31 January 2008 - The Government of Japan has approved the release of US$ 1,506,230.83 from the United Nations Trust Fund for Human Security, to finance the project entitled “Enhancing Human Security in the Chernobyl Affected Area of Belarus”. The project will be implemented by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), in cooperation with United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) and United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) in Belarus.

The three-year initiative aims to enhance human security in Chernobyl affected communities in five districts of the country: Slavgorod, Stolin, Chechersk, Bragin and Luninets. In particular local residents will be given the means to improve their income security, to minimize radiation exposure and to maintain healthy practices. Under the project the following activities are to be implemented:

• Improving the income security of smallholders by expert and technical assistance on introduction and use of radiation safe and low-cost farming practices, improvement of productivity and access to market;

• Raising awareness of healthy lifestyles and promoting safe living skills among expectant and new mothers and their families through organizing informal meetings and information activities at local health posts;

• Prevention, early diagnosis and treatment of breast cancer through screening activities and identification of women most at-risk of breast cancer, performing mammograms in remote areas of the target districts by mobile teams of medical professionals and training local health workers;

• Improving radiation safety knowledge and skills among children and young people via establishment of school centres for radiological advice and training;

• Reducing consumption of ’high-risk’ products, mainly fruit of the forest, without testing them for radiation contamination through information and awareness raising activities aimed at local communities.

“The project has been developed by UNDP Belarus in collaboration with national and international partners that have designed, implemented and funded previous technical assistance projects relating to post-Chernobyl recovery. Its expected direct beneficiaries are at least 50,000 residents within target districts,” said Levan Bouadze, acting Resident Representative of UNDP in Belarus. “The project will improve the living conditions of local people and also contribute to comprehensively realize human security in Belarus.”

The notion of human security was defined in the 2003 report elaborated by the Commission on Human Security and entitled “Human Security Now”. Human security means protecting fundamental freedoms – freedoms that are the essence of life. This concept is about protecting people from critical (severe) and pervasive (widespread) threats and situations. It means using processes that build on people’s strengths and aspirations. It means creating political, social, environmental, economic, military and cultural systems that together give people the building blocks of survival, livelihood and dignity.

For reference: The United Nations Trust Fund for Human Security (UNTFHS) was established in 1999 the Government of Japan and the UN Secretariat with the express aim of promoting human security through the protection and empowerment of people and communities threatened in their survival, livelihood and dignity. The UNTFHS finances projects carried out by organizations in the UN system. Since 1999, it has committed over US$ 258 million to projects in over 65 countries. The majority of funding was directed towards developmental concerns including key thematic areas such as health, education, agriculture and small scale infrastructure development.

For more information please refer to Anna Litvinova, UNDP Programme Officer, at (+375 17) 227-81-49, e-mail:

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