Welcome to Belarus
Belorussian RubleCurrency in Belarus
Today’s Weather
12
°C
07:23 AM
Wednesday
Basic Country Profile
Location: Landlocked country in North Eastern Europe between Poland and Russia.
Population: 9.5 million
Capital: Minsk
Major languages: Belorussian, Russian
Major religion: Christianity
Currency: Belorussian ruble
Terrain: Mostly flat
Climate: Continental with cold winters
Dial code: +375
Time zone: GMT + 3
Emergency numbers:
102 – Police
103- Ambulance
101 -Fire brigade
Disability related information:
Number of people with disability: officially 560 000 or around 6% of the population
Ratified the Convention on the Rights of the Persons with Disabilities in November 2016
Disability Legislations and Policies
On 15 June 2018, Belarus ratified a National Plan for the protection of people with disabilities. The document is a big step for Belarus towards achieving a more compassionate society. Nevertheless, the conditions under which most people with disabilities in Belarus live remain difficult.
Officially, 556,000 people in Belarus receive a disability pension. This is about 6% of the total population. At the moment, the pension ranges from $12 to $112 per month, depending on the degree of disability. This amount is several times less than the average salary of Belarus. On top of small pensions, the situation is complicated by the lack of appropriate infrastructure for people with mobility disabilities.
According to unofficial data, about 70% of wheelchair users never leave the house. Therefore, a barrier-free environment is becoming one of the central focuses of campaigns involved in protecting the rights of persons with disabilities. The first step towards improving the conditions for people with disabilities in Belarus, has been the introduction of free assistance to those with severe disabilities and disabled children. The state will now provide persons with disabilities with necessary medicines and equipment. (Source: Belarus Digest)
Travel Related Information
The tourism industry in general are not widely experienced in dealing with people with disabilities. Minsk National Airport can provide traveler assistance to get passengers with disabilities boarded on their plane.
Not all Belarus hotels have accessible for persons with disabilities, so it is vital that you check before booking.An increasing number of public buildings such as museums, theaters, banks and shopping centers now accessible for persons with disabilities, especially new buildings.