Belarusian Women's Union

The Belarusian Women's Union (BWU) was established on 14 December 1991. It unites women's organizations based on the territorial and professional principle.

The mission of the Belarusian Women's Union is to promote the rights and legitimate interests of women, families and children, to safeguard the dignity of women in the society, and to enhance their role in the social, political, economic and cultural life of the country.

The BWU is the biggest women's organization in the country, uniting more than 140,000 women. It is represented at the regional, city and district levels.

The organization includes members of the Council of the Republic and members of the House of Representatives of the National Assembly, heads of national government agencies, organizations and enterprises, business communities and business associations. The BWU has partnered up with Belarusbank, Belagroprombank, the Prosecutor General's Office, and the Emergencies Ministry.

The BWU is represented in the National Council on Gender Policy of the Council of Ministers, the National Commission on the Rights of the Child, the Public Council at the Ministry of Internal Affairs. This enables the organization to actively participate in legislative activities, to promote women’s empowerment), make a significant contribution to the development of the country.

The Belarusian Women's Union is involved in the efforts to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals.

The BWU is actively engaged in charity and humanitarian assistance activities that mostly focus on women, families and children who are in need. In addition to participating in nationwide campaigns and events, the BWU implements a number of traditional projects:

  • A healthy woman, a healthy nation (together with the Healthcare Ministry). Every year, in the run-up to the anniversary of the Chernobyl disaster, representatives of the BWU and healthcare workers (oncologists, endocrinologists, gynecologists, cardiologists, and others) travel to the affected regions and provide consultations for women.
  • Strong family, strong state(together with the Information Ministry). This annual national creative competition features more than one hundred journalism pieces on family, childhood and motherhood matters.
  • Woman of the Year Award. This annual nationwide project seeks to celebrate women who achieved outstanding results across various fields of expertise and who take an active part in women’s movement.
  • Museum of Motherhood. The BWU initiated the establishment of Museums of Motherhood and Motherhood Expositions to educate people about today’s challenges of family life.
  • Motherhood Week. Upon the initiative of the BWU, Mother’s Day was instituted in Belarus in 1998. It is observed every year on 14 October. Events and activities dedicated to motherhood are held in the country in the run-up to this day, on 7-14 October.
  • Family of the Year. The contest is held jointly with the Labor and Social Security Ministry.
  • DADOMU.by. The internet portal dadomu.by became a great example of public-private partnership. This project seeks to find families for children left without parental care. Taking part in the project are the BWU, the Education Ministry, the Healthcare Ministry, the Labor and Social Security Ministry.
  • Belarus Remembers. The BWU launched the campaign Belarus Remembers. Women’s Faces of Victory. The campaign was timed to the 75th anniversary of Belarus’ liberation from the Nazi invaders. The project focused on women, their heroism on the battlefield and in the rear.
In 2018 the Belarusian Women’s Union received the Spiritual Revival Award of the Belarusian President for its efforts to strengthen the institute of family, protect mothers and children and for its charity activities.