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In Belarus an UNDEF project is working to protect the rights of children and young people. Implemented by Charitable Public Association "World Without Borders", the project aims to boost awareness and increase specialized training on how to protect the rights of children and young people, to build institutional systems to monitor their situation and to receive and process allegations of rights violations. Specifically, the project works with national and regional officials and experts to develop a protection policy and to implement it in institutions working to protect adolescents in conflict with the law, provide services to children with disabilities, and provide shelter to children with difficult living conditions.

The project held a Teens’ Forum in the Minsk region from the 26th to the 30th of September 2022 to raise awareness among institutionalized youth on how to prevent or address potential cases of violence. The event was attended by 50 people, including youth from marginalized and vulnerable groups. Participants reflected on how to recognize violence using interactive whiteboards, screen presentations, practical tasks, and outdoor game methods. During the Teens’ Forum, the adolescents were informed about the prevention of violent behavior and (cyber-)bullying as well as mechanisms for responding to situations of risk. Participants in the training learned about their rights, how to protect them, and also how not to violate the rights of others.

Input collected from the forum will be used to improve the implementation of existing laws and confidentiality and security mechanisms for reporting cases of violence in educational institutions in Belarus.