Youth Policy in in Belarus

The youth is a strategic social resource of the country, and the country's youth policy is an integral part of state policy of social, economic, cultural and national development of the Republic of Belarus. Its implementation is one of the most important trends in the Belarusian society development. The strategic document in the field of the state youth policy is Law of the Republic of Belarus No. 65-Z as of December 7th, 2009 “On the Foundations of State Youth Policy”.

The law aims to define the objectives, principles and main directions of the state youth policy as an important element of state policy in the field of social, economic and cultural development of the Republic of Belarus.

The state youth policy, in accordance with Law of the Republic of Belarus No. 65-Z as of December 7th, 2009 “On Foundations of State Youth Policy”, is defined as the system of social, economic, political, organisational, legal and other activities aimed at supporting young citizens (hereinafter, if otherwise not defined in the Law, referred to as “youth”) and undertaken by the state to ensure social formation and development of the youth, ultimate implementation of their potential for the sake of society as a whole (Article 1). Young citizens are defined as the nationals of the Republic of Belarus, foreign nationals or stateless persons permanently residing in the Republic of Belarus, aged between fourteen and thirty-one (Article 1). A young family is a family in which both or one of the spouses (in the parent single-parent family) are under the age of thirtyone (Article 1).

The objectives of the state youth policy are the following:

• Comprehensive upbringing of young people, contribution to ethical, moral and physical development;
• Creation of conditions for free and effective participation of young people in the political, social, economic and cultural development of our society;
• Social, financial, legal and other types of support to young people;
• Youth empowerment in the choice of way of life;

Read more about Youth Work in Belarus HERE

Here are additional links about youth work and youth policy in Belarus:

Belarus Youth Policy Governance

Youth Policy Fact sheet

Law  of the Republic of Belarus on Youth Policy

Council of Ministers law from December 2014 (in Russian)