UNHCR protects people forced to flee their homes as well as stateless persons. We deliver life-saving assistance in emergencies, safeguard fundamental human rights, and help find long-term solutions so they can find a safe place to call home.
UNHCR in Belarus:
- facilitates unhindered access to state refugee status determination procedure through individual counselling, referrals and liaison with state authorities at regional and central levels;
- assists and supports forcibly displaced and stateless people with the access to employment, other socio-economic rights; advocates for inclusion into government-provided services via legal and social counselling, representation, joint efforts with UN agencies and partner organizations, and interaction with the authorities;
- advocates for inclusion and integration of forcibly displaced and stateless people, including linkages to the SDGs;
- engages with private sector to promote employment and self-reliance of forcibly displaced and stateless people;
- provides financial and in-kind assistance to the most vulnerable refugees and asylum-seekers, seeks the most appropriate durable solutions;
- advocates with the government for accession to the 1954 Convention relating to the Status of Stateless Persons and the 1961 Convention on the Reduction of Statelessness as per prior country’s pledge;
- assists stateless people with applications for citizenship and receipt of permanent residence on their way to naturalization in cooperation with the Government;
- leads the response to the Ukraine refugee situation in Belarus in coordination and support of the Government response with UN agencies and other partners. UNHCR also response with financial and other assistance to the most vulnerable, and referrals to Government provided services. UNHCR promotes access to socio-economic inclusion, including national health, education and social protection;
- supports state authorities, partner organizations, legal practitioners, judiciary on key UNHCR issues including legal protection, refugee status determination and statelessness with relevant and up-to-date trainings;
- brings awareness to a range of audiences on the key issues related to forcibly displaced and stateless people, including through events targeting general public, youth, practitioners, academia, such as annual Summer school for law students.
- shares information and raises awareness on key issues that affect forcibly displaced, stateless people and general public, including digital information boards, events and social media platforms.