Socially responsible civil society seen as bulwark of state in Belarus

A socially responsible civil society should be the bulwark of the state, Head of the Belarus President Administration Igor Sergeyenko said at a government conference hosted by the president to discuss the draft laws on civil society, political parties and other public associations in Minsk on 30 August, has learned.

"The government should acknowledge the activity of people, build appropriate work with them in order to have support in the form of a socially responsible civil society," Igor Sergeyenko emphasized.

He noted that over the years of independence, government bodies have built work with the public sector: trade unions are engaged in labor protection and in monitoring pricing, members of the public are included in the work of advisory councils under government bodies, specialized public organizations provide social services.

"At the same time, the potential of the public sector in the state policy is not fully used. Belarus Rus was the first to stand up against the construction of the "Iron Curtain" by Poland in the Belovezhskaya Pushcha. The environmental organizations, of which there are about 20 in the country, were not visible," Igor Sergeyenko gave an example.