On December 27, 2012 an awarding ceremony for the winners of the contest of scientific works of students, candidates for a master's degree and post-graduates “Current State of the Problems of Refugees and Stateless Persons: Solutions, Achievements, Prospects” was held.
The contest was organized in September—November 2012 by United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees and International Non-governmental Association for Scientific Research, Information and Educational Programmes “Evolutio”. Viktor Shadurski, Dean of the Faculty of International Relations of the Belarusian State University, Timofey Solodkov, Legal Adviser of the UNHCR Office in the Republic of Belarus, Andrey Selivanov, Executive Director of the INA “Evolutio”, members of the commission on the works assessment, in particular, Vitaliy Voronovich, lecturer of the Military Academy of the Republic of Belarus, and Olga Emelyanovich, assistant of the Department of International Economic Law of the Faculty of Law of the Belarusian State Economic University, and also the winners of the contest themselves from different regions of the country were present at the event.
Viktor Shadurski, the Chairman of the Observation Board of the INA “Evolutio”, Dean of the Faculty of International Relations of the Belarusian State University, expressed gratitude to the winners of the contest and noted that the problems of refugees, migration are not alien to the Republic of Belarus, which suffered from the consequences of the First and Second World Wars. Today the future generation faces vital issues, such as: How tolerant are we? Are we ready to receive people of other nationalities and faiths on our land? This contest answers these questions to a certain extent and reflects interest of young people in this problematic. At the end of his speech Viktor Shadurski wished the winners not to stop, to research and make publications in different context on these issues. Timofey Solodkov, Legal Adviser of the UNHCR Office in the Republic of Belarus, while congratulating the winners, noted that he considered the works, which were written on quite different topics, with great interest. He stated that the UNHCR is interested in supporting this contest. In her short speech, Olga Emelyanovich also wished the winners to continue their research activities on this problematic. Vitaliy Voronovich noted that the works and researches made by students, candidates for a master's degree and post-graduates on refugees, migration and related issues are necessary for the country we live in, they can be also worthy in the future. Andrey Selivanov, Executive Director of the INA “Evolutio”, emphasized active participation of representatives of the regions in the contest, as there are two winners who represent the Vitebsk State University named P. Masherov, and one from the Brest State University named A. Pushkin.
At the end of the event the winners of the contest also expressed their gratitude to the jury and organizers of the contest and claimed their commitment to the aims and ideals of the UNO in the context of refugees’ and stateless persons’ rights protection.