The All-Belarusian People’s Assembly combines at least three directions: openness, trust, and strategic choice, believes Ekaterina Petrashkevich, Head of the Department of Domestic Policy at the Belarusian Institute for Strategic Research. The details are provided in the report by a Minsk-News Agency correspondent.
Phases of responsibility
Throughout the conversation, E. Petrashkevich repeatedly highlighted one central idea:
“Serving as a delegate to the All-Belarusian People’s Assembly is not a privilege, but rather an enhanced personal responsibility to Belarusian society, and specifically to those people who have entrusted you to act on their behalf and to represent their interests in the highest representative body of popular governance in the Republic of Belarus.”
Youth and analytics — a strategy for the future
Ekaterina Petrashkevich notes that the Programme for the Country’s Socio-Economic Development up to 2030, which will eventually be considered by the Assembly, was elaborated out (among other factors) with reference to analytical work, sociological studies and projects developed within the Belarusian Institute for Strategic Research.
“The study of public attitudes and citizens’ proposals demonstrates that public opinion is genuinely taken into account in the development and adoption of strategically important decisions. And this is not simply rhetoric. I will not search far for concrete examples. A clear illustration is the youth analytical movement ‘The Future of Belarus’, which is evolving within our institute. Today, through this rather unconventional approach, we are able to hear the real, sincere and open views of young people.”
In her view, this project makes it possible to gather and discuss unconventional and creative ideas, as well as to understand how young people imagine the future of their country:
“It is precisely this approach that can raise the decisions of the Assembly to an entirely different level. Particular attention is devoted to the practical feasibility of the socio-economic development programme, the clarification of its indicators, and the strengthening of accountability among those responsible for its implementation.”
Why in this way?
Discussing the main expectations for the Assembly, E. Petrashkevich drew attention to the open and substantive dialogue that defines the quality of discussion at the national forum.
“The Assembly is a unique platform where representatives from various sectors and levels of public administration discuss and determine the strategic pathways for the country’s development. I am confident that it is precisely through such openness in discussion and in preparing decisions that programme documents and concepts are formed, based on a balance of interests and a clear understanding of society’s needs.”
Expectations and forecasts
“I expect that at the forthcoming meeting, alongside large-scale issues of the state’s socio-economic development and national security in all its dimensions, particular attention will also be given to innovation and investment, regional development, the quality of life of citizens, young people and their role in shaping modern society,” the expert says. “I have no doubt that participants of the Assembly will also turn to such important themes as the preservation of historical memory and traditional family values.”
According to the civil society representative (E. Petrashkevich entered the Assembly through the Minsk city branch of the Belaya Rus Republican Public Association), one of the goals of the delegates’ work can be expressed as follows: to ensure that citizens of Belarus do everything possible to feel engaged in the common cause, understand their role in implementing state policy, and see how their views and ideas influence the development of the country.
A personal note
E. Petrashkevich is married. Together with her husband, they have raised two children, of whom they are rightly proud. Their elder son serves as an officer in the Armed Forces of the Republic of Belarus, while their daughter is a future cultural professional and is currently studying choreography.
“If we speak about the sphere of my professional interests,” the BISR representative reflects, “it primarily includes involvement in youth policy, the analysis of social and political processes, the study of their impact on society, as well as participation in organising and conducting sociological research.”
Source: Minsk-News Agency