On December 7, 2011 the international conference “2009 Population Census Results: Data Dissemination and Use” was held by the National Statistical Committee of the Republic of Belarus with the support of the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) in Belarus.
Representatives of the public administration agencies, scientific and educational institutions, international organisations, as well as of the CIS Interstate Statistical Committee and National Statistical Offices of foreign countries (Ukraine, Moldova, Lithuania, Latvia, Poland, etc.) took part in the conference.
Welcome address was delivered by Vladimir Zinovsky, Chairman of the National Statistical Committee of the Republic of Belarus.
Anatoly Tozik, Deputy Prime Minister of the Republic of Belarus:
“For each country the population census and its results are of a tremendous practical importance. As a result of the census we have got a unique information resource allowing to assess adequately the human capital and ensuring effective forecasting of economic, social and demographic development of the society and the State.
The census data serve as the basis for elaborating programs to enhance the wellbeing of the population. Using the census data, the Government can regulate the state of macro- and microeconomy, allocate resources for the social programs at the regional level, and obtain the information on labour resources. This information is significant not only from the point of view of predicting possible problems, but also in the context of decision-making on distribution of workplaces, development of the infrastructure, and construction of modern comfortable housing”.
Andrei Tur, Deputy Head of Presidential Administration of the Republic of Belarus:
“The 2009 Population Census results provide great opportunities for strategic and tactical decision-making for all government authorities and regional agencies. The National Statistical Committee, with the support of international consultants, has produced a unique document that cannot be surpassed by any other document in terms of importance. The census results show the state of the population, its demographic and socio-economic aspects in a multi-dimensional structural cross-section. Moreover, it is a most important information resource which allows for the assessment of how the country had been developing in the past, how this progress has been held fixed, and what developments are needed, what plans are to be made in future. The census results are a fundamental basic material for the elaboration of the long-term sustainable socio-economic development strategy, as well as of the medium-term plans.
The census results are important not only for the government officials, for the specialists, but also for the society as a whole. It is necessary to use this unique resource both to assess the current situation and to forecast the implications of decisions taken”.
Irina Zbarskaya, Head of Social Sphere and Trade Statistics Department of the CIS Interstate Statistical Committee, also addressed the Conference with welcome speech.
The agenda of the Conference comprised three sessions.
Session 1. Overview of the 2009 Population Census activities in the Republic of Belarus
Tatyana Haplichnik, UNFPA Programme Analyst in Belarus, spoke on the uniqueness and importance of census data for national planning, and on the role of UNFPA in supporting population censuses of the 2010 round.
Elena Kukharevich, Deputy Chairman of the National Statistical Committee of the Republic of Belarus, made a presentation on innovative approaches to software and technology used in the 2009 Population Census in Belarus.
Eliahu Ben Moshe, international expert, gave a report entitled “2009 Population Census in Belarus: compliance with international standards”.
“Strict adherence to international census rules and standards allows to obtain results which can be comparable with the data of other countries. In my capacity of census observer or expert in a number of European and Central Asian countries, I can say with certainty that the 2009 Population census in Belarus was conducted in full compliance with international recommendations. I would also like to note that the level of the National Statistical Committee of the Republic of Belarus in the issues related to conducting census, processing and disseminating its data has risen significantly in the last few years”.
Paolo Valente of the UNECE Statistical Division spoke on the outcomes of the recent round of censuses in the European region and plans for the next round.
Session 2. Dissemination of census results
International expert Petteri Baer (Statistics Finland) gave presentation entitled “Approaches to census data dissemination. International experience”.
Head of the Chief Department of Demographic Statistics of the National Statistical Committee of the Republic of Belarus Aleksei Yarkovets spoke on the strategy for the 2009 Belarus census data dissemination.
Mikhail Tarakanov, Chief Engineer of the Republican unitary enterprise “Information Centre of Land Cadastre Data and Land Monitoring”, spoke on the use of GIS technologies for census data dissemination.
Deputy Head of Chief Department of Summary Information, Press Secretary of the National Statistical Committee of the Republic of Belarus Elena Kondratenko reported on communicating the Census results to public.
Elena Yermolitskaya, Head of Population Census Department of Chief Department of Demographic Statistics of the National Statistical Committee of the Republic of Belarus, demonstrated the System of the 2009 Census Database Access via the Internet.
Oleg Manzhula, Head of Division within the Department of Censuses and Complete Surveys of the Federal State Statistics Service (Russian Federation), presented the experience of Rosstat in disseminating and use of the 2010 Russian National Census results using modern information and communication technologies.
Session 3. Use of census data
First Deputy Minister of Labour and Social Protection of the Republic of Belarus Piotr Grushnik made a report on the use of census data for social policy-making and implementation.
Luidmila Shakhotko, Doctor of Sociology, professor, Chief Research Associate of the Institute of Economics, National Academy of Sciences of Belarus, made a report on the practice of census data use.
“In my capacity of demographer, I would like to specially emphasize the significance of census materials for the in-depth analyses of demographic and socio-economic situation in the country. The population census provides the unique, richest and varied information on the population composition. Therefore, a thorough study of the census materials should be encouraged, to be further used for the benefit of Belarus and its population.
Results of the 2009 Population Census are widely used by the Ministry of Labour and Social Protection, Ministry of the Economy, Ministry of Education, Ministry of Health. Institute of Economics and Institute of Sociology of the National Academy of Sciences of Belarus, Belarus State University, Belarus State Economics University and a number of other organizations carry out research on the basis of census materials. It should be mentioned that results of every census have not only socio-economic but also invaluable cultural and historical importance. Indeed, census is a specific portrait of the society, a snap shot of the whole Belarus population. Thanks to the 2009 census, future generations will know how Belarus population lived at the beginning of the 21st century”.
Vladimir Margevich, Head of Division for Migration, Department for Citizenship and Migration of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Republic of Belarus, reported on the use of census data to regulate migration processes.
Director of Research Institute of Labour of the Ministry of Labour and Social Protection of the Republic of Belarus Svetlana Shevchenko spoke on the role and importance of population census for scientific research in social and labour issues.
Nina Agabekova, candidate of economic sciences, associate professor, Head of Statistics Department of Belarus State Economics University, made a report on the statistical assessment of human capital in Belarus on the basis of census data.
Svetlana Lapina, Doctor of Sociology, Head of Department of Public Administration in Social Sphere and Belarusian Studies of the Academy of Public Administration under the aegis of the President of the Republic of Belarus, presented a report entitled “2009 population census results in the National Report “Demographic Development of the Republic of Belarus in 2005-2010”.
The participants took active part in the discussion of suggested topics. In the course of discussions they got answers to all questions on the dissemination and location of census results.
The leading national mass media were invited to cover the international event.
Statistical publications prepared on the basis of the census results were offered to the attention of the conference attendees.
All participants to this event were provided with the booklet “Belarus Population Census 2009”.
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