The Constitution of Belarus 1996 

EDUCATION 

Article 49.

Everyone shall have the right to education. Accessible and free general, secondary and vocation-technical education shall be guaranteed.

Secondary specialized and higher education shall be accessible to all in accordance with the capabilities of each individual. Everyone may, on a competitive basis, obtain the appropriate education at state educational establishments free of charge. 

EQUALITY 

Section I: Principles of the Constitutional System

Article 14.

The State shall regulate relations among social, ethnic and other communities on the basis of the principles of equality before the law and respect of their rights and interests.

 Section II: The Individual, Society and the State

Article 22.

All shall be equal before the law and entitled without discrimination to equal protection of their rights and legitimate interests.

Article 53.

Everyone shall respect the dignity, rights, liberties and legitimate interests of others.

 GENDER and PARENTS

 Article 32.

Marriage, the family, motherhood, fatherhood, and childhood shall be under the protection of the State.

On reaching the age of consent women and men shall have the right to enter into marriage on a voluntary basis and start a family. A husband and wife shall be equal in family relationships.

Parents or persons in loco parentis shall be entitled and required to raise their children and to take care of their health, development and education. No child shall be subjected to cruel treatment or humiliation or used for work that may be harmful to its physical, mental or moral development. Children shall care for their parents or persons in loco parentis and render them assistance.

Children may be separated from their family against the consent of their parents or persons in loco parentis only according to the verdict of the court of law, if the parents or persons in loco parentis fail in their duty towards their children.

Women shall be guaranteed equal rights with men in their opportunities to receive education and vocational training, promotion in labour, socio-political, cultural and other spheres of activity, as well as in creating conditions safeguarding their labour and health.

The young people are guaranteed the right for their spiritual, moral and physical development.

The State shall create all necessary conditions for the free and effective participation of the young people in the political, social, economic and cultural development of society.

 CITIZENSHIP

 Section I: Principles of the Constitutional System

Article 2.

The individual, his rights, freedoms and guarantees for their attainment manifest the supreme goal and value of society and the State.

The State shall bear responsibility towards the citizen to create the conditions for the free and dignified development of his identity. The citizen bears a responsibility towards the State to discharge unwaveringly the duties imposed upon him by the Constitution.

Article 11.

Foreign nationals and stateless persons on the territory of Belarus shall enjoy rights and liberties and execute duties on equal terms with the citizens of the Republic of Belarus, unless otherwise specified in the Constitution, the laws and international treaties.

 LANGUAGE and ETHNICITY

 Section II: The Individual, Society and the State

Article 50.

Everyone shall have the right to preserve one's ethnic affiliation, and equally, no one may be compelled to define or indicate one's ethnic affiliation.

Insults to ethnic dignity shall be prosecuted by law.

Everyone shall have the right to use one's native language and to choose the language of communication. In accordance with the law, the State shall guarantee the freedom to choose the language of education and teaching.

Article 51.

Everyone shall have the right to take part in cultural life. This right shall be safeguarded by universal accessibility to the treasures of domestic and world culture that are held in state and public collections and by the development of a network of cultural and educational establishments.

The State shall contribute to the development of culture, scientific and technical research for the benefit of common interests.

 RELIGION

 Section I: Principles of the Constitutional System

Article 16.

Religions and faiths shall be equal before the law.

Relations between the State and religious organizations shall be regulated by the law with regard to their influence on the formation of the spiritual, cultural and state traditions of the Belarusian people.

 Section II: The Individual, Society and the State

Article 31.

Everyone shall have the right independently to determine one's attitude towards religion, to profess any religion individually or jointly with others, or to profess none at all, to express and spread beliefs connected with one's attitude towards religion, and to participate in the performance of acts of worship and religious rituals and rites, which are not prohibited by the law.

 Article 33.

Everyone is guaranteed freedom of thoughts and beliefs and their free expression.