation of a unique online smartphone application that helps understand sign language, a "Leadership School for Women," and a training session on promoting products made by people with disabilities. By the way, these products were demonstrated at the exhibition – the creations of visitors to the territorial social service centers of the region, who, along with international projects, make a significant contribution to the socialization of people with disabilities.

The events in Vitebsk were attended by the UN Resident Coordinator in Belarus, Sanaka Samarasinha, and the Chargé d'Affaires of the USA

in the Republic of Belarus Robert John Riley, Chargé d'affaires of Israel Olga Slov, Ambassador of Romania to the Republic of Belarus Viorel Moșanu, First Secretary of the Embassy of Hungary to the Republic of Belarus Péter Csömör, Deputy Resident Representative of the United Nations Development Programme in Belarus Ekaterina Panikova.

Welcoming such distinguished guests, Chairman of the Vitebsk Regional Council of Deputies Vladimir Terentyev noted that the partnership between Belarus and the UN plays an important role in the sustainable socio-economic development of the regions. Over the past years, considerable investments have been attracted to the Vitebsk region through various UN projects for the benefit of the life and health of future generations, and the spectrum of mutual interests is constantly expanding.

– The integration of people with disabilities and elderly citizens is an integral part of our country's social policy, thanks to which conditions are created for their independent living and improving the quality of life, – said Vladimir Vladimirovich. – The current campaign demonstrates that we are open to everyone, and these are the guidelines by which we, together with humanity, will move forward. Equal rights – equal opportunities – is what we strive for.

The progress made in the Vitebsk region confirms this. In particular, 26 day care centers for people with disabilities operate in the territorial social service centers of the region. The activities of 373 hobby groups and 79 rehabilitation and labor workshops, 55 computer classes equipped with special programs with font enlargement and audio support functions have been organized. The "social respite" service is provided on weekends for families raising children with disabilities.

A Belarusian-Swedish humanitarian project is being implemented, which has resulted in the introduction of a new form of work with people with disabilities – co-housing. In the Orsha district, a mobile sensory room has been opened as part of an international technical assistance project, where children with developmental disabilities of early age are engaged daily and with

with severe and multiple psychophysical disabilities. Inclusive education has been implemented at Secondary School No. 46 in Vitebsk, No. 8 in Novopolotsk, and in the regional center for correctional and developmental education and rehabilitation.

As Vladimir Terentyev noted, the task today is to create an inclusive school with a team of competent specialists in each region of the oblast.

– Ultimately, we will create conditions for the development of talents of all people, regardless of their level of physical or mental abilities. Society as a whole will benefit from this, – continued Mr. Sanaka Samarasinha, elaborating on Vladimir Vladimirovich's thought. – The most important thing we need to understand is that we must do everything together: people of different ages, religions, and abilities. Reducing inequality is a broad concept; it includes access to quality drinking water, quality education and healthcare, and developed infrastructure. There must be an equal approach everywhere and in everything.

This will be facilitated by the signing of the "Statement of Commitment to Leave No One Behind in Achieving Sustainable Development Goal 10: Reducing Inequality" by representatives of the UN and local authorities, which took place within the framework of the event. However, perhaps media outlets can also be confidently added to this list; their role is not insignificant in ensuring that people with disabilities feel comfortable in society. This was discussed during the press club of regional media "Barrier-Free Environment: Media Perspective" with the participation of representatives from the Ministry of Information, UNDP, the oblast executive committee, public associations, and regional media. After all, a barrier-free environment is not just about ramps, handrails, special crossings, or audible traffic signals. Unfortunately, it also includes barriers in people's minds that need to be dismantled.

Olga Maslovskaya. Photos by Dmitry OSIPOV. "Vitebskiye Vesti" and Alexander KHITROV – BELTA.