Tsikhanouskaya: Being a Mother Is One of the Most Difficult and Valuable Roles

Reform.news Editorial Team · 14 October 2026, 09:13

https://reform.news/en/tsikhanouskaya-being-a-mother-is-one-of-the-most-difficult-and-valuable-roles/

Being a mother is one of the most difficult and valuable roles. It is a monumental and often invisible effort. This was stated by Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya in a message marking Mother’s Day. She emphasized that there are women among political prisoners who are mothers of minor children.

“Being a mother is one of the most difficult and, at the same time, most important and valuable responsibilities women face. It is a monumental task with no days off, breaks or holidays. You give your children all of yourselves: you discover the world together with them, teach them to distinguish right from wrong, support them when they are afraid, and celebrate every little victory they achieve.

It is easy to talk about good and evil when it comes to fairy tales and cartoons. But when it comes to real life, words do not always come easily.

There are currently 113 women political prisoners in Belarusian places of detention. At least 14 of them are mothers of minor children.

The Belarusian authorities urge women to give birth, but after having a child, many face a financial cliff. During maternity leave, the childcare allowance for a first child amounts to 35% of the average salary. And when a woman decides to return to work, she often faces pressure to resign, workplace relocations or difficulties finding a job. Unfortunately, a mother’s work is very often taken for granted. A mother may put her plans, career, sleep, rest and personal wishes aside for her child without asking for anything in return.

I know that many of you in Belarus are now anxious about your children’s future, their safety and their freedom. And even when you yourselves are afraid and facing difficulties, you continue to be a source of support for your children, giving them love, care and a sense of security.

That is precisely why it is all the more important to keep saying, again and again: thank you. Thank you for your love, patience and strength. For preserving your children’s faith in goodness, freedom and justice, even when what happens around them is often entirely different. And I am absolutely certain that your children will grow up to be wonderful adults who will make Belarus a better place.

Happy Mother’s Day!” the message said.