LYCOS RETRIEVER 
Belarus: Government
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Expressing concern about freedom of expression and opinion in Belarus, one expert pointed out that only in an open and responsible democratic system could women express their views and demand their rights. The Government contributed to the perpetuation of stereotypes by approaching gender policy as a welfare issue, while the Committee considered it to be a human rights issue. On January 28, Liudmila Gryaznova, a member of the organizing committee of Charter 97 presented a shadow report on the implementation of CEDAW by the Belarusian authorities to the Committee. (M2 Presswire, January 31, ILHR, January 28)
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On the invitation of the Government of Belarus, IFC has been actively involved in advisory work in Belarus since 1993. In the space of more than 10 years, it has implemented a range of advisory services projects. The work began with advisory services on privatization of small businesses. Currently, IFC focuses its efforts on small and medium enterprise development and improvement of the business environment.
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While curbing reforms, the Belarus government has managed to maintain a minimum of social welfare programs, but failed to keep down soaring inflation, which stood at 46 percent last year and a staggering 207.5 percent in 2000. About 43 percent of the population lives below the poverty level, on less than two dollars a day, but many economists suggest that official figures only hide the full scale of poverty afflicting Belarus.
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The World Bank and the International Monetary Fund stopped lending money to Belarus. To stay the economic course he was on and give socialism a chance to work, he increased his power, calling a referendum in November 1996 which won for him an extension of his term in office from four to seven years and gave him the power to close parliament. He banned the supporters of his opponents from work in television and radio, closed down opposition newspapers and stopped the distribution of hostile printed matter. And armed police took over the parliament building, locking out 89 deputies considered by his government as disloyal.
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[W]hat's happening to New Life church is not unusual in Belarus. In fact, Protestants say the government is oppressing churches that aren't of the Orthodox denomination and it's using that ‘restrictive religion’ law to do it.
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