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In collaboration with the Ministry of Economy, UNDP Belarus Accelerator Lab has developed methodological guidelines for conducting gender impact assessment of draft legislation. This mechanism will become a useful tool in implementing the country’s National Action Plan for Gender Equality for 2021–2025.
Why does this matter?
Gender equality is crucial to sustainable economic and social progress. While Belarus ranks 29th out of 170 countries in the UNDP’s Gender Inequality Index, challenges remain. Women, on average, earn less than men and spend twice as much time on domestic chores, while men live nearly a decade less than women.
The National Action Plan seeks to embed a gender perspective into policymaking and improve legal frameworks to ensure equal opportunities. By assessing laws for gender impact before they are passed, Belarus aims to create policies that work for everyone.
How does it work?
Gender assessment examines how legislation may affect men and women differently, considering factors like social roles, access to resources, and decision-making power. The approach applies not only to new laws but also to existing legislation, government programmes, and policy decisions.
New guidelines for lawmakers outline how to conduct gender assessment, using a data-driven approach that considers variables such as age, marital status, employment, and social vulnerability. The methodology relies on statistical data, scientific research, and practical experience.
The process will be integrated into the current system for assessing the impact of legislation, ensuring gender issues are flagged and addressed early on.
Learning from international experience
Several countries already require gender analysis in lawmaking, including Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, Ukraine, Canada, Austria, Belgium, and Sweden. In these nations, assessing gender impact has become a routine part of policymaking, helping to create fairer and more effective laws.
What’s next for Belarus?
In December 2024, the mechanism was presented to the National Council on Gender Policy under the Council of Ministers. Experts recommended making gender impact assessment a formal part of the justification for new laws. This would ensure that potential inequalities are addressed before legislation is passed.
By adopting this approach, Belarus joins a growing number of countries working towards fairer, more inclusive policymaking. Government officials and legal experts now have a tool to identify and reduce gender-based disparities, helping to shape policies that better serve all citizens.
